When the Pug looks at you and cocks his head, even the hardest heart has to melt. And the Pug has been melting hearts for hundreds of years. Like Mastiffs, Pugs were first known in Tibet, where they were companions to Buddhist monks.

In Holland, William, Prince of Orange, was saved by his Pug in 1572. The dog, Pompey, barked and licked William’s face to awaken him before an attack on his camp. Invading Spanish troops had orders to kill William. Thanks to Pompey, he survived. When William became King of England, he brought his Pugs with him. Soon the breed grew in popularity throughout Europe.

Pugs combine a cocky confidence with a friendly, sensitive nature. They are great with kids and thoroughly relish playtime and exercise.

The velvety soft coat of the Pug can be silver, apricot-fawn, or black. The silver and apricot-fawn colors should contrast sharply with his black face or mask. A black “trace” line runs down his back. His tail is tightly curled over his hip.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: A squarish, cobby dog, even-tempered, playful, charming, outgoing, and loving.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Weight—14 to 18 pounds.

Fun Facts

Pugs originally had several names. In Holland they were called Mopshond, from the Dutch word “to grumble.” In the early eighteenth century Marmoset monkeys were popular pets in Europe. They were known as pugs, which was a slang expression for “dear ones.” With their big eyes, round faces, and impish ways, they resembled the little dogs. Soon the dogs were being called pug dogs, and the name stuck.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.