Looking for a dog
book? We have hundreds of dog books listed, Titles
include works on individual breeds, activities,
health and nutrition. You can find the best in dog
training, behavior, natural health, agility,
clicker training, problems, and other dog related
topics.
The Pug is a small but robust toy dog breed with a compressed, wrinkly face. A perky, outgoing little dog, it has been referred to as "Multo in Parvo" meaning "a lot of dog in a small space". The pug breed is the largest of all the toy breeds.
Appearance: The Pug's appearance is characterized by a
flat, wrinkled face, compact body, and curled tail. Pugs have
four color variations: fawn with a black mask and ears,
entirely black, silver, or apricot. The silver or apricot-fawn
colors should be decided so as to make the contrast complete
between the color and the trace and the mask.
The breed generally stands between 10 and 11 inches
(25–28 cm) tall at the withers with an ideal weight range of
14 to 18 lb (6.3 to 8.1 kg). However, current AKC judges
indicate slightly larger Pugs as higher quality.
"Fawn" is the most common Pug color, black is rare,
and both silver (which is an almost white coat with no black
guard hairs) and apricot are extremely rare. Silver is often
confused with "smutty" which is undesirable and is
characterized by a dark head and sometimes chest and forelegs.
Most fawn Pugs have black facial masks.
Temperament: The Pug is a very sociable dog, but
quite stubborn. The Pug is a popular breed for a housepet, as
it is easy to groom (though it sheds substantially more than
other dogs of similar size). However, a pug likes to consider
himself the boss. Therefore tiny children who do not
understand how to correctly treat the pug can cause the pug to
be scared, defensive, or shy.
Pugs are true "lap dogs", in that they most often
want nothing more than to curl up in their owner's lap
(perhaps with a snack). They require regular exercise, and
some Pugs will walk for an hour or more. When exercising a
Pug, however, it is important to make sure they do not
overheat, as their short noses do not cool them off as easily
as those of longer-nosed breeds. Pugs are generally compatible
with most children and other animals.
Some Pugs, like many dogs, can suffer from separation
anxiety; that is, when they are left alone more than they are
comfortable with, they bark and whine. Pugs are capable of
being trained to stop their crying and making sure the Pug
gets plenty of attention and affection can help to remedy
this.
Pugs are not noted for high achievement in obedience
competitions, although, like all dog breeds, they are
intelligent and learn quickly in the right environment.
According to the book The Intelligence of Dogs, they have only
fair ability to learn new commands and to obey commands the
first time. On the other hand, it is worth noting that there
is much debate about how to accurately measure dog
intelligence.
Pugs have a muffled bark and generally do not bark
excessively. Many Pugs make a grunting nasal noise, which
increases when they get excited. Nearly all pugs sometimes
snort, almost as if they are sneezing, showering anyone who is
too close. All may snore, especially if overweight. Pugs have
an array of interesting noises they will make during play and
rest and these noises, even the grunting and snorting, tend to
grow on the owner and it becomes a fun trait of the Pug.
Health: Because they have extremely short snouts and
no skeletal brow ridges, Pugs can easily scratch their corneas
(corneal ulcer) or puncture their eyeballs. Their short noses
can also cause them to develop breathing problems. They are
also prone to skin infections if the crevices in their faces
are not kept clean. Additionally, Pugs may be prone to skin
allergies, which if not treated can lead to infection as the
Pug scratches the inflamed areas.
The breed's characteristic flat face may also contribute to
tooth and mouth problems. Pugs typically love to eat, and so
are prone to obesity; they can quickly reach unhealthy
weights. It is therefore important for Pug owners to make sure
their pets get regular exercise. Due to their short snouts,
Pugs are vulnerable to temperature extremes. It is important
to make sure that they do not overheat in hot weather, and
likewise they should not be left outside in very cold weather.
They also have problems swimming and can drown if left
unattended near a pool.
Pugs can also suffer from a chronic form of granulomatous
meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) specific to
the breed called Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE). PDE is estimated
to occur in 1% of Pugs. There is no known cause or cure for
PDE, although it is believed to be an inherited disease. PDE
is invariably fatal. All dogs either die or are euthanised
within a few months after the onset of clinical signs.
As with other brachycephalic (short muzzled), screw-tailed
dogs, they are more prone to hemivertebrae or
"butterfly" vertebrae. This defect is present at
birth and genetically based, although the genetic structure
appears to be a complex (multiple genes involved) interaction.
In fact the screw-tail is actually an example of a
hemivertebrae formation. This malformation may be pleasing
when located in the tail but can have serious repercussions
when located elsewhere in the spine.
A healthy Pug can be expected to live 12 to 15 years,
although many well cared for Pugs have reached 18.
