Pug: Origins, Personality, and How to Adopt

Its earliest images are found in Chinese paintings and sculptures from 400 BC. carlino, small in size but very compact and robust, it is a dog with a long history behind it, with a docile and affectionate nature. Excellent company. Furthermore, the pug, dog particularly intelligent, he is cheerful and playful, enjoys showing off and encourages his owners to participate in his almost clown-like games.

The pug owes its name to the actor Carlo Bertinazzi, known as Carlino. He was one of the most famous Harlequin actors, and played him by wearing a black mask that resembles the face of this curious, funny, and small dog.

Index of topics

Origins

The origins of the pug are much debated. Some believe it comes from the Netherlands, others from the Far East, where it was imported by Dutch merchants in the 16th century. The most likely hypothesis is that of Eastern origin, given its similarities with the Pekingese. And probably the first specimens were bred for the Chinese nobility during the Shang dynasty (c. 1600 – 1046 BC).

In any case, one thing is certain: from the 18th century onwards, the pug entered the European courts through the main doors, reaching its peak popularity during the Victorian era. Queen Victoria contributed to its popularity because she was so crazy about it, she even became a breeder.

Appearance

A small but very stocky dog, its head is large, massive, and round, while its muzzle, also square, is wrinkled and flattened. Here are its main characteristics:

The pug is a dog short-haired weighing between 6 and 8 kg
Its height is between 25 and 28 cm.
It is small in stature but has a decidedly robust build, it is compact, its muzzle is flat.
The head is quite broad and proportionate to the body.
The eyes are large and round, dark in colour.
The neck is thick and robust.
The ears are thin, small and soft.
The coat is short and smooth, and the color ranges from silver to apricot, from fawn to black.

Benefits

The pug is a dog Very loyal and needs the constant company of his owners, he hates being alone. He loves cuddles, is cheerful, affectionate, sweet, intelligent and educating him is not too difficultHe also enjoys company and loves playing with children, with whom he is very friendly. Lively but also very lazy. He can be bold, enterprising, and curious when necessary.

disadvantages

The pug is cheerful but tends to be lazy and prone to weight gain, which is why it is important to take special care with its diet.

They also tend to suffer from various conditions, from eye problems to patellar dysplasia, as well as breathing difficulties related to their unique muzzle shape and narrow nostrils. Other problems may involve the bones and hind legs.

Among other flaws, pugs shed year-round, suffer from heat, and are lonely. They're also very delicate dogs: don't forget this if you've chosen one.

Cure

First take care of his diet because they tend to gain weight easily. So focus on healthy, low-calorie foods.

Spend a lot of time in his company Because he hates loneliness, you should constantly maintain his hygiene. The wrinkles on his nose and ears, in particular, require constant cleaning to prevent infections. Pay attention to his eyes, too, as they are very sensitive. Brush his fur regularly during shedding.

And of course bring it to regular veterinary visits To ensure he's healthy, as he's prone to certain conditions, especially respiratory ones. Keep in mind this dog's tendency to snore.

Illnesses

The pug is generally a healthy breed, and among the pathologies it can suffer from are eye diseases such as dry eyes and skin problems, due to skin folds. British Veterinary Association he even launched a campaign, called #breedtobreathe, to inform people of his frequent ailments, typical of brachycephalic dogs. breathing problems, eye diseases, inability to mate or give birth naturally, skin and dental problems.

Adoption

As always, we recommend that you avoid purchasing purebred dogs and instead adopt them. As for pugs, there is an association that specializes in rescuing them. Leon's Pug Rescue Salvacarlino, which rescues lonely and struggling pugs to find them new homes. The association was founded by Barbara and Alessandro in memory of their pug Leon.

Why get a pug?

The choice of a pug is linked to some factors that make it a unique dog.

Being fun and playful makes him a dog always in a good mood, pleasant company, and never whiny or prone to barking. Likewise, he is a sociable dog, who gets along well with other animals, including cats.
His loyalty knows no bounds. He resents separation from his owner even for a few hours, and can even become obsessive toward people in the house.
The noise it makes with snorts and snores is not annoying, but brings joy.
Its high intelligence makes it one of the best companion dogs.

Dogs similar to the pug

The pug is often confused with the french bulldog and with the English bulldogThe similarities are due to various characteristics, starting from the small size and the flattened muzzle. It also partly resembles the Boston Terrier, small dog with a short, square muzzle.

Pug: Origins, Character, and How to Adopt It