Pug

Height: 10 - 11 inches
Weight: 14 - 18 pounds
Life span: 12 - 15 years
AKC group: Toy
AKC rank: 13

Breed History | Background:

Pugs originated in China in ancient times. They were developed as lap dogs rather than as any sort of working dog.
The facial wrinkles were an essential breed feature. The vertical forehead wrinkles were thought to resemble the Chinese mark for “Prince.”
Dutch traders brought pugs back from China with them, and Holland subsequently became the pug’s adopted homeland.
The pug became the official dog of the House of Orange because they sounded the alarm at the approach of invading soldiers in 1572.
Napoleon’s wife, Josephine, used her pug to carry messages back and forth when she was imprisoned.
The pug became the most popular royal dog in England during Victorian times.
The pug was known as Mopshond in Holland, as Mops in Germany, and as Dutch or Chinese pug in England.
The AKC recognized the pug in 1885.
The pug took a while to catch on in America, but it has a steady following and has been among the top 20 breeds for years.

Behavioral concerns:

Makes a devoted and entertaining family member.
Playful, affectionate and gentle with children, pugs make excellent companions for them.
Known for its clownish behavior and sense of humor.
Affectionate and demonstrative.
Reserved toward strangers.
Usually good with other dogs and pets.
Willing to please but doesn’t like to be forced, which brings out its stubborn streak.
Does best with reward-based training with good control and leadership.

Suggested exercise needs:

Makes a calm and alert housedog.
Requires daily exercise in the form of a leisurely walk, very short jog, or quick game. It is not physically suited to overly vigorous exercise.
Overheats easily.
Swimming is not recommended, as many pugs cannot stay afloat.
Obedience and trick training provides essential mental exercise.

Grooming:

The pug’s coat is fine, smooth and short. The skin is overly abundant, and wrinkled on the face.
The coat needs weekly brushing to remove dead hair.
Wrinkles need regular cleaning and drying to prevent skin infections.
Shedding is above average.

Suggested Nutritional Needs:

Pugs have a tendency to become obese.
Adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet, with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight.

Medical conditions seen:

- Celebrity Spotlight - Melinda Clarke
  
  HealthyPet recently visited actress Melinda Clarke at her Los Angeles home for an intimate conversat... Read More
- Pet Fame and the Name Game
  
  From the archives of HealthyPet U!, our quarterly department featuring animal related stories from a... Read More

Glossary