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History
The name of the breed, Pug, may have origins from Old English words, ‘pugg’
or ‘puge’, which were lovesome terms for a playful devil or monkey.
The Pug was bred to decorate the laps of the Chinese royalty during the
reign of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). Later, the Pugs became popular in
Tibet, where they were kept by monks. Eventually they reached Japan and
Europe.
The Chinese also had another name for the breed, ‘Lion Dog.’ This was in
reference to its resemblance to Chinese guardian lions, which were
considered to be a guardian spirit.
The breed came to Europe in the 16th century when it was imported by
merchants and crews of the Dutch East Indies Trading Company. In 1572 a Pug
saved the life of a Prince of the House of Orange by barking at an assassin
and was made the official dog of the House. When William III and Mary II
left Netherlands to ascend the throne of England in 1688, they were
accompanied by a Pug.
The popularity of the breed increased in Europe in the 17th century and Pugs
were painted by Goya in Spain. The Pug arrived in USA during the 19th
century.
General Description
The Pug has square, stout and stocky appearance and symmetry. A lean and
leggy Pug is a disqualification. The same applies to a Pug with short legs
and long body.
The Pug is characterized by compactness of form and hardness of developed
muscles. He is also well proportioned. His head is large, bulky and round
with no indents in the skull. His eyes are typically dark and ball-shaped.
His large, bold and prominent eyes exhibit a solicitous expression. The same
eyes are lustrous and full of fire when he is excited.
The Pug’s ears are thin and small and soft as black velvet.
The Pug has a moderate coat, which is neither hard nor woolly. It is glossy,
fine, smooth, short and soft. He comes in fawn or black color. The fawn
color is marked and in complete contrast with trace and mask. Any other
color than fawn or black is a disqualification of the breed.
Temperament
The strict demeanor of Pug does not reflect his playful nature. In reality
he is a social dog although stubborn about certain things. Pug is not easily
agitated and has a stable temperament. He is charming and playful and
carries himself with dignity. He is outgoing and has a loving disposition.
The Pug lends to training and has a fair working intelligence. He is
sensitive to the tone of human voice but still prefer company of humans
rather than other dogs and pets.
Improper care of a Pug’s wrinkles may have a detrimental effect on his
health. Pugs do not have long snouts and lack prominent skeletal ridges.
This makes him vulnerable to eye injuries that include puncture wounds and
scratched corneas. The brachycephalic structure of his head causes
difficulty in breathing. This makes it difficult for him to regulate his
body temperature properly. A pug left in hot locations like inside a car on
warm days, or in temperatures of over 27 degrees centigrade.
The Pug is one of the oldest dog breeds. His reason for living is to please
their people and be near them. His sturdiness makes him a favorite family
dog. Pets4You offers listings of
Pug breeders with puppies for sale. |
