The Pug is a small, short-faced companion breed from China that reached England in 1688. It is affectionate, playful and sociable.
Breathing difficulty, eye injuries, skin-fold infections and overheating are widespread, and buyers are advised to choose puppies from parents graded for breathing.
The Pug is a small, square, short-faced companion dog with a curled tail and a deeply wrinkled forehead. It is good-humoured and sociable, and it is among the breeds whose health most concerns vets.
Pugs originated in China, where short-faced companion dogs were bred for the imperial court. Dutch traders brought them to Europe in the sixteenth century, and they became the dog of the House of Orange. They arrived in England with William III in 1688 and were fashionable throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The Kennel Club standard gives an ideal weight of 6.3 to 8.1 kg. The body is compact and muscular, the head large and round with a short, blunt muzzle, large dark eyes and small, soft ears. The coat is short and smooth, in fawn, apricot or silver with a black mask, or solid black. The tail curls tightly over the hip.
Pugs are affectionate, even-tempered and playful, fond of company and good with children and other pets. They were bred solely as companions and dislike being alone. They need daily walks, taken gently and in cool conditions.
A study by the Royal Veterinary College published in 2022 concluded that the health of Pugs differs so much from that of other dogs that the breed can no longer be considered a typical dog from a health point of view.
The Pug is in the Kennel Club's Toy group and in the highest category of breeds monitored for visible health problems. The Kennel Club and the University of Cambridge run a scheme that grades breeding dogs for breathing, and buyers are advised to choose puppies from graded parents with open nostrils and a moderate build. Popularity rose steeply in the 2010s.