Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved dogs but recently, I’ve developed an obsession with the one and only Pug. Their wrinkly and chunky faces are just so irresistible! Like everyone says, “they’re so ugly that they’re cute!” I plan on getting at least one the year after I graduate... which is coming soon! I wanted to do some research on them to find out basic information on their personalities and how to properly take care of them. I discovered very interesting information that I was not aware of. So without further ado, here are the most interesting facts I found while researching.
The pug has been found to be one of the oldest breed of dogs.. Crazy, huh?! According to Pugminded, They were first documented in China by Confucius between 500-700 BC (Pet Pug Dog). The Chinese Emperors believed owning a pug was valuable. Many pugs were treated like royalty. For example, many were given their own palace along with their own security guards. The Chinese loved the pug so much that they would send them as gifts to surrounding countries (Korea, Japan) as a gift (Pugminded). By doing this, they spread their love of these adorable pups. The Pug then started to be popular in countries of Europe since they were given as gifts to soldiers returning from China. England specifically was the place where the western prototype of Pugs came about due to changes of breeding (Pugminded).
Even though pugs have been around for a long time, there weren't called Pugs until the 1600's. According to Pug History, the term pug was originally used for a term of endearment for people. It was also once meant "demon." Over time, The Oxford Dictionary redefined pug as "a dwarf breed of dog resembling a bull-dog in miniature (Pug Histrory)".
Dogs that have a short muzzle and a round head are known as brachycephalic (Pets 4 Home). Pugs are well-known for their scrunched face but sometimes it can cause health problems. Because of this, it causes snoring, drooling and sensitivity to warm weather. If taken care of properly, a pug will be healthy like any other dogs.
Guess what pugs enjoy most? Sleeping! On average, they will sleep up to 14 hours a day. Pugs are a breed known for being lazy which sometimes gives them a negative impression for potential owners (Pug's Sleeping Habits). As puppies, it is recommended for them to sleep 18-20 hours a day. While they love to sleep most of the day, they easily adapt to their owner’s sleep schedule. When the lights are off for bedtime, they will know it's time for bed and vice versa. They are known for mimicking their owner’s behavior and this also makes them more of a dependent dog (Pug's Sleeping Habits).
These are just a few of the cool things I found about the pug. They have such an interesting history and I’m glad I took the time to investigate this adorable animal. It honestly made me more obsessed than I already was. This definitely helped educate me and I hope it can help anyone considering buying a pug or wanting to learn more about the breed.
