Pug
Other names: Mops

The pug is a small and chunky hound that is appreciated for his great friendliness, joviality, and good character. Playful, affectionate and sociable, he is a very pleasant life companion, especially suited to life in an apartment. This little dog requires certain comforts and constant attention to grow happily.
Key facts about the Pug
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Origins and history
The pug’s heritage is ancient: he was created and bred in China (and was particularly valued among mandarins), but he is also very popular in Holland and England. These two nations have each claimed to be the creators of the race on the basis of the very good selection work they have done over many years. Finally, Britain prevailed and the paternity of the pug breed was attributed to those troubled isles. The pug may have experienced difficult times over the years, but today he is celebrated for his true value; however, potential owners should give serious thought as to whether they wish to encourage the breeding of these troubled brachycephalic beings.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs
Section
Section 11 : Small Molossian type Dogs
Physical characteristics of the Pug
Adult size
Female : Between 10 and 13 in
Male : Between 12 and 16 in
Weight
Female : Between 13 and 18 lb
Male : Between 13 and 18 lb
Coat colour
The coat can be silver, apricot, fawn or black.
Type of coat
The coat’s hair is short.
The coat is shiny, thin, smooth, and soft. The hair must not be hard, nor woolly, if the pug is to match the official standards of the breed.
Eye colour
The eyes must be dark in colour.
Description
This small hound is "multum in Parvo" which translates as a big deal in a small space. His body is compact and chunky, and his musculature is visible. The Pug’s legs are neither too long nor too short, and he should not be skinny.
Good to know
Due to the reproduction of increasingly ‘exaggerated’ dogs (their muzzles increasingly flat), dogs of this breed are born with obvious impediments, given their heavy respiratory problems.
In this small hound, the condition causes quite significant snoring and a very loud sound as he breathes. This is mainly due to the narrowing and tightness of the nose. This may look amusing, but it is the result of a real malformation, caused by the unscrupulous efforts of some breeders to produce more and more pug-like pugs.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Pug
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Pug to adopt

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Compatibility
Price
The price of a pug varies depending on his origins, age and gender. An average of £850 is to be charged for a dog registered with Kennel Club.
The monthly budget allocated to the maintenance of the Pug is between £20 and £30 depending on the quality of the food chosen and taking into account occasion of his various annual treatments (vaccines, deworming, etc.).
Grooming
The maintenance of this small hound is not difficult but requires a certain regularity. His coat should be brushed weekly to maintain its brightness. In addition, special attention must be paid to his eyes, ears and the wrinkles of his nose.
Shedding
This dog loses his hair continuously throughout the year. The rate of this loss is moderate but more intense during the moulting period in the autumn and spring. During moulting, brushing should be completed daily to remove dead hair.
Nutrition of the Pug
The Pug can be satisfied with dry industrial food (croquettes) but portion size must be adapted to the age of the dog, his physical condition and his state of health, in order to avoid too much intake of a nutrient that could make him overweight.
The pug puppy will benefit from a diet adapted to his growth, which can sometimes be tricky and therefore should be kept in check. There are many recommended products but avoid croquettes.
Health of the Pug
Life expectancy
The lifespan of the pug is estimated at 13 years.
Strong / robust
The chunky aspect of this hound could be interpreted as robustness, but this small dog is somewhat delicate, mainly because of his flattened snout.
However, besides this anomaly - a real complication in the pug’s life - the creature rarely falls ill.
Withstand heat
Brachycephalia (flattened snout) is a cause of many respiratory complications. This dog does not have the same capacity as others to regulate his body temperature when he is hot.
When temperatures rise, Pugs are not able to sweat. Because of his flattened muzzle, it takes a more substantial effort to keep himself cool.
Withstand cold
This dog does not have a thick undercoat to withstand the weather (cold, humidity). So he should never be left outdoors in such conditions. During winter walks, even the wearing of a coat may not be enough to protect his skin.
Tendency to put on weight
The unlimited appetite of this well-padded little dog can lead him to become much fatter than he should be. Even though he should not be skinny, neither should he be any rounder than necessary.
Be careful to feed him a diet adapted to the physical condition of his breed.
Common illnesses
- Respiratory disorders, peculiar to brachycephalic dogs, meningoencephalitis-encephalitis (neurological pathology)
- Dermatological Infections due to wrinkles and creases in the skin
- Pseudo-hermaphroditism in males (abnormality of the genital tract)
- Difficulties during delivery
- Eye conditions
- Puppy's delicate growth
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