If you are a pug owner, you will know their characteristics already – a mixture between a four-legged clown and a toddler, which is among the many reasons why we all love them.
Pugs are believed to originate from China where they were prized companions for the emperors, so it is no surprise that these little dogs strut around like kings and queens of the house. Ancient records included descriptions of these flat-faced dogs with short legs, which leads us to believe they existed in China within the royal family, and only the very important people would be able to own a pug. Pugs seemed to have stayed within the royal families as they soon moved their way over to the Netherlands, having been discovered by the Dutch when they started trading with China. There are stories of a famous heroic pug which has now become the official dog of the House of Orange, because of how he alerted Prince William of an invasion. One night when William was asleep, an assassin tried to enter his chambers, but his brave little pug, Pompey, alerted the prince to the intrusion, thereby saving the prince’s life.
These days pugs seem to be everywhere, whether it’s in the park, printed on a t-shirt or in a movie. They are classed as ‘toy breeds’ or ‘designer dogs’, which also makes them very popular, even with celebrities. Their fun-loving personalities make it easy to understand why they are so popular – which makes it seem crazy to think that, like all dogs, these pugs are descended from the mighty wolf. Pugs are very friendly characters and are known for their comical yet sensitive personalities. The most visible trait is their stubbornness; a pug always knows what he wants and will try different ways to get it, whether it is to wait it out, or turn on the charm and give cuddles – either way, very amusing to a pug lover. Pugs can be harder to train because of their stubborn ways but, as long as you are persistent and work out what motivates them – which 99% of the time is food – then there is no reason why they cannot be trained like any other dog. Although they are big eaters, pugs are also very lively and full of beans; they love a mad five minutes, which always puts a smile on your face. Exercise is always welcomed by a pug, since they are not as lazy as they look; but at the same time, they would never turn down a Sunday lie-in. Pugs generally get on well with both humans and other dogs, being by no means shy or submissive, and loving to socialise. A pug is like a child, sulking when being told off and very sensitive to harsh tones – it will take a while to win them round again. The pug was bred to be a lap dog, therefore they are very loyal and always like to be nearby. They are true family dogs who will expect a place on the sofa or bed next to you.
