Characteristics of the Pug Dog Breed

The pug dog breed is characterized by the short and stocky, heavily muscled body. The most charming trait of pugs is their face. The flesh of the face is deeply furrowed, creating crinkles that can be described as resembling a little old man's face. Although the pug is a small dog, it is not as excitable as other small dogs.

Pugs prefer to spend their time with humans, but can get along well if there are other animals in the home. Pugs typically enjoy remaining close to their owner and will follow them throughout the house. Their sociable nature makes them suitable to be around young children or in homes that see a lot of visitors. They will, however, alert their master if someone unexpected enters the home. The tendency to bark at strangers has led to their use as guard dogs in the past.

Pugs that do not get enough exercise are prone to becoming overweight. Care should be taken to ensure that your dog receives an adequate amount of exercise. Often a single long walk every day is more than enough. You also want to feed your dog a high-quality dry food with primary ingredients of lamb and rice. Carefully measure out the food, as the pug has a tendency to be a glutton.

One characteristic of the pug dog breed is that they crave attention more than exercise. A pug that is ignored may become depressed or engage in destructive behaviors. They are content to curl up with their master and watch TV, or to be spoken to and patted. Pugs tend to shed, so you should regularly brush out their coat. Due to the short snout of the pug, they are more susceptible than other breeds to overheating. Make sure you never leave your dog in a locked car, or at home without an adequate supply of cool water. If you believe your pug is overheating, you should give them a bath in cold water, holding them submerged up to the next until they cool off.

Pugs are easily trained, but have been known to be stubborn. The best approach to combat the dog's stubbornness is to enroll them in obedience classes as early as possible. Also, you should always project the image of pack leader onto your dog. In this way, your dog will respect you and you will be able to eliminate undesired behaviors. Pugs are very attuned to the tones of human speech, and often respond to a master's command immediately. More severe chastisement is rarely necessary.

It is believed that the pug dog breed first emerged during the Shang Dynasty (ca. 700 BCE) China. They were bred to be companions to the emperors and even had their own attendants and royal garments. When the Dutch began trading with the Chinese, one of the products they brought back to Europe was this breed of dog. It quickly became popular among the aristocracy. In fact, the pug became a symbol of the House of Orange in Holland after a pug alerted the household of Prince William of assassins in the middle of the night.

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