History: The Pug originated in the Far East in
China, dating back to around 700 BC, though there is some
debate as to the breed it was derived from. It was bred to be
a companion dog, rather than a guardian. Pugs were kept by the
royalty and were pampered and spoiled, and the expectation of
such treatment is a characteristic that seems to remain with
them to this day. Sometimes, as a mark of great esteem, Pugs
were given to members of the court.
When the Dutch started trading with China, sailors smuggled
some Pugs home to Europe, where the small dogs and natural
companions quickly became popular. Like in China, they soon
became associated with nobility.
The Pug of today has been accepted in programs as therapy
dogs as well as hearing aid dogs. Mostly, however, they
happily fill their role as cherished companion. Affectionate,
charming, and playful, the Pug makes a great pet. They behave
impeccably with children and visitors, especially when they
are given lots of attention. A pug, being a natural clown, is
always ready to show off. Yet a pug who feels ignored may
become jealous. Pugs are devoted and make good watchdogs,
without being too yappy. They also get along well with other
pets.
According to legend, during a campaign against the Spanish
by Prince of Orange William The Silent, his Pug, Pompey,
thwarted an assassination attempt. One night at Hermigny,
while the prince slept, assassins crept toward his tent.
Pompey heard them and began barking and scratching to warn his
master, finally jumping on his master's face to alert him to
the impending danger.
Famous Pugs:
Josephine Bonaparte had a Pug (which met a
rather unfortunate end with the chef's bulldog). The Pug's
name was Fortune, and he was used by Josephine to send
Napoleon secret messages. It is also said that on their
wedding night Napoleon refused to allow Fortune to sleep
with them in the bed, and Fortune then bit him. Josephine
said "If the Pug doesn't sleep in our bed, neither do
I!". From then on, Napoleon shared his bed with a Pug
(and Josephine).
Otis from The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Percy from Pocahontas
Algy from Rupert Bear
Wilson the Pug, a Pug with his own set of books (The Tao
of Pug, Letters to a Young Pug), cards, and calendars.
The late Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward VIII and
Wallis Simpson) were the proud owners of 4 Pugs, who ate
steak served in lead crystal dog dishes.
Frank from Men in Black and Men in Black II
Monroe in The Life and Times of Juniper Lee
Pakkun in Naruto
Weenie in Eloise
Petula in "Molly Moon's Incredible Book of
Hypnotism"
William of Orange (the former stadtholder of The
Netherlands), had a Pug named Pompey who saved him from an
attack of Spanish invaders.
Alfred from the children's book Unlovable by Dan
Yaccarino
Tori Spelling has a pug she rescued from an animal
shelter named Mimi LaRue; she and Mimi spend time
promoting adoption and no kill shelters.
Pugs in the arts:
A Pug named Frank appeared in the movies Men in Black
and Men in Black II, and a number of Pugs played the role
of Otis in the movie The Adventures of Milo and Otis.
Popular Russian mystery author Daria Dontsova features
pugs prominently in her slapstick detective series. The
pugs provide numerous amounts of comic relief and
sometimes even (accidentally) help their owner solve a
deadly mystery.
Celebrities such as Jenna Elfman, Maura Tierney, Woody
Harrelson, Goran Visnjic, Carol Kane, Ted Danson, Tom
Welling, designer Valentino, and Tori Spelling have
appeared in TV and print ads with their pugs. Jessica Alba
owns two pugs, named Sid and Nancy.
A modern artform that is gaining popularity is the
practice of dressing Pugs in humorous costumes.
The English painter William Hogarth had Pugs and
included them in his paintings. Several of these portraits
featured Hogarth's wife or Hogarth himself. Others
included his good friend, financier Eric Freedgood, a
famed breeder of pugs who often joked about his striking
resemblance to the animals.
Pug is also the name of a song from the alternative rock
band The Smashing Pumpkins.
Petula is Mrs. Adderstone's small, wrinkled, chubby,
chocolate chip cookie eating, bad-tempered pug in the book
"Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism".
Petula is also described as spoiled, cossetted, overfed,
and lazy. From Molly's first point of view of Petula, she
said the dog has a fat, overweight body, turned up tail,
squashed face, solid black haired frame, and crooked legs.
Then later on in the book Molly hypnotizes Petula and they
become best friends.
HeyDogs is an easy to use site that keeps both dog professionals and dog enthusiasts up to date on the latest information on dogs. You can find the best in dog training, behavior, natural health, agility, clicker training, and other dog related topics
Looking for the perfect
Dog name? Dogs names for your new Puppy.
Browse thousands of Dog names, names for both male
and female dogs, Start looking by clicking on a
letter!
Hi Cats is a website you can find extensive information on all Cat Breeds, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Desktop Wallpapers, Posters, Training, Cats names, Links and more.
HeyDogs.com Dog Breeds Information
Guide menu 
