The history of the origin of the breed, its purpose, the standard of the pug's appearance, character and temperament, advice on care, training of the pug, the purchase price. When someone has a pet at home, the life of this “someone” turns into a real adventure, especially if it is a dog of an adorable pug breed. Pugs are quite compact dogs that are perfectly adapted to life in city apartments. They are fun, playful and upbeat. Such an eternally snoring and grunting miracle will brighten up your life and will not make you bored for a minute. It is an ideal pet for people who have a dog for the first time and families with small children. Such a lovely creature will not leave anyone indifferent and will undoubtedly win the heart of anyone with its sweet, funny spontaneity and kind disposition.
The origin story of the pug
The pug is one of the oldest indoor and decorative breeds. It is believed to have originated in ancient China. The time of origin of the breed is approximately dated to the first century BC. During the Chinese dynasties, these funny dogs were the favorite pets of the noble family.
Early Chinese manuscripts describe "short, square dogs with a short snout." In Tibet, Buddhist monks began to have such. Judging by the ancient Chinese monuments of art, there were two varieties of these animals, which differed only in the length of the coat. The varieties were called "Ha-Pa" and "Lo-Tse". "Ha-Pa" were long-haired and "Lo-Jie" were short-haired. It is the representatives of the second species that are considered the progenitors of modern pugs. The ancient Lo-Jie did not have the deep forehead wrinkles that are characteristic of the modern external breed standard. The pattern of the frontal folds resembled hieroglyphs, which is why it was called the "imperial sign".
The first mentions of pugs outside of China date back to the middle of the sixteenth century - then, in 1553, pug puppies were brought to France along with the Turkish (according to another version, Dutch) fleet. Later, the breed appeared in the Netherlands and became an irreplaceable member of the family of the noble house of Orange. In 1572, the pug Pompey saved William III of Orange, waking him up with a loud bark, when the Spaniards attacked the town of Hermini. After becoming king of England, William of Orange, along with his wife Mary, brought pugs to England in 1689. The coronation of the newly-made English ruler was carried out surrounded by a large horde of his precious pets. This event marked the beginning of the enormous popularity of the breed.
She was extremely popular for a long period of time. The pug became a permanent resident of the royal court and a favorite animal of the nobility, especially the ladies of the court. In high society, it was prestigious to have such dogs, and it meant good manners. Napoleon's first wife, Josephine, also had a pug, whom she named "Fortune." Stories about the loyalty of Josephine's favorite have passed through the centuries. One of them tells how the devoted Fortune brought messages to Napoleon from his wife, who was imprisoned at that time in the prison of Carmes (Les Carmes).
By the end of the nineteenth century, the level of popularity of the breed had declined dramatically. In 1864, Queen Victoria wanted to have a pug puppy at the court, and the people had to work hard before they found at least one. Only in 1884 was the first club of fans of this species created. The American Kennel Club recognized the pug breed in 1885. A year later, "exotic" black pugs were brought from China to England for breeding.
The purpose of the pug
The pug is one of the most popular indoor and decorative breeds. From time immemorial and until today, he remains a companion dog, a friend dog, a pet for the soul and heart. Your task is to take care of your furry friend and love him, and his task is to love you and paint your gray everyday life with bright colors. To please the owner for a pug is an easily accomplished mission, because you won't be bored with him for a minute.
Appearance standard of representatives of the breed
The pug is a small dog, the largest specimen of the category of indoor decorative breeds. He has a sturdy build and looks slightly clumsy. Females are 25-30 centimeters tall and weigh 5-8 kilograms. The height of males at the withers varies from 30 to 35 centimeters, weight is 7-10 kilograms.
- Head. In these animals, it is round, large in relation to the size of the body. The skull is flat between the ears. The ears are pendant, small, v-shaped, set high on the top of the head. According to the standard, two types of ears are distinguished: "roses" - laid back so that their inner part is open and "buttons" - the ears are tightly pressed to the skull, the inner part is closed. The standard prefers button ears. The transition from the forehead to the nose is poorly expressed, forms an almost straight line. The muzzle is square, short, wrinkled, flat and wide. The folds on the head should form an almost symmetrical pattern. The nose is on a line that conditionally passes through the middle of the eyes, dividing the head into two equal parts - the frontal and the muzzle. The bridge of the nose must be at least 15 millimeters long. The nostrils are large. The eye arches are poorly expressed. The flews should not sag. The lower jaw is wide and well defined.
