Dog Training, Breeds, Care, And Health! - Canine HQ
Home / Dog Breed / Pug
Fine By Breed Name

Explore By Characteristic or Group

View all Breeds

RESOURCES FOR NEW & PROSPECTIVE DOG OWNERS

Find Your Match

Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you

Compare Breeds

Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side

Find a Puppy

Nunc bibendum, purus eget tristique fermentum.

Choose your Breed

View the collection of dog breeds we have information on.

Why Get a Dog?

Nunc bibendum, purus eget tristique fermentum.

Breeders

Aenean feugiat metus ac nisi dictum tincidunt Interdum et.
Exclusive Deals, 50%+ Off Good & Toys, Health Information & More!
Register your Dog Today!

Pug

charming / loving / mischievous
Toy Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

10-13 inches

Weight

14-18 pounds

Life Expectancy

13-15 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    80% 80%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    80% 80%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    100% 100%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    100% 100%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    100% 100%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    20% 20%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    80% 80%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    80% 80%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    100% 100%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    100% 100%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    100% 100%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    20% 20%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The small but sturdy Pug is now adored by his millions of fans throughout the world. He was once the naughty companion of Chinese emperors and later served as the mascot of Holland’s royal House of Orange. Pugs are creatures of love and desire. The Latin proverb “multum in parvo” (a lot in a little) serves as the breed’s slogan and is a fitting description of this diminutive but powerful breed. They are available in three colors: completely black, silver, or apricot-fawn with a black face mask. Pugs have pleased owners for ages thanks to their huge round heads, big, sparkling eyes, and wrinkled brow, which offer them a range of human-like expressions including surprise, happiness, and curiosity. Pug owners claim that their breed makes the best indoor dog.

 

Pugs are content in the city or the country, with young children or elderly people, as an only pet or as part of a pack. They enjoy eating, but it’s important to keep them in shape. Pugs thrive in temperate climates that are neither too hot nor too cold, but with the right care, they can thrive everywhere.

What To Expect When Caring For a Pug

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

One of the Pug's most endearing features and one of his weak points is his dark, attractive eyes. There have been reports of corneal ulcers and dry eyes among other eye issues. Like many flat-faced breeds, pugs may have respiratory issues and perform poorly in hot, sunny, or muggy conditions. The Pug Dog Club of America's website, which is the parent organization of the breed, has comprehensive breed health information.  
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Eye Examination by a board Certified ACVO Ophthalmologist
  • Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis/Pug Dog Encephalitis (NME/PDE)
  • Patellar Luxation
 

Grooming

The short, glossy, smooth coat of the pug requires little upkeep, but it does shed. In order to maintain him looking his best, brushing him once a week with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt, or a hound glove will assist to remove the stray hair. Pugs don't typically require bathing unless they get into anything, especially dirty or begin to smell dog-like. Regular nail trimming is advised for the Pug since discomfort can result from nails that are too long.

Exercise

A Pug will happily spend the majority of the day curled up on the couch if given the chance, which when paired with the breed's penchant for food, raises the danger of obesity. However, owners may keep the Pug breed fit by providing regular opportunities for moderate activity, like as walks or playtime in the yard. The Pug is playful, strong, and vivacious as well. It's important to keep in mind that Pugs are a short-faced breed and shouldn't engage in vigorous exercise in hot or humid weather; instead, they should remain indoors where it's cool. Agility, obedience, and rally are some canine sports in which Pugs compete and succeed.

Training

The Pug was bred to be a friend and companion for his owners. He is charming, has a level and steady temperament, and is outgoing and loving. Pugs are typically simple to train since they strive to please their owners. Since they are prone to emotional fragility, severe training techniques should never be applied. A Pug will be upset if he is frequently left alone for extended periods of time since he wants to be with his family. Training sessions for puppies and early socialization are advised.

Nutrition

The Pug should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home under the direction and agreement of your veterinarian. Any diet should be suitable for the age of the dog, whether it is a puppy, adult, or senior. Pugs thrive on food and are prone to obesity, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight. therefore keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.

History

The Pug, also known as the Pug Dog, is a 2,000-year-old breed with a long history. The Pekingese, Shih Tzu, and Pug were all developed as cultivated pets of the emperor, his family, and members of the imperial court. The emperors of ancient China preferred flat-faced toy dogs. Like many of the ancient Far Eastern potentates’ preferred breeds, pugs were a prized possession that outsiders could only obtain as a gift.

 

When Dutch traders returned to Europe with Pug specimens in the 1500s, the Pug’s career as a global citizen began. According to legend, a pug saved the life of the Prince of Orange by barking to alert him to a Spanish troop attack on his camp, leading to the pug’s adoption as the mascot of Holland’s royal House of Orange. When William and Mary of Orange traveled to England to become the new king and queen, their Pugs joined them, sparking a pug frenzy among the British people.

 

The number of names the breed has had throughout history and in different regions, including Lo-sze (China), Mopsi (Finland), and Doguillo (Spain), is a good indicator of how popular Pugs are around the world. The Dutch refer to them as Mophonds, a term that is still frequently used in reference to pugs.

Numerous theories exist on the origin of the term Pug. One claims that the name Pug is derived from the Latin word “pugnus,” which means “fist” and refers to the way the dog’s face looks when it is clenched.