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Pug Information: Breed History |
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Written by Jenny Donaldson
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Sunday, 01 June 2008 |
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There are a lot of arguments in many Pug information sources as to where the Pug originated and what breeds went into making such a distinctive looking dog. All the sources agree the dog has Asian roots, although not all of the experts are convinced that China was their home country. However, snub-nosed golden dogs were recorded in the days of Confucius, about 700 BCE. A more detailed report is found of Chinese dogs that very much resembled Pugs in 400 BCE.
by JennyDonaldson
There are a lot of arguments in many Pug information sources as to where the Pug originated and what breeds went into making such a distinctive looking dog. All the sources agree the dog has Asian roots, although not all of the experts are convinced that China was their home country. However, snub-nosed golden dogs were recorded in the days of Confucius, about 700 BCE. A more detailed report is found of Chinese dogs that very much resembled Pugs in 400 BCE.
Pugs were reserved for the Imperial court of China, but through trade and wars eventually made their way to Europe, first through Holland. They were a common sight in European royal homes and thrones by the sixteenth century. Famous Pug owners include Josephine (Napoleon's wife); William, Prince of Orange in Holland who credits a warning from his Pug in saving him from an assassin. And English painter William Hogarth, who put his Pug "Trump" in several paintings.
The Pug as we recognize it did not exist until the 1800's. The Pug went through a long series of changes in body shape, body size and color that (for unknown reasons) some were encouraged while others were not. Some writings from Dutch traders in China indicated that there were longhaired and shorthaired Pugs, and that most of them were golden in color all over.
This is because a Pug's timely warning saved his master, William, Prince of Oranges, from an assassin's strike. By the sixteen hundreds, Pugs were popular in most European courts. Other famous owners of Pugs were Josephine (Napoleon's wife, who proves she always liked them small) and the popular English painter William Hogarth.
His Pug, "Trump", appears in several paintings. There was not that many Pugs available for breeding, so they were most likely crossed with small Bulldogs in order to produce Pug-like puppies. Hogarth's Pug was slimmer, longer-legged and longer-nosed than a modern Pug. Trump also lacked the black mask of most modern Pugs.
The Pug as we know it didn't come into being until the formation of a breed standard in the 1800's. Although Pugs had been longhaired, they now had to come in short haired coats in order to be shown. Pugs used to come in many different colors, but for some reason only three official colors are allowed in both the show rings of Europe and America.
The Pug as we know today came about in the 1800's, when the first organized dog shows began in Europe. It didn't take long for the idea of dog shows to cross the Atlantic. The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognized the breed in 1885.
Pugs have always loved people and always will, as long as the breed survives. Hopefully, there will be an emphasis on breeding healthy dogs rather than show-winning dogs in the future. It's the least we owe the Pug.
About the Author:
Jenny Donaldson is a passionate lover of the Pug and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Pug. Among other topics at this website, you will find out more about Pug types plus a whole lot more. |
