Jenny Donaldson asked:

The Pug dog is probably named Pug after the Old English word Pugg, which means a playful little devil or monkey. That name fits the Pug, as they have a winning personality that has aided in its migration around the word. Originally breed in China, it later traveled to Japan, other places around the globe, and eventually to England. From there, it came to America. The American Kennel Club officially recognized it as a breed in 1885. The Pug Dog Club of America was started in 1931, and the breed has grown in popularity ever since that time. It is one of the favorite breeds around the world.

A toy dog breed, Pugs have a medium-small body. They weigh in at thirteen to twenty pounds, and stand from twelve to fourteen inches tall. Pugs have a wrinkly face and large, dark eyes that light up when they are excited. Their eyes tend to have a lot of expression in them.

Pugs truly love their owners, and are one of the most loyal dogs. They want a lot of attention from their owners, and tend to get jealous of they don’t get enough. They also can be anxious or agitated if they are ignored. They also love other dogs and pets, and children, as they are such social dogs. They don’t like it if their owner uses harsh punishment, as they are sensitive to the tone of their owner’s voice. They like to make their owners laugh, and they are usually found right with their owner, in their lap or at their feet.

The Pug breed is energetic, particularly in the early years. While they have a lot of energy, they are often a bit more difficult to train, as they don’t have a lot of patience for the repetitive training sessions required to be trained.

Pugs love to go for walks, but are somewhat limited as they are very sensitive to extremes of temperature and have some trouble breathing when they exercise.

Altogether, the Pug dog can be a wonderful companion dog. It gets along well with humans and animal pets, making it an easy addition to any family. It will come to you ready to bond with its owner, and be fiercely loyal to that owner for a lifetime. It will be eager to please, have a lot of energy, and will often entertain you (or your friends) for the attention. While it isn’t one of the easier breeds to train, it is playful and its clownish personality makes up for the lack of ease in training.

If you think you’d like to get a Pug, consider getting one as a puppy, when they are tiny and adorable, with the wrinkles in their face already. There are many breeders that can sell you one with good breeding and that is healthy. Buying a Pug as a puppy ensures that it will be your loyal companion.

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D. Stevens asked:

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed, and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance, personality, and health requirements. Here’s what you need to know about the Pugs:

The wrinkly face of the Pug is simply undeniable. This smaller dog was at one time the companion of Chinese Emperors during the Shang Dynasty. However, at that time, the Pug was called “Foo” or “Lo-Chiang-Sze.” Today, you can find Foo figurines, which have the same bulging eyes as that of the Pug. Soon, this breed became highly popular in Tibet, being a prized pet of monks. From there, the breed wove its way into Japan, followed by Europe.

Then by the late 16th century and early 17th century, the Pug was imported from the Dutch East Indies Trading Company. In fact, when William III and Mary II ascended the throne in 1688 after leaving the Netherlands, the Pug actually was chosen as the House of Orange’s official breed. Eventually, various European countries were flooded with the Pug and by the time they reached Spain, Goya began painting them.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, popularity levels continued to rise. Interestingly, Josephine, Napoleon Bonaparte future wife, used her pet Pug as a means of sending covert messages to her family while she was being held in the Les Carmes Prison. Over the years, the Pug’s popularity kept growing throughout Europe, eventually making its way to the United States. Currently, the Pug is still just as popular as it was, even more so. This dog is cuddly with a massive personality. Because of its size and positive traits, the Pug makes an excellent family pet.

Physical Appearance

Early Pugs in the 18th century were a longer and leaner version of today’s breed. What we see now is a more compact body with a deep chest and defined muscles. The Pug’s head is round and the eyes large and dark. However, the Pug’s face wrinkles are what make it so distinct and adorable. The tail of the Pug is also cut, being tightly curled that falls back over the hip. In fact, for show purposes, a double curl of the tail is deemed perfection. The coat is short and glossy with a number of color options to include:

Silver

Black

Fawn

Apricot

Temperament and Personality

If you are looking for a sociable dog, the Pug is ideal. However, you need to keep in mind that this breed can also be stubborn. The breed is great with children and other animals. Playful, clever, and overall charming are just a few descriptive words to describe the Pug. The only slight personality flaw is that this breed can be jealous when ignored.

