Picking your Dog’s
breed is the most important factor in deciding which
puppy to purchase. As each breed is unique in size, temperament
and habits, certain breeds also may have special needs.
Displayed below is special information about the breed
you are interested in. Feel free to ask our breed specialists
any questions you may have regarding the breed you are
looking for.
A Pug is a toy dog breed with a wrinkly face and medium-small body. The breed is often summarized as multum in parvo ("much in little"), in reference to the Pug's great personality, despite its small size.
Height: 12-14 inches (30-36 cm.)
Weight: 13-20 pounds (6-9kg.)
About 12 to 15 years.
Mastiff, AKC Toy
Temperament:
Pugs are very sociable dogs, and usually very stubborn. But they are playful, charming and clever and are known to succeed in dog obedience skills. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of a human voice, so harsh punishment is generally unnecessary. While Pugs mostly get along well with other dogs and pets, they generally prefer the company of humans and require lots of attention; they may become slightly anxious or agitated if their owner ignores them or does not play with them, however some may occupy themselves when the owner is away. In general, they are very clingy dogs, always at their owner's feet, in their lap, or following them from room to room.
Grooming:
The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush and comb with a firm bristle brush and shampoo only when necessary. After bathing, dry him quickly and thoroughly to prevent chill.
Origin:
One of the older breeds, the Pug is believed to have originated before 400 BC in Asia. There is somewhat of a debate over the origin of the Pug. Some experts think it came from the Lowlands, brought back from the Far East by Dutch traders. It is possibly of Oriental stock, descended from a short-haired Pekingese, but another theory is, it is the result of crossing a small Bulldog. Yet another school of thought is that it is a miniature form of the rare French Mastiff called Dogue de Bordeaux. Pugs were a favorite of the artist Hogarth, who included his pet Pug "Trump" in several of his works. From the sixteenth century, it became a fashionable adornment of the European Courts, reaching its peak of popularity in Victorian times. He was a pet at Tibetan monasteries and later traveled to Japan. The Pug then came to Europe, where the endearing little dog was the pet of royalty in several countries and even became the official dog of the House of Orange in Holland. A Pug saved William, Prince of Orange's life by alerting him to the approaching Spaniards in 1572 at Hermingny. Napoleon's wife, Josephine, sent secret messages to her husband under the collar of her Pug while she was in prison. When the British overran the Chinese Imperial Palace in 1860, they discovered several Pugs and Pekinese, and brought the little dogs back to England with them. The AKC recognized the Pug in 1885 and the breed has since become a popular companion dog. Some of the Pug's talents include: watchdog and performing tricks.
