Pug

The pug is a breed of dog 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 colours, most often fawn or black, and a compact square body with well-developed muscles.

For other uses, see Pug (disambiguation).

Pug
A fawn Pug, the most common colouring
Other names
  • Chinese pug
  • Dutch mastiff
OriginChina (Ming dynasty)[1]
Kennel club standards
China Kennel Union standard
FCI standard
Dog (domestic dog)

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.[2] 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.[3] The American Kennel Club describes the breed's personality as "even-tempered and charming".[4] Pugs remain popular into the twenty-first century, with some famous celebrity owners. A pug was judged Best in Show at the World Dog Show in 2004.[5]

Description
A fawn Pug puppy

Physical characteristics

While the pugs that are depicted in eighteenth century prints tend to be long and lean,[2] modern breed preferences are for a square cobby body, a compact form, a deep chest, and well-developed muscle.[4] Their smooth and glossy coats can be fawn, apricot fawn, silver fawn, or black.[4][6] The markings are clearly defined and there is a trace of a black line extending from the occiput to the tail.[4] The tail normally curls tightly over the hip.[2]

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.[7]

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.[4] The lower teeth normally protrude further than their upper, resulting in an under-bite.[1]

Temperament

This breed is often described by the Latin phrase multum in parvo, or "much in little" or "a lot of dog in a small space", alluding to the Pug's remarkable and charming personality, despite its small size.[1] Pugs are strong willed but rarely aggressive, and are suitable for families with children. The majority of the breed is very fond of children and sturdy enough to properly play with them. Depending on their owner's mood, they can be quiet and docile but also vivacious and teasing.[8] Pugs tend to be intuitive and sensitive to the moods of their owners and are usually eager to please them.[3] Pugs are playful and thrive on human companionship.[9] 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,[10] craving attention and affection from their owners.[11][12]

Birth and reproduction

Pug pregnancies last an average of 63 days. The average sized litter for Pugs is 4 to 6 puppies, though this can vary from 1 to 9 and still be considered normal.[13]

  • 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.
  • Eyes should be large with a rounded shape and dark in colour.
  • 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
William Hogarth with his Pug, Trump, in 1745.
A portrait of Princess Ekaterina Dmitrievna Golitsyna by Louis-Michel van Loo (1759)
Moscow, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
A favourite Pug bitch depicted in 1802, by Henry Bernard Chalon

Chinese origins

China is the earliest known source for the breed.[1] Similar dogs were popular in the Imperial court during the Song Dynasty.[14]

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.[3] Pugs later spread to other parts of Asia. In Tibet, Buddhist monks kept Pugs as pets in their monasteries.[3] The breed has retained its affectionate devotion to its owners since ancient times.[3]

16th and 17th centuries

Pugs were popular at European courts, and reportedly become 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.[1]

A Pug travelled with William III and Mary II when they left the Netherlands to accept the throne of England in 1688.[2] During this period, the Pug may have been bred with the old type King Charles spaniel, giving the modern King Charles Spaniel its Pug characteristics.[15]

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.[2]

18th century to present day

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.[16] 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."[17][18] 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.[19]

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.[2] Her involvement with dogs in general helped to establish the Kennel Club, which was formed in 1873.[2] Queen Victoria favored apricot and fawn colors. Queen Victoria's passion for Pugs was passed on to many other members of the Royal family, including her grandson King George V[20] and his son King Edward VIII. Many responded to the breed's image of anti-functionalism and diminutive size during this period.[21]

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.[1][2] Ear cropping was made illegal in 1895.[22]

Pugs arrived in the United States during the nineteenth century and were soon making their way into the family home and the show ring.[2] 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.[23] The World Champion, or Best in Show at the 2004 World Dog Show held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a Pug named Double D Cinoblu's Masterpiece.[5]

Health problems

Since pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as proptosis, scratched corneas, and painful entropion.[2] They also have compact breathing passageways, leaving many prone to breathing difficulties or unable to efficiently regulate their temperature through evaporation from the tongue by panting. A Pug's normal body temperature is between 101 °F (38 °C) and 102 °F (39 °C). If this temperature rises to 105 °F (41 °C), oxygen demand is greatly increased and immediate cooling is required. If body temperature reaches 108 °F (42 °C), organ failure can occur.[24] Their breathing problems can be worsened by the stresses of travelling 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.[25][26]

Pugs that live a mostly sedentary life can be prone to obesity, though this is avoidable with regular exercise and a healthy diet.[27] The median life span of Pugs is 11 years, which is in line with other breeds of the same size.[28]

Common conditions
An overweight pug.

