Pug Dog Breed Information
-
-
Pocket Friendly *
-
-
Star
Superstar
-
-
Rare
Easy to get
Introduction
With their comical face and hilarious personalities, pugs are the jesters of the canine world. Loving, intelligent and naughty, the pug makes for a great first-time dog. They do very well with children and other animals alike, especially if socialized from a young age. They’re gluttons for love and easy to groom, always ready with an antic that will make you laugh. It’s no wonder that they continue to be amongst the most popular breeds, many centuries after they first came into existence.
Pug, In India became a household name became when Hutch used it for advertisement. Even all the adults in the house along with the children became a fan of this breed overnight after the Hutch (Now Vodafone) advertisement aired and from that date this breed has become well known in India at least. This breed though has been existence for far longer, its existence dates to 400 BCE where Tibetan Monks used to keep this breed as pets in the Tibetan Monasteries. Pug has been one pampered specie which has been treated to all pleasures of Royal life by the Kings who treated this small breed as their lapdogs and pampered them immensely. It is interesting to note that the name Pug came around from a similarly faced specie of monkey who was also called pug. Pug also has a secret organization names after him. In the year 1740, the Roman Catholics of the world named an organization called ‘Order of the Pug’. The reason why Pug was chosen as a symbol for this Catholic Organization was because this breed represents Loyalty and Trustworthiness. This is probably one of the most adaptable specie around, it can be trained in anyway one would want. Pugs are no doubt one of the most charming breeds around and can win over anyone. This breed loves laughing and live, it is lively and most appropriately Sunshine in dog form. This breed also gets along with other breeds, cats and even humans. The one that gets along with anyone and everyone. This breed is though somewhat bad at physical activity, it isn’t the ideal jogging buddy but the perfect cuddly bud. They are a proud member of the American Kennel Club’s toy club. This breed is somewhat clingy and doesn’t like being left alone. The ironic thing is that the Pug looks like its deep in contemplation about the complexities of dog life, but it actually is thinking about a dog prank.
History
Several centuries before a popular mobile service provider made Chinese pugs famous in India through a series of endearing ads, the pug was a royal dog. Their history can be traced back to China, where they were prized by the emperors of the Han Dynasty (B.C. 206 to A.D. 200). Here, they lived in luxury, often guarded by a soldier, and spent their lives as canine companions of royalty. Legend has it that the Chinese prized the pugs’ trademark wrinkles because they resembled good luck symbols in their language. Pugs were even known to be bred with wrinkles that spelt the Chinese letters for the word “prince”. In the 1500s and 1600s, when trade channels opened between China and Europe, the Dutch brought the first pugs to European soil. Their royal connections continued, with the breed becoming popular among royal families across Europe. Pugs were also popular muses for artists, with William Hogarth and Goya featuring the royal dog in their paintings. When the British overran the Chinese Imperial Palace in 1860, they brought back the pugs they found there and these are credited with producing several of the most sought-after pug bloodlines in England. Pugs became very popular in the Victorian era, with Queen Victoria’s fascination with the breed; she even bred several pugs. While pugs continue to retain their popularity in most countries, they shot to fame in India after an advertising campaign made them their mascot. This has led to over-breeding and inbreeding amongst unethical and backyard breeders in the country, a consequence that is fast becoming an overpopulation issue.
The literal meaning and the motto of Pug is ‘a lot in a little’ and is the perfect way to describe this breed. Referred by several names such as Mopshond in Holland, Dutch Pug in England, this breed derives its name from the marmoset “pug” monkey with whom it has a lot of features in common.
This breed finds its origin in China, where mentions of it has been found in writings of the Philosopher Confucius. This breed was also popularly known as lo-sze. The record of it evidence can be found as back as 700 BCE. This breed was a favorite among the Chinese Emperors and likewise. They also had palaces, attendants and all things royal to their disposal. This cute little breed was also used as gift items by Chinese Emperors where they were given to important people in Korea and Japan. This spread the popularity of this breed through the Asian region at least. There has been evidences of discovery of Pug in Europe sometime around the 18th Century. It was the Dutch East India Company which facilitated the spread of this breed throughout Europe through the trade routes between Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, France and England. Soldiers also. It was only in England that the true shaping of the modern-day pug took place because of cross breeding between the Morrison Line and Willoughby line. This breed is also considered highly fashionable. This was a time when the working dog breed had started to gain popularity and it is during this time only that the decline in popularity of pug began because they weren’t considered a very useful breed. It was the Queen of England who started favoring this breed and bringing it back to popularity. In America, the pug found entry a little while after the civil war. The American Kennel club accepted pug as its member sometime in 1885. It was the 1950’s where Pug reached the peak of its popularity. Chucky was a popular known pug who won the Westminster Kennel club show in the year 1981.
There is another popular story about Pug in France. Around 1790, Napoleon’s wife had a pug whom she called Fortune who carried secret messages from her to him under his collar while she was in prison.
Unique Aspects
Pugs are brachycephalic, with flat face and short noses. This means they don’t do very well in very hot weather or too much humidity. Longer muzzles facilitate the cooling of air before it reaches the lungs, a feature that pugs lack. It’s recommended that they stay indoors in very warm places. Despite their short coats, pugs shed a lot, so watch out for fur-lined furniture and clothes, if you’re not a regular groomer. They also wheeze, snort and snore rather loudly, an endearing characteristic for most and also the pug’s mode of communication with humans, but an annoyance for sensitive ears. That said, pugs are not known to be great barkers, so the most you will have to get used to is a wheeze or a snort, from an often out-of-breath dog. The way to a pug’s heart is through the stomach, but watch out for overeating. A healthy diet is best recommended for a comfortable, healthy pug. They need constant human attention and affection, so don’t mistake your pug for a watchdog who can stay outdoors for extended periods of time; neither their hearts nor their heads are willing. Pugs are affable, easy going dogs and do really well as first-time pets.
Fun Trivia
Pug marks Pugs wound their way into the hearts and homes of several Indian families, after a popular mobile service provider created a series of endearing ads with the pug as the faithful mascot, the personification – so to speak – of a ‘network that always follows’. Centuries before this, Josephine Bonaparte had a pug named Fortune, before she married her famous husband, Napoleon Bonaparte. When she was imprisoned in Les Carmes prison, Fortune was the only visitor she was allowed and she would often tuck missives for her family in his collar.
Vital Stats:
Dog Breed Group: Toy
Tail Type: Curled
Getting A Puppy Home: Pocket Friendly
Life Span: 7 to 8 years
Pros
Pug is one of the friendliest breed out there, it has a good relationship with everyone it meets including cats. It is a cuddly breed which doesn’t need a lot of exercise and would be perfectly be happy to stay at home curled in a corner. They are extremely good with kids as well. They love playing and are jovial in nature. You can always find them happy and jumping around. They are funny and can make anyone laugh. They don’t require a lot of exercise and they don’t like working out, they can stay in a corner and be happy. Pugs are curious by nature and make great travel buddies. They love going around and exploring. They make good travel companions.
Cons
This breed suffers from several health problems which can push the BP and bills upwards. They love eating and don’t know when to stop which makes them overeat like anything and gain a lot of weight. They also shed a lot of hair which leads to finding dog hair everywhere and gets difficult. This breed is also extremely clingy, it will follow you anywhere and everywhere which can get slightly irritating after a while. They also have a habit of getting fat which leads to problems. They are snore a lot which gets tough to handle after a time. It is a strong-minded breed which might get in trouble a lot of times.