Charming and Compact: The Beloved Pug Dog Breed

The origins of the pug or pug dog breed are very old; it is said to come from China, where dogs with flattened faces have always been favoured. This breed can be found depicted in numerous Chinese paintings and sculptures as far back as 400 BC.

It only arrived in Europe between 1500 and 1600 following traders from the East India Company and when trade with China intensified, it was among the favourite gifts of traders returning from the Orient.

It mainly spread to the Netherlands and Great Britain, thanks to its success in the House of Orange and the House of Stuart, and has always been considered a companion dog since its origin. The pug became associated with Dutch royalty when after the glorious revolution of 1689, William III became King of England, and this dog accompanied him, becoming very popular among the nobility.

In Italy, it is called a pug after an actor: Carlo Bertinazzi called Carlino because of his performance as Harlequin at the Theatre de la comédie italienne, wearing a black mask that portrayed features similar to this dog's muzzle. This actor played mainly in Paris, which is why this dog is also called carlin in France. But each nation has its own name for this breed, which from now on we will call pug as it is called this in English-speaking nations.

For example in China, its place of origin is called ba ge quan, in Japan it is called Chin, , mopsi in Finland, doguillo in Spain and mophonds in Holland, but really every nation has its own name for this breed.

At first sight it looks very similar to a bulldog but is smaller. This dog was also the favourite breed of the Chinese imperial family, and also of Tibetan monks.

Character of the pug or pug dog breed

The pug is the companion dog par excellence. It is affectionate with the family and particularly attached to its owner. When young, it is a very active, exuberant and lively dog, but as it grows up, it becomes a calm, sleepy dog that is not very prone to movement.

It is known for the loyalty it shows to its owner, so much so that it becomes his shadow, and it is also very jealous when its owner cuddles other dogs in its presence, but it is not of a nervous disposition, on the contrary, it is decidedly cheerful and particularly sensitive. He is very suitable for families with children as he likes to play a lot and also likes to be the centre of attention. He is also very suitable for elderly people, as he does not disdain sitting for hours on the sofa with his master watching television. Above all, it suffers loneliness very much, so it is not suitable for people who are often away from home for many hours.

With strangers, it is at first wary and for this reason, despite its size, is an excellent guard dog. And yet it is loyal, very intelligent and with an innate dignity of its own.

It is a very good choice as a first dog, also because of its small size, because it is very obedient and will do anything to please its owner; with other dogs and also with cats, peaceful coexistence is possible, provided it has been socialised at least a little as a child.

Appearance of the pug or pug dog breed

The pug or pug is a small brachycephalic dog, i.e. with a flattened muzzle. Its height at withers is between 25 and 30 centimetres and it weighs between 6 and 8 kilograms. It is a small molossoid with a compact and well-proportioned build. The trunk is short, stocky and robust; the chest is not very wide but the proportions are adequate for the rest of the body. The limbs are of medium length, straight and strong and it is usual to move with parallel legs and a swinging gait. Another characteristic of this breed is its curly tail folded on its back.

Its head is large, round and massive while its muzzle is short, wrinkled and round. The ears, always small and usually black, are thin, velvety to the touch and can be folded forwards or backwards. The eyes are prominent, round, large, shiny dark in colour and very expressive. The muzzle has an always black mask with a protruding black truffle.

Its coat is short, smooth, soft and shiny. There are many colours, ranging from silver, apricot, fawn and black. These are the most common colours, but there are also white, brown, chocolate-coloured and, even rarer, striped or brindled specimens.

Care and health of the pug or pug dog breed

The pug or pug is a very delicate dog due to several problems. Being a brachycephalic breed, it can suffer from respiratory problems, especially in summer, its below-average respiratory capacity making it less resistant to exertion, so avoid any physical activity during the hottest hours to avoid heatstroke.

Another common problem is obesity; as he is very lazy, it is often necessary to force him to exercise and give him a controlled and balanced diet. It may also suffer from skin infections and conjunctivitis, hip dysplasia, and cardio-respiratory disorders. It must also be considered that it does not tolerate very cold or very hot temperatures. In winter, it must therefore be covered when taken outside.

It is essential to devote time to its hygiene: ears, wrinkles and eyes must be cleaned and checked often to avoid annoying irritations. The skin should be kept clean by washing as needed with a natural, mild shampoo, and the eye area should also be checked with natural products. As far as coat care is concerned, the dog should be brushed often to keep its coat shiny and smooth.