The German director, actor and humorist Vicco von Bülow, also known as Loriot, not without reason claimed that life without a pug is possible, but completely meaningless. After all, he is a charming companion with a charming, cheerful and friendly disposition, whose large eyes and wrinkled face are hard to resist.
China is considered the homeland of the pug, where short-nosed dogs were valued already in the times of the Chinese Empire. Representatives of the race, described by the Chinese philosopher Confucius in the XNUMXth century, were considered messengers of the gods. For many centuries, owning and touching a dog of this breed was the emperor's privilege. Probably, however, dogs that were not suitable for imperial breeding were sold by breeders at high prices. The breed also spread when the ruler, as a token of appreciation, began to give four-legged pets to dignitaries and diplomats who came to the court.
The ancestors of the modern pug came to Europe only at the beginning of the XNUMXth century with the Dutch East India Company. The pug quickly gained popularity, especially among crowned heads, aristocracy and noblewomen. He also enjoyed great recognition among members of the royalist party, and even became their symbol. The passion for the breed was also reflected in historical paintings.
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
According to the FCI classification, pugs belong to group 9 - ornamental and companion dogs, section 11 - small molossoids. Due to the health-damaging fashion trend towards an increasingly flat muzzle, in 2010 the official FCI standard was revised and changed. Since then, breeding has been more focused on the original image of the pug, with a longer, more protruding muzzle. Today, the pug is a very popular companion dog, known primarily for its friendly and smart temperament.
The Pug is a strongly built, small dog with a square, stocky and compact figure with a wide chest. He is well muscled. It usually reaches a height at the withers of up to 32 centimeters and weighs from 6,3 to 8,1 kilograms. Its head seems quite large in relation to the rest of its body, its black nose has large, well-open nostrils. The angular muzzle is relatively short and has a blunt end. There are visible wrinkles on the forehead, although according to the pattern, the crease above the nose should not cover the nose or impair vision.
A pug's eyes are large, round and dark. The ears are small, thin and velvety soft. There are two types of ears: rosette, i.e. bent, slightly tilted back, revealing the inside of the ear, and more appreciated - button ears, i.e. bent forward, covering the inside of the ear. The pug's body is short and compact, and its tail is set high and close to the hip. The limbs are straight, very strong. The Pug has delicate, smooth, soft, short and shiny fur. The moderately hard coat is most often pure silver, peach, fawn or black in color, contrasting with the black dorsal stripe. The standard allows for clearly demarcated black markings on the muzzle or mask, ears, cheeks, and forehead.
Despite its small size, the pug is a big individual who charmingly allows its owner to understand what he wants. He loves children and gets along well with other dogs. He is funny, friendly and cheerful. He's always in a good mood. He shows great loyalty, tenderness and affection towards his household members. He doesn't like loneliness and is reluctant to be left alone for a long time. He has a playful disposition and likes to play, which contradicts the stereotype of a lazy couch dog. In fact, he is lively, playful, curious and full of energy.
The Pug is one of the dog breeds that tends to gain weight. It is worth remembering that being overweight has a negative impact on your pet's activity and health. Due to the tendency to gain extra kilos, the pug's diet should consist of high-quality food, served in the amounts recommended by the manufacturer and the veterinarian. This means that not only the quality of food is important, but also the proper dosing and distribution of meals during the day.
You should never exceed the recommended dose, and it is also worth approaching the issue of treats carefully. For a dog's healthy and balanced nutrition, a low-calorie, low-fat, high-protein diet is important, i.e. a high content of meat (protein) and vegetables in meals, enriched with vitamins. To avoid overfeeding your pet, make sure that the food contains few carbohydrates and as little fat as possible. Whether the food given to a pug is wet or dry ultimately depends on the owner.
Due to their anatomical predispositions, pugs are particularly susceptible to eye and respiratory diseases, such as:
In addition, pugs are prone to genetically determined diseases, including atopy - a chronic, allergic, inflammatory and pruritic skin disease, and lameness, most often the result of a patella dislocation, ligament rupture or joint capsule rupture. In addition to administering appropriate painkillers, the therapy is supported by dietary supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. As part of health prevention, it is recommended to strictly follow the basic vaccination schedule and additional vaccinations recommended by the veterinarian.
In the case of a pug, it is important to brush the fur regularly, which allows you to remove dead hair, improves blood circulation in the skin, and consequently makes the fur soft and shiny. It is best to brush your pet several times a week, and daily during shedding (spring and autumn). When it comes to bathing, we stick to the rule - we only bathe when necessary, i.e. as rarely as possible. Typically, dirt can be removed with a wet cloth or brushed from your pet's dry fur. It is worth protecting your dog's skin against irritation and always use a special shampoo intended for sensitive skin when bathing. In addition, special attention should be paid to the care of skin folds and around the eyes (daily) and ears (once a week). These parts of the body must be absolutely kept clean. Trimming claws is an individual matter, but most often it is recommended to perform this treatment every 3-4 weeks.
The Pug is a sensitive, intelligent learner, although it must be emphasized that he gets bored quickly during training and needs constant motivation. Sometimes he can be stubborn. It is worth thinking about early socialization of your pet, which should primarily take the form of good fun. Working with a pug requires a lot of patience, a friendly and positive attitude and treats. Of course, you should remember about the patient's tendency to gain weight. It is best to choose low-calorie treats and use rewards in the form of stroking, cuddling or verbal praise as often as possible. Attractive rewards, gradation of requirements and not too intense exercise sessions are a recipe for successful cooperation. A calm, loving attitude helps establish a good relationship with your Pug. It is also important to give your pet time to find a common path. It is best to set clear rules and boundaries for him when he is young, so that he will grow into a calm, balanced companion.
It must be admitted that the pug is not a sports titan, nor does it work well as a guard dog. However, it is successfully making a career in another field, it is an ideal companion dog, suitable for virtually everyone, except for people who dream of actively practicing sports with their pet. His sensitive, devoted and cheerful character makes him a great friend for lonely people, families with children and seniors.
For a little pug, it doesn't matter whether he lives in a large house with a garden or a small city apartment - he feels good everywhere. Like any dog, it needs the right amount of activity to maintain its proper figure, shape and health. However, it should be remembered that the Pug does not like too intense physical exercise and hot weather, and should not climb many steps. Not too long walks (three times a day) and playing fetch or digging in the ground are enough for him.
Dogs are born blind and it can take up to two weeks before they open their eyes for the first time. And although their sense of vision improves significantly over the following months, it is believed that in the world of colors, it is humans who have the advantage. Is it right? There is a big difference between how a dog sees and how we see the world. For a long time, dogs were thought to be colorblind. In fact, they cannot see a specific color spectrum as clearly as humans. However, in return, they notice things that remain hidden from our sense of sight.
Teaching your dog to heel is part of the basic training of every four-legged friend. Training your pet in this area is very useful in various situations, especially difficult and dangerous ones. As a result, it constitutes an essential foundation of safety for the pet, its guardian and the immediate surroundings.
Separation anxiety describes the state of anxiety a dog feels when left alone by a person to whom it is strongly attached, most often when it has not been properly prepared for such autonomy. Some pets show the first signs of this fear as soon as their owner is getting ready to leave the house. This condition is stressful for both the four-legged companion and its owner. It often happens that a lonely dog causes damage in the house, whines, barks or howls. The good news, however, is that with proper socialization and training, separation anxiety can be prevented or alleviated.
