The site was last updated on

24 Aug 2000

Name of breed: Pug
Class: Toy Recognized: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI, KC (GB), KUSA
Size: Height 25-27.5cm (10-12in)
Coat: Fine, smooth, short and glossy.
Colors: Silver, apricot, fawn or black; black mast and ears and black trace along back.

It is likely that the Pug originate in China, and it may be a greatly scaled-down relative of the Tibetan Mastiff. By the 1500's, it had been taken on trading ships to Holland, where it became popular with the royal family of the time, the House of Orange, and it often referred to as the Dutch Pug.
The breed is generally believed to have been introduced into Britain in 1688 by William, Prince of Orange, who became William III of Britain. During William and Mary's reign (1689-94) the Pug is said to have enjoyed unrivalled status. However, by the 1800s when Queen Victoria was building up her kennel, the breed had become comparatively rare in Britain. It was not until 1883 that the breed was standardized and the British

Character and care

This happy intelligent little dog is good with children, and requires only modest exercise, but the Pug should not be exercised in very hot weather. Daily grooming with a brush and a rub-down with a silk handkerchief will make its coat shine.