Health

Pugs are generally healthy dogs but with a short muzzle and not having any skeletal brow ridges, some issues can arise specific to breathing. The short muzzle can also make extreme hot or cold temperatures difficult to handle. Therefore, the Pug needs to be kept indoors with moderate temperature settings. In addition, because of the protruding eyes of the Pug, scratching of the cornea is another possible problem. It is also important to keep this dog breed on a healthy and monitored diet, as well as a good exercise plan in that obesity can occur.

Other potential health risks associated with the Pug includes inflammation of the brain, which is known as Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis. Experts now believe this disease to be inherited although it is not 100 percent certain. Unfortunately, if a Pug were determined to have this problem, it would die naturally or need to be humanely euthanized. Keep in mind that with good care, this adorable breed can live anywhere from 12 to 15 years.

Bichon Frise

One of todays most popular dog breeds is the Pug and anyone who is thinking about adding one to their family should become familiar with the specifics of pug dog health care.

This breed has been known to man for over three thousand years, and is a member of the AKC Toy group where it was first recognized in 1885. This breed is one of the most easily recognized with it’s flat wrinkly face, thickset body, and curly tail. Pugs generally weigh between 13 and 20 pounds and are about 10 to 14 inches tall.

This is one of the cutest dog breeds but some of the very things which make a pug so cute and adorable are also the very things that require a little bit of extra care in order to avoid some of the health problems specific to the breed.

First, there is the dog’s wrinkly skin. Unfortunately, your pug’s adorable skin folds are prone to infection — you must consult your veterinarian immediately at the first signs of infection. You should bathe and clean your pug regularly — particularly making sure you clean in between the wrinkles, removing any dirt or debris because that can cause bacteria build up (which could lead to infection).

Another factor which could cause pug dog health problems is its eyes. Because of its peculiar shape and location on the face, the pug’s eyes are not protected properly and are prone to injury and other problems. Look for any inflammation in the eye regularly and take the dog to the Vet immediately if you identify any problem in the surrounding area.

If allowed, pugs will eat to excess. Watch your pet’s food intake carefully to keep him at a healthy weight — being overweight could adversely affect a pets health as much as it would a person’s.

Pugs are very sensitive to heat and humidity, so don’t leave your dog outdoors without shade or locked in a car during the summer. An overheated pug can have a hard time breathing, so make sure that you don’t leave him anywhere where he might be subjected to high heat for any length of time.

Of course, like any dog, taking proper care of your pug and taking him to the vet for regular visits is the best way to insure good pug dog health. Take care of your pug responsibly and you’ll have your companion healthy and happy for many years to come.

By: Lee Dobbins

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In recent years, one of the most popular dog breeds has been the Pug. Prior to bringing a Pug dog home, you must realize that it will require special care. This breed has long been a recognized one, and is a member of the AKC Toy group where it was initially recognized in 1885. The Pug’s flat and wrinkly face, along with its thick body and curly tail, make it a breed which is easy to recognize. The standard size for a Pug runs from 10 to 14 inches high and weighs between 13 to 20 pounds. Although these dogs are adorable in their own way, an owner has to be aware of special health concerns in this breed.

Starting with the folds in the skin, you must carefully inspect between them for any sign of infection. This happens regularly in Pugs. Any infection should be immediately treated by your veterinarian. Consistently scheduled baths to remove excess dirt from between the skin folds will help to prevent skin infections. Not bathing between the wrinkles can cause bacteria build up which could lead to infection.

Overeating is a problem with many Pugs. Keeping your Pug at a healthy weight by watching its’ food intake is important. Being overweight can be detrimental to them in the same way that it can be for humans. Heat can bother a Pug tremendously, so make sure there is ample shade available if left outside. As with any living thing, they should never be left in a car during the summer. High temperatures can cause difficulty in breathing in Pugs, so you should not leave them exposed to high temperatures.

Another place a Pug manifests health concerns is their eyes. The special shape of a Pug’s face and the location of its’ eyes are generally the cause of many eyesight problems. Consistently checking should alert you to any immediate inflammation in the eye. Any signs of inflammation is a signal to get your dog to the vet right away.

Going to the vet when needed and providing basic pet care are the best ways to keep your Pug in good health. For those that are responsible in their pet’s care, they can be rewarded with many years of companionship.

By: Debbie Foster

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