Flat-faced dogs originated in China. This breed was specially bred for local rulers and nobility. Later in France the list of pets was added. A few years later they settled in the Netherlands and gained universal popularity.
The interesting color of pugs was similar to the colors of the ruling Frankish dynasty, and from there the animals were brought to England. They became popular in Russia, but much later. So, let's move on to their description and look at the main features of this type of dog.
Character
This breed is kind and sociable. It is worth noting that both boys and girls, pug breeds are not very active. They love to cuddle and sleep. Sometimes they have bursts of activity. As a rule, at a younger age. The pug runs around the house and makes a mess, but this phenomenon is rare and short-lived.
Pugs girls are very gentle and loving. They require more attention than boys. Pug boys are not too demanding.
For them, periodic attention from the owner and a delicious lunch are enough.
If a person does not have enough time, but really wants to get this breed, then it is better to choose a male. They are more patient and more self-sufficient. A girl in the place of a dog can feel sad and even get sick without the attention of the owner.
Pugs are very smart dogs and training them is a very simple task. It is enough to find an approach, and even the most stubborn dog will be trainable.
If you decide to relax and lie down on the sofa, then your loneliness will be diluted by a cheerful pug girl. The boy will simply calmly watch your vacation.
Both male and female get along well with the whole family. They get along well with children and tolerate all their antics.
These dogs love to be petted and hugged. Pugs girls are more vulnerable; they can become jealous if the owner pays a lot of attention to someone else.
A wonderful feature of this breed is that they show their joy at being greeted by dancing, yelping and climbing to be picked up. This makes all owners of this breed incredibly happy.
The peculiarity of a pug girl is that with the onset of motherhood, she becomes even more affectionate and gentle towards her loved ones. She is very attentive and can recognize her owner’s mood. If she notices that the owner is in no mood or sick, she will lie nearby and sigh periodically. Thus, the dog empathizes with its owner.
The boy is immediately visible from afar. A male pug is very proud when he walks next to his owner. It may give the impression that this is a big, proud dog. His majestic gaze into the distance and proud posture shows how proud he is to be walking with his owner. Unlike a girl pug, he will not run around the street. Maybe he'll indulge a little.
Puppies
A pug puppy can be separated from its mother at 3 to 4 months of age. It is advisable to take along with the baby the bedding on which he slept, this will help him feel calmer in the new place.
To prevent your puppy from being afraid to sleep, place his sleeping place close to you.
Immediately after purchasing a puppy, you need to visit a veterinarian, obtain a veterinary passport and begin vaccinations. At the age of 8-12 weeks, the first vaccination is given, after 21-30 days a revaccination is carried out.
Before rabies vaccination, deworming is done (7-30 days before).
Vaccines help protect dogs from viruses and other dangerous diseases.
A vaccination creates immunity to a specific disease. In 90% of cases, when a dog encounters a virus, it does not get sick.
Pug
Choosing a puppy
First of all, purchase a puppy only with documents, that is, a known pedigree. This will protect you from surprises in the future - genetic diseases or mental problems. The pug's documents provide a guarantee that he is healthy. If it happens that your pet does not have a pedigree, refuse mating. This guarantees the purity of the breed in the future.
The proverb “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” applies to pugs. Be sure to meet the pug's mom before purchasing. The puppy takes most of its qualities from its mother.
When choosing a puppy, pay attention to its appearance, which must correspond to the breed standard. In addition, a healthy dog has clean eyes and ears, a pink tongue and gums, and his breath smells like mother’s milk.
Puppies and their mother must be kept in proper sanitary conditions. If the puppies have lived in dirt or dampness, you should think about their health.
Standard
There are different opinions about the pug breed. Some talk about their passive lifestyle. They emphasize that they practically do not express their emotions. Others say that they are very active and playful. This difference of opinion is justified by the appearance of pugs. If you look at them, you might think that they are phlegmatic animals that love to lie down and eat treats. Therefore, many people think that an active pug is fantastic.
In fact, many of the breed are quite energetic and playful. Especially under the age of 4 years. As a dog grows up, it becomes calmer and smarter. But you shouldn’t delude yourself and think that if you get a pug, you will avoid the frisky one that runs around and destroys everything that comes along the way.
Among dogs there are also members of the intelligentsia who will not disturb the peace of your home. They will lie quietly almost all day in the place that you have prepared for them. But there are few such dogs. Most pugs are moderately active and love to play standard dog games. And most importantly, they take an active part in all the affairs of their owner.
Pugs cannot be shy or aggressive. It is these shortcomings that are a serious obstacle to participating in an exhibition career. They are very friendly. And they even become friends with cats. They often don’t understand why cats don’t want to be friends with them.
It is worth noting that pugs are not only decorative dogs. They consider it necessary to warn the owner of any danger. Pugs react to any noise outside the door and act as a bell. If the pug was sleeping calmly in its place, after a second it can already jump and bark at the door, thus warning its owners about an unexpected visit.
Many people think that pugs are not emotional. It's not like that at all. They can express such intense joy that everyone involuntarily smiles.
The dog sits quietly if you brush it, because it thinks that this is a certain sign of attention and is happy about it.
Pugs are very smart animals. But there is such a feature as excessive stubbornness. Pugs have a high level of self-esteem. When a dog is already an adult, it can hardly be forced to learn something new, and it will be reluctant to carry out old commands.
This breed is very loyal. They are very worried in those moments when they have to be alone and they get a feeling of abandonment and resentment. But the mood immediately changes the moment the owner appears on the doorstep.
Pug weight by month
The ideal weight for an adult dog ranges from 6.3 to 8.1 kg. But recently, breeders have given preference to heavier dogs: 8-9 kg for females and 10-12 kg for males. Pugs with this weight have more successful matings and are easier to bear and give birth to puppies.
Intensive growth is observed up to 9-12 months, although some pugs develop and build muscle up to 1.5 years. Puppies gain weight especially actively until they are 4 months old. From six months the increase is ¼ of the total weight monthly.
Below is a table of weights by month for pug puppies. Using it you can control the development of your pet:
| Puppy age | Pug weight by month | |
| Bitches | Males | |
| At birth | 150—250 g | 150—250 g |
| 4 weeks | 0.9—1.1 kg | 0.9—1.1 kg |
| 2 months | 1.9—2.1 kg | 1.9—2.1 kg |
| 3 months | 2.9—3.1 kg | 2.9—3.1 kg |
| 4 months | 3.9—4.1 kg | 3.9—4.1 kg |
| 5 months | 4.9—5.1 kg | 4.9—5.1 kg |
| 6 months | 5.8—6.2 kg | 5.8—6.2 kg |
| 7 months | 6.3-6.8 kg | 6.8—7.2 kg |
| 8 months | 6.8-7 kg | 7.8—8.2 kg |
| 9 months | 6.9—7.3 kg | 8.8—9.2 kg |
| 10 months | 7.3—7.6 kg | 9.9—10.1 kg |
| 11 months | 7.6-8 kg | 10.9—11.2 kg |
| Year | 8-9 kg | 11.9—12.1 kg |
Additional Information! The indicated values are approximate: deviations of 300-500 g up or down are acceptable. It is advisable to weigh your pug puppy every week during the first month to monitor weight gain. In subsequent periods, 1-2 weighings per month are sufficient.
Advantages and disadvantages
It is not difficult to determine the pros and cons of the breed. Let's look at the main advantages of a pug:
- Good hygiene. Pugs have natural smooth and short hair. Therefore, they are very easy to keep clean. A small problem with hygiene is only their folds, which need to be cleaned periodically.
- Small ones. They do not need an aviary or a large yard. They only need a little space to run around.
- Beautiful. Pugs have a unique appearance and are very popular in many countries.
- Charming faces attract the attention of people around the world.
- Devotees. If you are an owner who deserves the trust of a pug, he will completely disappear into you. He will be a good support and protector everywhere and always.
- Pleasant disposition. For both boys and girls, the pug has a pleasant character that contains charm, attentiveness, playfulness, obedience, sociability, affection and gentleness.
- Love for children. The dogs are very friendly and will be excellent companions for children. They are not irritable, so small children's pranks will not displease them.
- Unpretentiousness to food. The pug can be fed both specialized food and home-cooked food.