Pugs, like other short-snouted breeds, have elongated palates. When excited, they are prone to "reverse sneezing" which causes them to quickly (and seemingly laboriously) gasp and snort. The veterinary name for this is pharyngeal gag reflex and it is caused by fluid or debris getting caught under the palate and irritating the throat or limiting breathing. Reverse sneezing episodes are usually not harmful, and massaging the dog's throat or covering its nose in order to make it breathe through its mouth can often shorten a sneezing fit.[29]

Some pugs are also born with stenotic nares which can also inhibit their breathing. In serious cases, the pinched nostrils make breathing even more difficult for this breed and put added pressure on the larynx.[30] In some cases, the dog could pass out from blocked airways. If this happens, one should inquire with their veterinarian whether or not surgery is needed to modify the breathing passages.[31]

Eye prolapse is a common problem among Pugs and other brachycephalic breeds (see brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome)[32] and can be caused by a trauma to the head or neck, or even by the owner using a tight leash instead of a harness.[33] While the eye can usually be pushed back into its socket by the owner or by a vet, veterinary attention is usually advisable. If the prolapse happens on a regular basis, the Pug might require surgery.[34]

Pugs have many wrinkles in their faces, so owners will often clean inside the creases to avoid irritation and infection.[35] If this is not done, the dog may develop a condition known as skin fold dermatitis.[36]

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.[37]

Pugs are one of several breeds that are more susceptible than other dogs to demodectic mange, also known as "demodex". This condition is caused when parasitic mites, that are often present in a dog's skin without causing symptoms, are allowed to do damage because their host has a weakened immune system. It is a problem for many young Pugs, although not usually a major one, and is easily treatable, but some are especially susceptible and present with a systemic form of the condition.[38] This vulnerability is thought to be genetic and breeders will avoid producing puppies from adults who have this condition.[39]

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 are so inbred that their gene pool is the equivalent of only 50 individuals.[40]

Serious issues

Pugs can suffer from necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME), also known as Pug dog encephalitis (PDE), an inflammation of the brain and meninges.[41] NME also occurs in other small dogs, such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, and Chihuahua.[41] There is no known cure for NME, which is believed to be an inherited disease.[42] Dogs usually die or have to be put to sleep within a few months of onset, which, in those susceptible to this condition, is mostly between six months and three years of age.[43]

This breed, along with other brachycephalic dogs (e.g., boxers, bulldogs), are also prone to hemivertebrae.[44][45] The curled tail of a British bulldog is an example of a hemivertebrae, but when it occurs not in the coccygeal vertebrae but in other areas of the spine, it can cause paralysis. The condition occurs when two parts of a spinal vertebra do not fuse properly while a young Pug is still growing, resulting in an irregularly shaped spinal cavity which can put pressure on the spinal cord.[46]

Historical depictions of pugs
  • 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 the small head and the long legs it has.
  • A pug by Carl Reichert. (1836-1918)

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.[47][48] 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.[49]

The Men in Black film series features Frank the pug, a fictional talking pug played by the animal actor Mushu.[50] Frank has helped to popularize pugs and has become an iconic example of the breed.