- Neck in pugs it is short, broad and muscular, slightly arched. The nape is well defined.
- Body short, stunted, densely built, muscular. The body is square - the length of the body is approximately equal to the height at the withers. Sloping shoulders. The chest is wide. The lower chest line should be level with the elbow joints. The upper outline of the withers, back and loin forms a straight line. The croup is full, round in shape.
- Limbs Pugs are strong, strong and muscular, of medium length. Developed muscles visually give the impression of the curvature of the front legs. The elbow joints of the forelimbs fit tightly to the chest. The hind legs are strong with muscular thighs and well-defined hocks.
- Paws medium in size, round in shape. The toes are slightly bent, the two middle ones are longer than the rest. The paw pads are thick.
- Tail short, set high and rolled into a ring, close to the croup. The double tail ring is considered an advantage.
Pug coat and color standard
The coat of pug dogs is short, smooth, straight and very thick. The undercoat is thick and soft.
Among the main colors of the coat, recognized by the standard, there are:
- "Fawn" - warm beige-brown color in different shades;
- "Apricot" or "sunlight fawn" - a beige color with an apricot sheen of varying saturation;
- "Moonlight silver fawn" (also known as "silver fawn") - silver (cold) beige-brown color;
- black.
The presence of light and red hairs in a black wool color is unacceptable. Black and apricot colors are considered the rarest and most expensive.
According to the standard, light color pugs are accompanied by the following points:
- "Diamond" - a characteristic dark brown or black diamond-shaped patch on the forehead is considered an advantage, but it is not necessary.
- "Mask" - borders the eyes and eyebrows, black and distinct, its diameter may vary, but it must necessarily cover the pug's nose and chin.
- Ears and moles black color;
- "Belt" - a dark line running from the back of the head to the base of the tail. It is formed by light hairs, the color of which turns black towards the tip. The "strap" is rare and not required. Black pugs have no markings, but their skin has a characteristic bluish color.
- Eyes the representatives of the breed are bulging, large and expressive, round in shape. Eye color should be dark brown, light shades are considered a defect. It is necessary that the whites of the eye are not visible. The skin of the eyelids, nose, paw pads and nails are black.
The nature and temperament of the pug
A pug is not just a cute, funny dog, it is a great friend and loyal companion. They are so strongly attached to their owners that long-term loneliness turns into real torment for them - pugs are under stress, lose their appetite and may even get sick. But when the whole family is together, your pet will get a bunch of "important" things to do with great pleasure and interest. The favorite activities of these dogs are not very diverse: short, not very active games, frequent snacks and long sleep.
The pug is the "sloth" of the canine world. It was created to be loved, fed and touched by its cute, always "smiling" face. Representatives of the breed are kind and playful, absolutely not aggressive, very affectionate and calm, but terribly stubborn. This dog is called energetic. This is partly true, but an active ten-minute game must necessarily be replaced by a sweet hour-long sleep - this animal simply needs rest for its well-being. In addition, for sleeping and resting, the animal will choose the warmest and most comfortable places, and even better if it comes out to break into the bed of its beloved owner.
Thanks to their kind disposition, pugs will perfectly fit into a family with children and will become great pets for those who have a dog for the first time. These lovely adorable girls are simply madly in love with all members of the family in which they live and are very jealous. If the owner plays with other dogs, it will upset the pug. Such a glorious and loyal creature will certainly brighten your every day, easily lifting your mood with its mere presence.
Four-legged friend health
The pug is a long-lived dog with an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. The breed requires special, constant and careful care. With proper care of your furry friend, he will delight you with his presence and energetic demeanor for many years.
The pug has a brocechifal skull, which means that it has a short nose (the nasal passages are shortened, not curved) and the palate, which causes breathing problems. The dog constantly has to breathe through the mouth, as the nose is constantly clogged ("pinched nostrils" - clogged nostrils), but this can be corrected by surgery. Respiratory problems can result in:
- Loud snoring;
- heart failure, arrhythmia;
- fainting with intense physical exertion and intense excitement.