Let's consider the main disadvantages of the pug breed:
- Health problems . Small dogs have problems with the respiratory system and can also become hypothermic and overheated.
- Care. It is necessary to take care of the folds on the face every day. Because they collect all the dirt that can irritate the dog's skin. But it is worth noting that a short time is enough to wipe the necessary areas with ordinary wet wipes.
- The dog is not for the street. For those people who are looking for walking companions, a pug is not suitable. The dog gets tired quickly and does not like hot weather.
- House training. Dogs are very stubborn and difficult to train. It will take more time and effort to train your pug to the toilet and to the house.
- Always near. These animals are very dependent on their owners. That is why they always crave attention and affection. Every minute that belongs to the dog will be gifted with joyful emotions. If you don’t play with your pet for a long time, the dog won’t give up and will still attract your attention.
- Snore. Many owners of this breed note that they cannot sleep peacefully, as their pet snores very loudly. Dog snoring is caused by the structural features of the nasopharynx. There's nothing you can do about it. You just need to take it easier or choose a place for the dog where you can least hear him.
Origin of the breed
There are many versions of the origin of pugs. According to the most common one, their ancestors lived in Ancient China. They were probably short-haired pug-like dogs with a short muzzle, which were called Lo Dze. These unusual animals lived exclusively in rich and noble houses. It is noteworthy that the Chinese called the clear pattern of folds on the forehead, visually similar to hieroglyphs, the imperial sign and saw a mystical meaning in it.
Pugs were brought to Europe in 1553 by the Turkish fleet. First, the dogs came to France, then to the Netherlands, where they became favorites at the court of William III of Orange. The breed, fully formed in the 16th century, was in great demand among ladies and was called boudoir. Having a pug in your home was a sign of good taste. However, gradually the popularity began to decline, and there were fewer and fewer of them.
When Queen Victoria of England wanted a pug in 1864, her vassals had to go to great lengths to get one. Two decades later, the first ever pug fan club was created and an official breed standard was developed, which is still in effect today.
Peculiarities
Walking the dog
It is enough for an adult dog to walk 2 times a day for 30-40 minutes. You can allow minor physical activity.
This is necessary if your pet likes to eat heavily. Pugs are prone to obesity. As is known, this factor has a detrimental effect on health.
If it’s hot outside, stress is eliminated and walks are reduced to 15 - 20 minutes. It is necessary to take a bottle of water with you so that the dog does not become dehydrated. It is necessary to choose a park for walks so that your pet is not exposed to the scorching sun.
Cold weather means walking for about 20 minutes. If the frost outside is below 20 degrees, then the dog should be dressed and walk for 15 minutes. Otherwise, the dog may catch a cold.
The main difficulty with walking a dog is that it gets tired quickly. Pugs should not go long distances from home, as this may cause them anxiety.
Features of fold care
It is necessary to introduce a tradition of wiping the folds on your pet’s face every morning. To do this quickly and efficiently, it is enough to have wet wipes on hand. It is necessary to carefully wipe each fold to clean it from dust and fallen, dead hair. In case of poor hygienic care of the animal's folds, dermatological diseases may develop, which will irritate the animal, and may also lead to blood poisoning.
Training
Despite all the positive qualities of the breed, they are particularly stubborn .
In order to train a dog, you need to be patient. A dog can only be trained at a young age. When she grows up, she will not accept commands.
It takes a long time to let the dog understand that you are not playing with it, but are teaching it the commands necessary for a well-mannered dog.
One of the challenges you will face is toilet training at home. Since the dog is a domestic dog and spends most of its time in the apartment, it is necessary to teach it to relieve itself in the appropriate place. For this, various fillers are used, which have a peculiar smell to which the dog gets used to, and knows that if it is present, it will relieve itself.
Allergy to wool
No one thinks about the possibility of a fur allergy when purchasing a pug puppy. This unpleasant disease can poison the life of an allergy sufferer. It is necessary to find out in advance whether you have any allergies to animals.
Of course, you can take antihistamines and the body will eventually get used to the presence of the allergen, and it will go away. But it is possible that the allergy will only get worse over time. In this case, you need to urgently get rid of the pet. This will be a huge trauma for the animal. That is why it is necessary to know all the allergens that can affect your body.