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See also

References
  1. "American Kennel Club - Pug History". AKC.org. American Kennel Club. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
  2. Farr, Kendall; Montague, Sarah (1999). Pugs in Public. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, a division of U.S. Media Holdings. ISBN 1-55670-939-0.
  3. Morn, September (2010). Our Best Friends: The Pug. Pittsburgh: ElDorado Ink. pp. 11, 14–15. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  4. "American Kennel Club - Pug". AKC.org. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  5. "Interview with Ann Joe Sampaio, owner of Double D Cinoblu's Masterpiece". World Dog Show 2015. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. Color: The colors are fawn or black. The fawn color should be decided so as to make the contrast complete between the color and the trace and mask.
  7. "Ears". Pugs.org. Pug Dog Club of America. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  8. "Pug Temperament and Personality". PugInformation.org. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  9. "Pug: Dog Breed Information". dogtime.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  10. "Pug - Temperament & Personality". www.petwave.com. PetWave Corporation. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  11. "Pugminded: Personality". pugminded.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  12. Belmonte, Brenda (2004). The Pug Handbook. New York: Barron's Educational Series Inc. p. 13. pug craves attention.
  13. "Pug Dog Pregnancy". petpugdog.com.
  14. Collier, V. W. F. (1921). Dogs of China & Japan, in nature and art. W. Heinemann, London. p. 147. The Lo-chiang dog was a "pai" dog and consequently small, "short-headed," and "short-legged" before A.D. 1000. It was very possibly the Chinese Pug and appears to have been fashionable at the Chinese court from the beginning of the eighth century to the middle of the eleventh century possibly even to the removal of the capital from Hsianfu to Peking, about A.D. 1153.
  15. Moffat, Norma. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet (2nd ed.). Howell Book House. p. 19. ISBN 0-471-74823-4.
  16. William Hogarth. The Painter and his Pug, 1745. Tate Gallery, London, England. www.tate.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  17. Maggitti, Phil (2000). Pugs: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Behavior, and Training. Barron's Educational Series. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7641-1045-0. Retrieved 17 January 2010. pug.
  18. Wilhelmina Swainston-Goodger (5 March 2013). The Pug-Dog - Its History and Origin. Read Books Limited. pp. 50–. ISBN 978-1-4474-8817-0.
  19. Katharine Macdonogh (August 1996). "Prison Pets in the French Revolution". History Today. 46.
  20. "Royal Collection - The Duke of York holding a pug". royalcollection.org.uk.
  21. Yang, C. (2012). Culture in Miniature: Toy Dogs and Object Life. Eighteenth Century Fiction, 25(1), 139-174.
  22. "Pugs in Art". The Bulldog Information Library. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  23. Cunliffe, Juliette. "History of the Pug". DogChannel.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  24. "Keeping your Pug cool during the dog days of summer". OwnedByPugs.com. 18 July 2005. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  25. "Air Travel and Short-Nosed Dogs FAQ". American Veterinary Medical Association. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  26. Haughney, Christine (26 October 2011). "Banned by Many Airlines, These Bulldogs Fly Private". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  27. "Obesity in Pugs". PugInformation.org. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  28. "2004 KC/BSAVA Purebred Dog Health Survey" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  29. Lundgrun, Becky (26 June 2006). "Reverse Sneezing (Pharyngeal Gag Reflex)". VeterinaryPartner.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  30. "Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome". Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals. ufaw.org.uk: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  31. "Stenotic Nares in Dogs". Pet Health Network. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  32. "Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome". Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals. ufaw.org.uk: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  33. Dogs 101 Pug Video
  34. Traumatic eye prolapse Archived 9 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine by Jeff Grognet, D.V.M., B.Sc.(Agr.)
  35. "Pug Health Guide". Pugs.org. op. cit. Archived from the original on 23 October 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  36. "Skin Fold Dermatitis". Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals. ufaw.org.uk: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  37. "Hip Dysplasia Statistics: Hip Dysplasia by Breed". OFFA.org. Ortheopedic Foundation for Animals. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  38. "Demodex Mange in Pugs". PugVillage.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  39. Demodectic Mange in Dogs PetMD Article by T. J. Dunn, Jr., DVM. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  40. "Pedigree dogs plagued by disease". BBC News. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  41. Cynthia M. Kahn, BA MA, ed. (2010). The Merck Veterinary Manual (10th ed.). Kendallville, Indiana: Courier Kendallville, Inc. pp. 1119, 1158. ISBN 0-911910-93-X.
  42. "Slide 1". Pugs.org. op. cit. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  43. "Pug Dog Encephalitis". PugPlace.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  44. "Hemivertebrae". Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals. ufaw.org.uk: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  45. "Hemivertebrae". barkbytes.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  46. "Pug Health Management". MyDogBreed.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  47. "The perils of being the Vodafone pug". India Times. 23 November 2016.
  48. "Return of the Vodafone pug". livemint.com. 14 March 2016.
  49. Jaypal, Renuka. Going Digital in India Archived 15 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Viewpoint, May 2006, retrieved 24 November 2006.
  50. "PUG IN BLACK: FRANK WALKS AWAY WITH MIIB". courant.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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