The pug is prone to all sorts of allergies, both seasonal and food. Most often, an allergy in an animal is accompanied by tearful eyes and sneezing. Other diseases that affect the breed include:
- Retinal atrophy ("progressive retinal atrophy"), which can lead to blindness.
- Skin diseases that develop if you do not follow the hygiene of the skin folds.
- Gum disease - arising from the close location of the teeth in the mouth.
- Respiratory diseases or, simply put, the common cold.
- Canine encephalitis ("encephalitis") is a genetic disease with a rapid fatal outcome. The symptoms of the disease are dizziness, blindness, seizures and coma, which leads to death within a few weeks.
- Epilepsy is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent seizures.
Pugs are not very clean and like to beg for food, therefore, with the owner's wrong and negligent approach to feeding the pet, they are prone to problems with excess weight (obesity).
Pug care tips
- Ears cleaned from sulfur with a cotton swab every 3-4 weeks. Prophylactic hygiene products can be used as needed.
- Eyes pugs require special care. It is necessary to regularly remove mucus that accumulates in the corners of the eye slits. In this connection, pugs need regular check-ups by a veterinarian, and there should always be special eye drops at home.
- Teeth. The breed is prone to gum disease. Brush your teeth regularly with a soft brush using a special edible toothpaste purchased from pet stores. To avoid the appearance of plaque and calculus, buy your pet specialized bones and "snacks" - he will chew them with pleasure.
- Claws cut once a month with a special tool - a claw cutter. During the procedure, you need to be careful not to injure the animal.
- Leather and wool. Periodically it is necessary to wash the skin folds of the pug to avoid the appearance of unpleasant odors, inflammation and skin diseases. The folds should be wiped 1-2 times a week with a cotton swab dipped in natural baby lotion or chlorhexidine. The pug is a short-haired dog that sheds heavily. Her coat does not require any special care. The woolen cover must be combed out with a stiff brush with natural bristles or a special glove, every two to three weeks. During periods of intense shedding, the procedure should be carried out more often. Paws and stomach are wiped with a damp cloth, and bathing is carried out as it gets dirty.
- Nutrition should be moderate and balanced. Pugs are terrible gluttons, besides, a cute face with hungry eyes pushes you to treat your pet with something tasty. So that your furry friend does not suffer from obesity and shortness of breath, feed him, adhering to a special diet. Eating should be done in small portions, preferably after a walk, three to four times a day. The diet includes high-quality premium and super-premium food in combination with other products, among which there must be lean meat (lamb, beef, chicken). It is imperative that your dog's menu provides him with a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. Provide your little friend with constant access to water so he can drink whenever he wants.
- Walking … The pug is an indoor decorative dog that is perfectly adapted to life in an apartment. The dog is very sensitive to temperature extremes and drafts, so be attentive to the climatic conditions in which the pet lives, both at home and outdoors. The usual duration of a quiet walk should be about an hour; in it, allocate no more than 15-20 minutes for active games and heavier physical activity. The ideal temperature conditions for a comfortable walk are -2– + 22 degrees Celsius. Do not tire your pet with long walks so that it does not get short of breath. In extremely hot or cold weather, reduce your walking time to ten minutes.
Pug training
Representatives of the breed, although stubborn, are very smart and quick-witted. They are trainable, and learning them will be an easy task. The main problem that arises during training is the slowness of the dog. He can think about your wishes for a long time, evaluate them carefully, and only then slowly but surely execute the command. How long it will take for this kind of reflection is known only to your furry friend. He can also be stubborn when required of him unquestioning obedience. Stubbornness is in the blood of pugs, so do not expect that he will always resist, for good reason, because your pet can do it just like that.
Price when buying a pug
The adorable face of pugs is so attractive that many are eager to get such a cute puppy. The price of a pug puppy can be very different: from 120 to 1300 US dollars. Everything affects the price: compliance with appearance standards, availability of documents, etc. So the price of a fully vaccinated, elite puppy with documents will reach about 900-1300 dollars.
Features of training pug puppies and adults in this video:
