Lovable Pugs

by Ruwini Jayawardana

A Pug is a toy dog breed with a wrinkly face and medium-small body. The word "Pug" may have driven from the Latin Pugnus meaning "fist" since the Pug's face can look like a clenched fist.

The Pug is of Chinese origin and dates back to the pre-Christian era. They were prized possessions of the Emperors of China and lived in a most luxurious atmosphere and at times were even guarded by soldiers! Records show that the Chinese bred 3 types of short nosed dogs: the Lion dog, the Pekingese and the Lo-sze. The Lo-sze or "Foo Dog" was the ancient Pug.

The Dutch traders brought the Pugs from the East to areas like Holland and England. This attractive little dog was enjoyed by many Monarchs of Europe and to this day is a favourite with royalty and discerning people all over the world. The Pug's popularity grew rapidly but then dwindled by the turn of the century.

The Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange at around 1572 after a Pug saved the life of the prince by barking at an advancing Spanish soldier. A pug also travelled with William III and Mary II when they left the Netherlands to ascend the throne in 1688. In Spain, they were painted by Francisco Goya. Queen Victoria I also favoured fawn and apricot pugs in nineteenth century England.

While most Pugs in the eighteenth century prints tend to be lean and long, the current breed has a square, chubby body, a compact form, deep chest, and well-developed muscles. The wrinkles on their forehead should be distinct and deep.

Their lower teeth should protrude farther than their upper, meeting in an under bite. The coats vary from apricot, fawn, silver or black. The tail should curl over the hip and a double curl is considered as a sign of perfection. They are generally about 30 to 33 centimetres in height and weigh about 6 to 8 kilograms.

Since they have extremely short snouts and no skeletal brow ridges, Pugs can easily scratch their corneas accidentally. Their short noses can also cause them to develop breathing problems.

They can become overweight easily so it is important for Pug owners to make sure their pets get regular exercise. Pugs are expected to live from about 12 to 15 years.

A Pug's character is unique in that he is a clown at heart with a terrific sense of humour. However, at the same time he is able to carry himself with dignity. They are not too delicate for fun and games and are very sociable dogs.

A Pug is anxious to please, anxious to learn and anxious to love. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of a human so harsh punishment is unnecessary. They get along well with other dogs and pets but require a lot of attention. His biggest requirement is that you love him back.