Pug: Breed Temperament, Exercise Needs & Health

(Chinese Pug)

Group: AKC Toy, KCGB Toy

Also known as: Carlin, Mops            

Ranking: 20 in KCGB

About Pug   

Country of Origin, History of the Breed This cute, sturdy breed of dog emerged in China around 400 BC. Pugs were kept as pets by Buddhist monks in China. However, later they made their way to Europe where they were kept by the European nobility as an integral part of European royal lifestyle.It was in 1550 that the pug was declared as the official dog of the House of Orange in Holland and saved the life of Prince Williams by warning him about the approach of Spanish soldiers.

During the Napoleonic Phase in France, Napoleons wife Josephine used her pug to secretly convey messages when she was imprisoned during the revolution.The pug was brought to England in 1860 and was registered by the AKC in 1885.

There are three different schools of thought regarding the origin of the dog. According to one group, this dog descended from the short haired pekingese. Others believe that they emerged as a result of a cross of the bulldog with another species. Yet another group go with the idea that they are a form of the French Mastiff.                    

A General Description of the Dog

The dog has a short, square, sturdy, compact body and a short back with a short soft coat. A typical feature of the dog is its flat, black, muzzle. Some dogs have moles on their cheeks aside from large, round, expressive eyes and rose shaped ears. The dog has a double curled tail and short, straight,strong limbs.

Coat

The coat color comes in apricot, fawn, black and silver. Pugs have a short, glossy, smooth coat and an undercoat.

Height

Male : 12-14 inches
Female : 10-12 inches

Weight: 13-20 lbs for both males and females

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

The dog is friendly, affectionate, boisterous and playful. They are extremely mischievous and quick -witted.

They are whimsical. They are excellent watchdogs and are a very intelligent breed. Stern handling can be harmful for pugs since they are extremely sensitive dogs.Pugs are often used for therapy . They are happy and are good with small children. They can be wary towards strangers, however, if socialized properly they can behave normally.
They are good with pets and other dogs.

They are perfect companions for small children.

Pugs get bored easily and hence repetitive training methods can take more time to yield desired results.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

These dogs are suitable for the apartment lifestyle. Houses without yards can get these dogs as well,but they are inactive indoors.

They are suitable for households with kids.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

Pugs are usually fond of people and children. But owing to their size and the fragility of the structure, it is best for Pugs to be monitored when interacting with really young children. Moreover temperaments differ among yorkies and some may not prefer children like the others. However, if handled with care and a lot of love, yorkies are sure to give you back the affection and be great companions.

How to take care of the Pug Puppies? Pug puppies require a lot of care. First and foremost these pups should be provided with a soft collar and comfortable crates,which should be soft and cozy. Moreover,these should always be easily cleanable since puppies are messy. Owners should never try to confine their puppies to the crates since they require adequate amount of exercise through out the day.

Basic hygiene like brushing them clipping nails, de-worming and vaccination should be administered from time to time. Healthy nutritional food should be fed. Puppies should never be overfed since they can become obese

If the pups have to be left all alone throughout the day, owners should select a comfortable spot within the house and place baby gates not only to prevent them from loitering around and getting hurt but also to provide them with a space of their own where they can play as well.

Training

Pugs are alert and intelligent and can be easily trained. However, they lack patience and hence repetitive training techniques often bore them. Hence, owners should patiently deal with Pugs. Training techniques should be changed occasionally in order to make them disciplined. Obedience and potty training should be imparted from a very young age. They should be taught to heel, stay, go, sit etc. Pugs are friendly dogs and socialization might further enhance their ability to differentiate friendly and unfriendly behavior. They are unable to take harsh handling and should never be roughly handled.

Activity Level

The breed is active but they should never be overexercised since they can develop health problems.

They should get regular exercise like walks with owners. They are robust, enthusiastic, and playful and should receive ample scope to play.

Grooming

Pugs have large eyes and are prone to eye infections. Hence, they should be cleaned regularly. Moreover, they are an allergic breed and they shed. Pugs should be brushed regularly. Owners should use a firm-bristled brush while brushing them and their nails should be clipped occasionally. Their coat do not require much grooming. They should be wiped with a damp cloth to avoid dirt and infections from setting in. Shampooing them frequently should be avoided because chemicals might harm their coat texture.

Health & Care

Cautions about Breeding the Dog

This is a healthy breed of dog. However, it suffers from some genetic disorders like atopy , cleft palate , collapsing larynx , collapsing and hypoplastic (small, narrow) tracheas , demodectic mange, distichia , dystocia, elongated soft palates, entropion, everted laryngeal saccules, heart disease, hemivertebra, hernias, hip dysplasia .

Certain precautionary measures should always be taken if an owner wishes to breed his Pug. A genetic test should be conducted to ascertain whether the Pug suffers from any genetic disorders. It is always adviced that they should have a caesarian section. However, loosing the mother dog during whelping is not uncommon.

Litter Size: 3 puppies

Life Span: Between 12 to 15 years

National Breed Club

British – Pug Dog Club of UK – http://www.pugdogclub.org.uk/start.html
U. S. – American Pomeranian Club – http://www.AmericanPomeranianClub.org

Recognition: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR.