Pug - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin

The Pugs home is in China where snub-nosed dogs have always been in favour. , but the exact place of origin is debatable. We know that Pugs have existed since at least 400 B.C., In the ancient times, Pugs were beloved by royalty and even by Chinese Emperors. There are records about the royal pugs, that were even guarded by soldiers. As you can see, Pugs were always bred to be the best companion dogs. In 1500s, Pugs spread to Europe with Dutch East India Company and they become beloved companions of European nobility as well. They were especially popular in Netherlands, where the Pug.
2) Appearance change
It is quite normal, that breeds appearance change over the time, but Pugs appearance changed drastically. As you can see from these drawing and photos from 19th century, Pugs back than had larger muzzle, they did not had extremely bulgy eyes and their stature was more athletic. Sadly, those changes maybe made the breed cuter, but especially the shorter muzzle is a reason, why Pug is so much prone to breathing problems.

3) Wrinkles

One of the typical sign of Pugs is their wrinkled face. Actually they were purposely bred to have those wrinkles by Chinese breeders back in the ancient times. The goal was to to create a pattern of wrinkles on the dogs' foreheads, which resembled the Chinese character for prince (王子)

4) Personality
There is a great nickname for the Pug, which is Multum in Parvo. It is from latin and it means something like a great deal in a small space, or in case of Pugs a lot of dog in a small space. It is perfectly describing Pugs charming, playful and mischevious personality. It is a just a small dog with a big personality. Pugs are also affectionate and loyal and overall, they make extraordinary family companions. Their happy nature is quite contagious and they will most likely make you smile every day.

5) Coat

The most common Pug color is fawn, but according to the official breed standard, they can be found not only in fawn, but also in black, silver or apricot. Pugs have a short doublecoat which is known for shedding constantly. Be prepared for that, because even though they are very small, you will have their fur everywhere.

6) Celebrities
The Pug is popular all around the world, so it is no wonder that they appeared in TV shows, movies or commercials. These little guys made into films such as “The Adventures of Milo and Otis”, “Men in Black”, “Pocahontas” or “Hotel for Dogs”. One Pug also became a mascot of Vodafone. The Pugs also were or still are loving companions of many celebrities, including Robin Williams, Jessica Alba, Hugh Laurie, Queen Victoria or Dave Ramsey.

7) Exercise

Pugs are lap dogs and they will be happy with few daily walks and some indoor playtime. On the other hand, they will be absolutely okay with longer walks or hikes as well, but always remember that they have heavier torso and short legs, so very long walks might be harder for them. Also, they have problems with high humidity and temperatures, which can cause breathing problems, so it is recommended to minimize the exercise on warm days. Overall, this is very adaptable dog that will adjust to the energy level of their owners.

8) Size

Pugs are sturdy and squared built dogs with average height between 10-14 inch, which is 25-35 cm and weight is typically between 14-18 pounds, which is 6-8 kg. Females are naturally little bit smaller than males.

9) Maintenance

As i already mentioned earlier in the video, Pugs shed a good deal, so if you would like to minimize the shedding, regular brushing is needed. You should regularly check the Pugs large eyes, that can be vulnerable to irritation and injury. Also you should regularly clean and dry the Pugs wrinkles to prevent infections. And do not overfeed your Pug, they love to eat, but they are also prone to become obese, which is always a health risk for a dog or any other animal.

10) Health

Sadly, Pugs are suffering from quite a lot of health issues, like breathing problems, entropion, portosystemic shunt, legg calve perthers disease, Pug dog encephalitis, epilepsy or demodectic mange. The average lifespan is between 12-15 years.