|Other names||Chinese Pug
|Country of origin||China|
The pug is a type of dog with a wrinkly face. It also has a curled tail, and pug puppies are called puglets. The pug has a square, muscular body with a large head, big eyes, and small ears. They have often been described as multum in parvo, which means "much in little", referring to the pug's character and size. Pugs came originally from China, but they became popular in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Description[change | change source]
Pugs are often liked most for their curly tails, compact body, a deep chest, and strong muscles. There are two different types of a Pug's ears, "rose" and "button". "Rose" ears are smaller than the "button" ears and are folded up instead of on the side of the head. Most people prefer "button" style Pugs. Pugs have strong, straight legs and laid back shoulders. Their feet are not as large as a hare's foot, but they are not as round as that of a cat, either. They have toes that are split up perfectly, and their nails are all black. The lower teeth normally grow farther out than the upper teeth, so they meet in an under-bite.
Coat and color[change | change source]
The coat of pugs can be a lot of different colors, including fawn, apricot, silver, or black. A very rare pug is white. The fur color may be white due to albinism. There is also a smutty fawn pug, which has a very dark head and dark forelegs. The tail usually curls at the hip.
Different coat types shed differently, but they all shed year-round. The pug who has a fawn color sheds the most. Grooming their fur helps prevent too much shedding.
Nature[change | change source]
The pug is very strong-willed, but does not act aggressively unless provoked to a high degree. Pugs are well kept for families with children. They can be quiet and nice but also funny according to the owner's mood. They are also good at guarding the house.
History[change | change source]
Origins[change | change source]
In East China, they were known as the "Lo-Chiang-Sze" or "Foo". In the early 551 BCE, Confucius described the pug as a "short mouthed dog". After that, pugs became popular in Tibet, especially for monks. Then, pugs became known toward Japan and then Europe. The pug's origin is unknown because the first Emperor of China destroyed everything related to the pug in his reign.
16th and 17th centuries[change | change source]
The Dutch East India Company imported the pug first in the late 16th and 17th centuries. Later, in 1572, a pug named Pompey saved the Prince of Orange by warning him when the Spaniards came. William III and Mary II also took a pug with them when they were going from Netherlands to England for the seat of the throne in 1688.
The pug was also becoming famous in other European countries as well. The Spanish painter, Goya, painted pugs in Spain and Italy sitting beside the coachmen of the rich. They were used as guard dogs and to find animals or people.
18th and 19th centuries[change | change source]
After that, pugs began to become popular in France. A pug named Fortune was a messenger between Joséphine de Beauharnais and her family while she was in prison. In Italy, the pug was becoming famous also. A Mrs. Piozzi wrote in her journal that "every carriage I meet here has a pug in it".
Health problems[change | change source]
Because pugs do not have long snouts, they can get eye diseases. They also cannot breathe well, because passages for oxygen are very small and they cannot regulate their temperature with their tongue well. A pug's normal body temperature is between 101 °F (38 °C) and 102 °F (39 °C). If the temperature rises to 105 °F (41 °C), they need to cool down immediately because they cannot cool themselves enough. If the temperature reaches 108 °F (42 °C), their organs can fail.
Serious issues[change | change source]
Pugs can also be hurt by necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME). NME is an inflammation of the brain and meninges. It is also known as pug dog encephalitis (PDE). There is no known cure or explanation for NME, although most people believe it is a disease that dogs may inherit from their mother or father. All dogs usually die within a few months after this disease, which usually happens from 6 months to 7 years of age.
Pugs can also get a serious disease in their spine.
Common conditions[change | change source]
Because pugs have wrinkles on their faces, owners must clean the folded part of their skin. Hip dysplasia is another major problem for pugs. About 63.8% of pugs were caught with hip dysplasia.
When pugs get excited, they begin to "reverse sneeze", in which they will breathe in short, quick breaths. "Reverse sneezing" is usually not harmful to the pug. It can be helped by massaging the dog's throat or covering its nose to make it breathe instead with its mouth.
Media and culture[change | change source]
Pugs have come out in television and film, such as Frank the Pug in the film Men in Black and the follow-up series. Other films that have pugs include 12 Rounds, Marie Antoinette (2006 film), and Disney's film about Pocahontas. They have also appeared on television, in shows like The West Wing.
References[change | change source]
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- "Slide 1". Pug Dog Club of America. http://www.pugs.org/health/PDEslideshow_files/v3_document.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
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- "Hip Dysplasia Statistics: Hip Dysplasia by Breed". OFFA.org. Ortheopedic Foundation for Animals. http://www.offa.org/hipstatbreed.html. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- Lundgrun, Becky (26 June 2006). "Reverse Sneezing (Pharyngeal Gag Reflex)". VeterinaryPartner.com. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2335. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
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Related websites[change | change source]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pug|