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Pug
A fawn-colored pug, the most common coloring
Origin	China
Kennel club standards China Kennel Union standard Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Pug is a breed of dog originally from China, with physically distinctive features of a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, most often fawn (light brown) or black, and a compact, square body with well developed and thick muscles all over the body.

Pugs were brought from China to Europe in the sixteenth century and were popularized in Western Europe by the House of Orange of the Netherlands, and the House of Stuart. In the United Kingdom, in the nineteenth century, Queen Victoria developed a passion for Pugs which she passed on to other members of the royal family.

Pugs are known for being sociable and gentle companion dogs. The American Kennel Club describes the breed's personality as "even-tempered and charming". Pugs remain popular into the twenty-first century, with some famous celebrity owners. Pugs are susceptible to various health issues due to their bred traits.

Etymology

The Oxford English Dictionary has the word 'pug' as in the dog breed being descended from the meaning of 'A dwarf animal, an imp, etc.'. Since the late 16th century the term 'pug' has been used in English to describe squirrels, hares, foxes, ferret, salmon, sheep, and monkeys. The first attestation of 'Pug-dog' is in 1749. The OED also notes it may be related to a now obsolete term of endearment for a person or animal.

Description

Physical characteristics

While the Pugs that are depicted in eighteenth century prints tend to be long and lean, modern breed preferences are for a square cobby body, a compact form, a deep chest, and well-developed muscle. Their smooth and glossy coats can be fawn, apricot fawn, silver fawn, or black. The markings are clearly defined and there is a trace of a black line extending from the occiput to the tail. The tail normally curls tightly over the hip.

Pugs have two distinct shapes for their ears, "rose" and "button". "Rose" ears are smaller than the standard style of "button" ears, and are folded with the front edge against the side of the head. Breeding preference goes to "button" style ears.

Pugs' legs are strong, straight, of moderate length and are set well under. Their shoulders are moderately laid back. Their ankles are strong, their feet are small, their toes are well split-up, and their nails are black. The lower teeth normally protrude further than their upper, resulting in an under-bite.

Temperament

The American Kennel Club says the motto of the breed is the Latin phrase multum in parvo, or "much in little" or "a lot of dog in a small space". Pugs tend to be intuitive and sensitive to the moods of their owners and are usually eager to please them. Pugs are playful and thrive on human companionship. They also tend to have a snoozy nature and spend a lot of time napping. Pugs are often called "shadows" because they follow their owners around and like to stay close to the action, craving attention and affection from their owners.

• The breed has strong, straight legs set well under the body and a tail that curls over the hip.
• Pure-bred pugs are known for their unique facial wrinkles.
• Fawn is the most common color for a pug, but the American Kennel Club also recognizes the color black. The Canadian Kennel Club recognizes the colors black, silver, apricot, and fawn.

History

Chinese origins

Pugs were brought from China to Europe in the sixteenth century. Similar dogs were popular in the imperial court during the Song dynasty.

In ancient times, Pugs were bred to be companions for ruling families in China. The pet Pugs were highly valued by Chinese emperors, and the royal dogs were kept in luxury and guarded by soldiers. Pugs later spread to other parts of Asia. In Tibet, Buddhist monks kept Pugs as pets in their monasteries. The breed has retained its affectionate devotion to its owners since ancient times.

16th and 17th centuries

Pugs were popular at European courts, and reportedly became the official dog of the House of Orange in 1572 after a Pug named Pompey saved the life of the Prince of Orange by alerting him to the approach of assassins.

A Pug traveled with William III and Mary II when they left the Netherlands to accept the throne of England in 1688. During this period, the Pug may have been bred with the old type King Charles spaniel, giving the modern King Charles Spaniel its Pug-like characteristics.

The breed eventually became popular in other European countries as well. Pugs were painted by Goya in Spain, and in Italy they rode up front on private carriages, dressed in jackets and pantaloons that matched those of the coachman. They were used by the military to track animals and people, and were also employed as guard dogs.

18th century to 20th century

The English painter William Hogarth was the devoted owner of a series of Pugs. His 1745 self-portrait, which is now in London's Tate Gallery, includes his Pug, Trump. The Pug was also well known in Italy. In 1789, author Hester Piozzi wrote in her journal, "The little Pug dog or Dutch mastiff has quitted London for Padua, I perceive. Every carriage I meet here has a Pug in it."

The popularity of the Pug continued to spread in France during the eighteenth century. Before her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine had her Pug Fortune carry concealed messages to her family while she was confined at Les Carmes prison, it having alone been given visiting rights.

In nineteenth-century England, the breed flourished under the patronage of Queen Victoria. Her many Pugs, which she bred herself, included Olga, Pedro, Minka, Fatima and Venus. Her involvement with dogs in general helped to establish the Kennel Club, which was formed in 1873. Queen Victoria favored apricot and fawn colors. Her passion for Pugs was passed on to many other members of the royal family, including her grandson King George V and his son King Edward VIII. Many responded to the breed's image of anti-functionalism and diminutive size during this period.

In paintings and engravings of the 18th and 19th centuries, Pugs usually appear with longer legs and noses than today, and sometimes with cropped ears. The modern Pug's appearance probably changed after 1860 when a new wave of Pugs were imported directly from China. These Pugs had shorter legs and the modern-style Pug nose. The British aristocrat Lady Brassey is credited with making black Pugs fashionable after she brought some back from China in 1886.

Pugs arrived in the United States during the nineteenth century and were soon making their way into the family home and the show ring. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885. The Pug Dog Club of America was founded in 1931 and was recognized by the American Kennel Club that same year. In 1981, the Pug Dhandys Favorite Woodchuck won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in the United States, the only Pug to have won there since the show began in 1877.

21st century

The World Champion – or Best in Show – at the 2004 World Dog Show held in Rio de Janeiro, was a Pug named Double D Cinoblu's Masterpiece.

Retro Pugs

The breeding trend of Pugs led to shorter muzzles and shorter legs over time, with the dogs susceptible to some health issues. In 2023, the Netherlands placed limitations on the breeding of various short-faced breeds, including the conventional Pug. Since around 2006 there has been a counter-trend in some countries to breed "retro pugs". Breeders that pursue this change of the breed aim for longer snouts, less protruding eyes, as well as straight legs and less facial wrinkles.

Health issues

Brachycephaly

Since Pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as proptosis, scratched corneas, and painful entropion. The shortened snout and pushed in face of the Pug is known as brachycephaly. Brachycephaly results in deformation of the upper airway tract and leads to obstruction of breathing. Effects of brachycephaly are stridor, stertorous breathing, emesis, skin fold dermatitis, brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome, exophthalmos, pharyngeal gag reflex, cyanosis, and laryngeal collapse.

Other issues arising from brachycephaly are risk of complications whilst under anaesthesia, and hyperthermia – with the latter caused due to an inability to effectively reduce body temperature via panting. Their breathing problems can be worsened by the stresses of traveling in air cargo, which may involve high temperatures. Following the deaths of Pugs and other brachycephalic breeds, several airlines either banned their transport in cargo or enacted seasonal restrictions.

Obesity

Research from the UK found that Pugs are more prone to obesity than other breeds: they are three times more likely to develop obesity and one of every five Pugs are diagnosed as obese in a year. Obesity should be considered a health priority in Pugs because of the high prevalence, associated health problems and reversible nature of the disorder.

Life expectancy

A study in the UK of veterinary records found the Pug to have a life expectancy of 7.65 years – far below the average of 11.23 years. A review of pet cemetery data in Japan found the Pug to have a life expectancy of 12.8 years – below the average of 13.7 years and lower than the average for small breeds.

Inbreeding depression

In 2008, an investigative documentary carried out by the BBC found significant inbreeding between pedigree dogs, with a study by Imperial College, London, showing that the 10,000 Pugs in the UK were so inbred that their gene pool was the equivalent of only 50 individual humans.

Other conditions

An abnormal formation of the hip socket, known as hip dysplasia, affected nearly 64% of Pugs in a 2010 survey performed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; the breed was ranked the second worst-affected by this condition out of 157 breeds tested.

In a British study the Pug was found to be more susceptible to demodicosis. The prevalence of the condition in Pugs under 2 years was 1.9% compared to the 0.48% average and for Pugs over 4 years it was 0.2% compared to the 0.05% average, overall the Pug had a prevalence of 1% compared to the 0.17% average.

Pugs can suffer from necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME), also known as Pug dog encephalitis (PDE), an inflammation of the brain and meninges. NME is not unique to Pugs and also occurs in other small dogs, such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, and Chihuahua. NME affects roughly 1–2% of all Pugs.

The Pug is prone to hemivertebrae. This condition can lead to pain as well as loss of function in the hind legs.

Birth and reproduction

Due to the relative size of neonatal skulls to the birth canal, Pugs are highly predisposed to cesarean births.

Historical depictions of pugs

• A Dutch Mastiff (called 'Old Vertue') with Dunham Massey in the Background" (Jan Wyck, 1700)
• A portrait of Princess Ekaterina Golitsyna by Louis-Michel van Loo (1759)
  Moscow, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Children of the Marquis de Béthune with a Pug, 1761
• A male Pug, 1802
• Portrait of Sylvie de la Rue, circa 1810
• Young Lady in a Boat with a Pug by James Tissot, 1870
• Engraving of the Pugs "Punch and Tetty" from the 1859 book "The Dog in Health and Disease"
• Pug from 1915.
• Pug photo, ca 1900. Note its small head and long legs.
• A Pug by Carl Reichert. (1836–1918)

In popular culture

The breed became iconic in India, as it was featured as the mascot in a series of Vodafone (formerly Hutchison Essar) advertising commercials directed by Prakash Varma. The Pug that was predominantly featured in the commercials was Cheeka. The advertisement campaign was followed by a rise in the popularity of Pugs in India, and the sale of Pugs more than doubled within months, with prices for Pugs rising considerably. A few other adverts also appeared in the following months, inspired by the idea of a dog following a boy.

In Jane Austen's 1814 novel, Mansfield Park, Lady Bertram, the hero's mother, owned a pet Pug and was "thinking more of her Pug than her children".

The 1989 film The Adventures of Milo and Otis features a Pug named Otis, known as "Poosky" in its original 1986 Japanese version The Adventures of Chatran.

The Men in Black film series features Frank, a fictional talking Pug portrayed by animal actor Mushu.

See also

• Companion dog
• Lap dog
• Order of the Pug
• Canis

Notes

1. The Japanese study reviewed cemetery data which is unlikely to have any records of still-births and altricial deaths whilst a veterinary clinic likely would have data on these.

References

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