The Pug and its History

The Pug

The pug is well described by the phrase "multum in parvo" which means "a lot of dog in a small space." They are recognized for their even-tempers, playful personalities, and their outgoing, loving dispositions. A Pug's character is unique in that he is a clown at heart with a terrific sense of humor but at the same time he carries himself with great dignity. They are not too delicate for fun and games. A Pug is anxious to please, anxious to learn and anxious to love. His biggest requirement is that you love him back.

This square and cobby breed comes in fawn or black, with a well-defined "mask" on his muzzle. A popular companion dog, the Pug also excels in the show ring.

History of the Pug

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 three types of short-nosed dogs were bred by the Chinese. They were 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 far east to Holland and England. The more refined Pug that we know today must be credited to the English. This happy little dog was enjoyed by many monarchs of Europe and to this day is a favorite with royalty and discerning people all over the world.

The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1885. The Pug's popularity grew by leaps and bounds but then dwindled by the turn of the century. A few dedicated breeders kept the breed going and slowly the pug reappeared on the American scene. The Pug is enjoying a rather steady rate of growth in popularity at the present time. He is not so popular as to be common or so unknown as to be rare.

Did You Know?

• The Pug was pet of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet.
• The Pug was the official dog of the House of Orange in Holland after one of the breed saved the life of the Crown Prince; the dog appears in the effigy of the monarch over William's tomb.
• Josephine, wife of Napoleon, used her Pug "Fortune" to carry secret messages under his collar to her husband while she was imprisoned at Les Carmes.
• Though called "Mopshond" (Dutch, "to grumble") in Holland and "Carlin" in France, but the name "Pug" probably comes from the dog's facial expression, which is similar to that of the marmoset monkeys that were popular pets of the early 1700's and known as Pugs.