About
The pug is a small breed of dog (often known as a “toy” dog) characterised by its wrinkly face, short muzzle and curly tail. Pugs have small stocky square bodies with tightly knitted muscles with a broad, round head. They have large round eyes that have been compared to a monkey's due to their deep, expressive nature. Pugs have one of two types of ears; “button” ears, the standard size of pug ears with a folded front edge against the side of their head and the “rose” ears, which are slightly smaller. They come in a range of colours including black, fawn, silver and apricot.
History
The pug is known for its huge personality despite its small size. Bred as lap dogs during the Shang Dynasty at around 400 BC in Eastern China, they are tough little dogs. Even though they originated in China, the Netherlands, UK and US have also contributed towards their breed development. Before they arrived in England, the Pug was Dutch and they often arrived in England with orange ribbons around their necks to signify the official dog of the House of Orange, due to the fact that in 1572 a pug called Pompey saved the life of the Prince of Orange by alerting him to the fact that assassins were approaching.
Pet
Bred by the ancient Chinese, pugs are strong willed yet affectionate and crave the affection of their owners. Pugs are sociable and playful and adapt well to both children and other animals. Suited to a quieter, older owner they are just as happy with a young family and a great companion to anyone living alone. Due to their size and body type they make ideal pets for apartment life as they are relatively inactive and do not like extreme temperatures. They do however need to be walked daily and love to play games, but don't over do it; if you hear them wheezing then it's time for a break. They have relatively short hair, but don't be fooled, they still moult and need brushing regularly as well as having the folds in their faces cleaned.
Health
Pugs do suffer with quite a few health problems primarily due to their short snouts and prominent brow ridges. They are prone to eye injuries like Proptosis and Entropion as well as scratched corneas and also suffer from breathing problems. Due to the fact they have short legs, they are also susceptible to Hip Dysplasia and Patellar Luxation.
Buying A Pug
Any dog is a huge responsibility, so before you start looking into buying a pug make sure you definitely want one. Read up on the breed and speak to current pug owners about their experiences owning one. The best place to begin is with the approved pug breeders as vetted by the Kennel Club.
If you have a pet pug we would love to see your pictures, send them in to pictures@dogbeds.co.uk