Dental care
To remove plaque, you need a toothbrush or terry cloth. It is necessary to moisten them in a 3 percent solution of baking soda and gently brush your teeth, lifting your upper lip. At the time of cleaning, it is important to fix the pet’s head.
Pug colors with photos
Pugs are allowed 4 colors : beige, apricot, silver and black. With the first three, contrasting dark markings are required:
- face mask;
- “diamond” in the forehead: a black dot resembling a fingerprint;
- “moles” on the cheeks;
- belt on the back;
- darkened ears.
Below we describe in detail all the colors of pugs with photos.
Beige color
The second name is Fawn. Includes all shades of yellow and brown. There are more dogs with this color, although the beige color is recessive. The eyes are rich brown.
Apricot color
In English - Apricot. Less common than beige color. It is also called deer or red.
The beige and apricot colors of pugs are often confused. The main difference is that in the second type the hairs have a rich red color.
Important! The full Apricot color in pugs is formed by the age of 1.5 years, when two seasonal molts occur. The puppy's initially pronounced red color may become overcolored and turn pale.
40 breeds with red color.
Black color
Black color is the rarest color among pugs. Puppies of this color are very valuable and expensive. Dark wool can become dull and fade over time. To prevent this from happening, do not walk the dog in the sun and wash it with special shampoos that retain color.
Pugs of this color are not allowed to have light areas: white, red, beige, gray. Claws, edging of eyes, lips, eyelids should also be deep black. Only a snow-white spot on the chest is allowed. But when judging, priority is given to all-black dogs.
Silver color
Also Silver fawn or "moon fawn". The color was recognized later than others, so dogs of this color are rare. In Russia, silver pugs are not yet allowed for exhibitions, but in Europe and the USA such dogs are popular.
The peculiarity of the color is not a pure gray color, but the presence of beige or light brown hairs. Mixing and shimmering, they form a steel tint, which is visually perceived as a silvery tint.
Characteristic diseases
Heart
- Myocarditis.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Myocardosis.
- Endocarditis.
Breath
- Laryngitis, acute swelling of the larynx.
- Acute bronchitis.
- Allergic bronchitis.
- Emphysema.
- Bronchiectasis.
Eyes
- Cataract.
- Entropy.
- Red eye.
- Dry eye syndrome.
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
- Eye loss.
Start
I bought a dog for 15,000 rubles from a kennel. This is my first dog and this was the beginning of my dog experience.
As expected, I got a passport for my new friend. The passport, by the way, is issued at the veterinary clinic during the first vaccination. The first vaccination is given at 4 months. Stickers from vaccinations given are affixed to the passport. So store it carefully. You may need it to remember what vaccinations your dog has. If you go abroad with your dog, you will need a passport with stamps to pass veterinary control.
Hygiene procedures
Caring for a pug is not difficult:
- There is no need to cut the wool. It is enough to comb it several times a week. During active molting, the procedure is carried out every day.
- Bathing - no more than once a month. Frequent water procedures on the skin damage the protective layer.
- The folds on the head need to be wiped regularly so that debris does not accumulate in them and pathogenic microorganisms do not develop. Disinfectants are used for cleaning.
- Teeth are brushed once a week.
- Claws are trimmed as they grow, approximately once every 1-1.5 weeks.
Attention! After wiping the folds, they need to be dried so that the skin does not rot. This can lead to the development of inflammatory processes.
Disqualifying faults
If the owner of a pug is planning for his pet to participate in exhibitions, it is important to know that there may be some features in their appearance that are disqualifying defects, and a purebred dog should not have them:
- apple-shaped skull;
- strongly prominent frontal bone, similar to that of the Japanese Chin;
- the bridge of the nose is poorly visible or absent;
- the nasal fold is asymmetrical;
- light-colored lobe;
- eyes - too protruding, light, small, slanted or almond-shaped;
- a distorted oral cavity, due to which the tongue protrudes or the teeth are severely exposed;
- arched chest shape;
- the neck is too short or, conversely, excessively long.
A culling breed is considered to be a long-haired or hairy, shaggy pug with a fluffy coat.
An atypical coat color is considered a cull.
