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Get to know
Pugs
Written by author of 34 dog books. by Nate Ritter, DVM.
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
Veterinarian reviewed
Written by author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
Veterinarian reviewed
The Pug’s official motto, “Multum in Parvo,” means “a lot in a little” and sums up this little dog with a lot of personality.
The Pug exudes a presence that dominates every room or situation.
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At a glance
Low Energy
Energy level
2/5
Very Low Maintenance
Grooming
2/5
Small
Size
Confident, inquisitive, playful
Temperament
12-16 years
Lifespan
Average Trainability
Training
3/5
Vocal
Barking
4/5
At a glance
Energy level
Low Energy
Grooming
Very Low Maintenance
Size
Small
Temperament
Confident, inquisitive, playful
Lifespan
12-16 years
Training
Average Trainability
Barking
Vocal
Why people love the breed
Everybody loves a Pug. Some just love them even more than others.
Pugs bring a smile to your face. Life is never boring with one of these playful, inventive jokesters. But as much as they like entertaining you with their antics, they equally enjoy loving you, snuggling and just hanging out. They make fun-loving playmates for children and attentive companions for the elderly.
Pugs elicit attention wherever they go. People seem to be drawn to them, making every walk a chance to stop and let passersby ask to greet your Pug–and maybe you, too, if they notice you.
The convenient size of Pugs make them easy to take almost anywhere, but they do come with one important caveat: They do not cope well with warmer weather. They’re also not the best choice if running or swimming are on your list of desired activities.
Finally, if you don’t like the possibility of a snoring dog, or a gassy dog, a Pug may not be the best choice. Pug lovers, though, embrace these as part of the breed’s charm.
Appearance
Pugs are little powerhouses, the tugboat of the toy breeds.
Pugs have heavy bone for their size, and have a square-proportioned, short-coupled build described as cobby. As the motto goes, they are multum in parvo, a big dog in a little space. The topline is level and straight, with the fairly short tail curled as tightly as possibly over one hip. The neck is short.
The head is very large and round, with a short, square muzzle, and large, prominent eyes. The ears are small and thin, and can be either rose or button shaped. The bite is very slightly undershot. The large deep wrinkles on the forehead are a distinctive feature of breed type.
The coat is short and close-fitting. Color can be fawn or black. All have a black mask or muzzle, ears, cheek moles, and a trace down the back.
The gait is strong and jaunty, full of confidence. The comparatively wide front stance gives them a characteristic slight roll of the hindquarters when trotting.
Grooming
Grooming the coat is very easy, but the wrinkles need some extra attention.
The Pug’s short coat needs only occasional brushing with a natural bristle brush. Dirt tends to fall off, so frequent bathing isn’t always needed.
Deep wrinkles on their short snout should be inspected daily. They may need cleansing and especially, drying, as they can provide ideal habitats for bacteria to flourish if left unattended.
Also inspect the eyes regularly, as their prominent positioning can make them more vulnerable to injury and infection.
Inspect the ears weekly as well, but don’t clean unnecessarily. Trim the nails as needed. Brush the teeth daily.
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Colebrook Posh Pugs
Breed temperament and characteristics
Multum in parvo–a lot in a little–applies to the Pug's personality even more so than to its body. The Pug packs enough personality for several dogs into one.
The Pug is confident to the point of brashness, ready to take on the world. But it often does this in a non-aggressive manner, seldom instigating a serious confrontation. When challenged, Pugs don't tend to back down, but most would really prefer to bluff, not brawl.
They are energetic and curious, always checking out new places and enjoying new situations. They are lively and playful. But once exercised, they can calm down readily, and enjoy snuggling next to their favorite people for hours.
Pugs tend to be gentle and gregarious with all family members. They are not often social butterflies, however, and may be wary of strangers initially. They are not usually aggressive toward people. And although they will readily bark an alarm, they are useless as actual protectors.
Exercise
The energetic Pug needs to run and play every day, but its exercise needs can be met in a smaller space.
Pugs love to run with wild abandon, but they tend to run out of steam fairly quickly. They can manage to get exercise with a bout of zoomies inside, but do need to go out as well.
They enjoy jaunts around the neighborhood. Jogging or hiking are likely too strenuous for them. They are not good swimmers and should only swim while wearing a life vest.
Because of their short muzzles, Pugs do not have the ability to cool themselves compared to most breeds. Their thicker body also does not disperse heat as well as dogs of other conformations Thus, Pugs do not do well in hotter weather, and any exercise should take this into consideration. In addition, the short muzzle can be associated with breathing obstructions, with some parts even swelling during strenuous exercise. Have your veterinarian check out your Pug’s breathing before embarking on any activities.
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Hill Country Pugs
Training
Pugs catch on quickly but can be stubborn.
Pugs have a mind of their own, and while they enjoy pleasing their people, they also enjoy showing off their own interpretations of what you wanted them to do. Pugs have a great sense of humor and are more than willing to demonstrate it during training sessions. Don't try to force a Pug to your will; it won’t work, as they will dig in and resist. But they are suckers for treats and adulation, so train with lots of both.
Pugs aren’t known as precision workers, and competitive obedience is seldom their forte. However, a few have done very well, so it’s possible. They enjoy trick training.
Pugs can be quite mischievous around the house, but are generally easy to housetrain. As with any youngster, they need early socialization with other dogs and with people.
Diet and nutrition
Pugs like to eat. Your job is to make sure they don’t eat too much.
Most Pugs will thrive on a good quality commercial or home-prepared diet (necessitates consultation with a veterinary nutritionist). In fact, some will thrive a little too much, as they can easily become obese. It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the Pug’s cobby build and a Pug that is overweight. In general, even a Pug should have a slight narrowing of the waist when viewed from any angle. While it is natural for them to have loose skin around the withers area, it should not have an underlying layer of blubber. Ask your veterinarian if you can’t decide if your Pug may be on the hefty side.
Feed Pug puppies a puppy diet three times a day until they are about 4 months old, then twice daily. Adults can eat adult food starting around 9 months of age.
Remember small snacks are big chunks of calories when dealing with small dog breeds. If you use training treats, account for those when determining how much to feed your dog for the regular meal.
Consult your veterinarian if your Pug has a medical condition that could respond well to special veterinary diets.
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Harmony Pugs
Health issues
Pugs have an unusual physique that can predispose them to some breathing, joint, and eye disorders.
Lifespan: 12 to 16 years.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
Occurs in short-faced breeds, including Pugs. Some Pugs have one or more of the components of BOAS, which can cause breathing difficulties. These components are stenotic nares (pinched nostrils), elongated soft palate, and other anatomic defects associated with the respiratory tract. Dogs that have difficulty breathing, that require surgical therapy, or that have a hypoplastic trachea should not be considered for breeding.
Patellar luxation
In which the kneecap slips out of the groove in which it should be nested, causes lameness and arthritic changes. It occurs mostly in small breed dogs. Screening involves an examination and grading of the degree of luxation present registered with OFA.
Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (pug dog encephalitis)
This is a rare but heritable disease in which dogs show neurological signs such as ataxia, blindness, and seizures. A DNA test is available that can identify susceptible dogs.
Other health issues
Pugs are at increased risk for ocular disease, skin issues, hip and elbow dysplasia, and liver shunts.
History
Pugs have an ancient and widespread history. They first made a huge impact in their native China, then in Holland, the rest of Europe, and finally, North America.
Pugs are an ancient breed that were developed as lap dogs in China. Their facial wrinkles were thought to resemble the Chinese mark for “Prince.”
DNA reveals the Pug’s closest family are the Brussels Griffon (which the Pug is behind), Shih-Tzu, and Pekingese.
Traders took the Pug to Holland, where in 1572 the Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange (due to a Pug saving the life of the Prince of Orange).
Pugs made an impact throughout Europe, accompanying England’s new King William III and Queen Mary II, serving as a clandestine messenger for Napoleon’s imprisoned then future-wife Josephine, and serving as a subject for Goya’s paintings. Pugs were the most popular dog in Victorian England.
The Pug was known as Mopshond in Holland, as Mops in Germany, and as Dutch or Chinese Pug in England.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Pug in 1885.
Pugs are favorite media stars, appearing in the films "Men in Black," "The Adventures of Milo and Otis" and "Hotel for Dogs."
Celebrity owners include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Billy Joel, Jessica Alba, Robin Williams, George Clooney, Paris Hilton, Nick Carter, plus many more.
About the author
Canine specialist, Caroline Coile, Ph.D., is the author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. She’s written thousands of magazine and web articles about dogs. She specializes in canine science, health, breeds and competitions. Caroline has won 20 national dog-writing awards, and was a 2015 Inductee into the Dog Writers Association of America Hall of Fame.
Veterinarian reviewed
Dr. Nate Ritter, DVM is the Veterinary Medical Director at Good Dog. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lafayette College and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City, and the Society for Theriogenology. Additionally, he is a USDA-accredited veterinarian.
Breed Scorecard
Characteristics and temperament
Affectionate with family
4
Watchdog level
5
Playfulness
4
Adaptability
4
Social needs
5
Temperament
Confident, inquisitive, playful, stubborn
Intelligence
4
Good with other dogs
3
Good with cats or other pets
3
Friendly with strangers
2
Good as a service dog
2
Good for apartments
5
Barking level
4
Appearance
Height
10-13"
Size
Small
Colors
Silver (non-standard), Black, Fawn, Cream (non-standard), White (non-standard), Brindle (non-standard)
Coat texture
Fine
Coat length
Short, close-lying
Training
Trainability
3
Exercise
Exercise needs
2
Exercise time
One hour daily
Mental exercise needs
3
Favorite activities
Tricks
Grooming
Grooming needs
2
Brushing frequency
Monthly
Needs professional grooming?
No
Drooling level
1
Health issues
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
Patellar luxation
Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (pug dog encephalitis)
Other health issues
Other
Bred for
Companionship
Country of origin
China
Popularity level
4
FAQs
On Good Dog, you can search for Pug puppies or dogs in rescues and shelters. Adopting a Pug from a shelter or rescue is generally less expensive than buying a puppy from a breeder with ethical practices. Across the United States, there are dedicated rescues that specialize in specific breeds and may even help transport a Pug dog to you from another part of the country. Although it can be more cost-effective, adopting the exact breed you're looking for is typically more difficult than working with a responsible breeder. Learn more about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue.
The typical price for Pug puppies for sale may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy. On average, the price of Pug puppies from a breeder is $1,750.
Some pugs don’t mind being carried, but they prefer to use their own four legs. Plus, they are fairly heavy and despite their small size it would be tiring for most people to carry one everywhere.
Like any dog, Pugs can be left for reasonable time periods, but do much better with some companionship.
Pugs can be great pets. They are fun, affectionate, gentle, and fairly eager to please. They can be both active and fun-loving as well as calm and snuggly.
