 |
||||
|
Pug A Pug is a toy dog breed with a wrinkly face and medium-small body. The word "pug" may have derived from the Latin Pugnus (fist); the Pug's face can look like a clenched fist. The breed is often summarized as multum in parvo ("much in little"), in reference to the Pug's great personality, despite its small size. Origins Bred to adorn the laps of the Chinese emperors during the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BC), in East China, where they were known as "Lo-Chiang-Sze" or "Foo" (ceramic foos, transmogrified into dragon, with their bulging eyes are very Pug-like). The Pug's popularity spread to Tibet, where they were mainly kept by monks, and then went onto Japan, and finally Europe. Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Hogarth with his Pug Trump, 1745The breed was first imported in the late 16th and 17th centuries by merchants and crews from the Dutch East Indies Trading Company. The Pug later became the official dog of the House of Orange. In 1572, a Pug saved the Prince of Orange's life by barking at an assassin. A Pug also traveled with William III and Mary II when they left the Netherlands to ascend to the throne of England in 1688. This century also saw Pugs' popularity on the rise in other European countries. In Spain, they were painted by Goya, in Italy Pugs dressed in matching jackets and pantaloons sat by the coachmen of the rich, and in Germany and France. Pugs appear several times as footnotes to history. Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries The popularity of the Pug continued to spread in France during the eighteenth century. Before her marriage at age 15 to Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette owned a Pug named Mops (the German and Dutch name for the dog's breed). Before her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine had her Pug, Fortune, carry concealed messages to her family while she was confined at Les Carmes prison. The pet was the only recipient of visiting rights. The English painter William Hogarth owned a series of Pugs, to which he was devoted. In 1745 he painted his self-portrait together with that of his Pug, Trump, now in the Tate Gallery, London. In nineteenth century England, Pugs flourished under the patronage of the monarch Queen Victoria. Her many Pugs, which she bred herself, included Olga, Pedro, Minka, Fatima and Venus. Her involvement with the dogs in general helped to establish the Kennel Club, which was formed in 1873. Victoria favored fawn and apricot Pugs, whereas the aristocrat Lady Brassey is credited with making black Pugs fashionable after she brought some back from China in 1886. The Pug arrived in the United States during the nineteenth century (the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885) and was soon making its way into the family home and show ring. Appearance While most Pugs appearing in eighteenth century prints tended to be long and lean, the current breed standards call for a square, cobby body, a compact form, deep chest, and well-developed muscle. Their heads, carried on arched necks, should be substantial and round, the better to accentuate their large, bulging, dark eyes. The wrinkles on their foreheads should be distinct and deep, and were especially prized by the Chinese as they seemed to spell out the character for prince. The ears should be smooth and soft, like black velvet and come in two varieties: "rose" (small, round and folded with the front edge angled toward the mask, giving the head a more rotund shape) and "button" (level with the top of forehead and folded at a sharp ninety degree angle). Breeding preference goes to "button" Pugs. The lower teeth should protrude farther than their upper, meeting in an under bite. Coat and color Pug with fawn coat. Their fine, glossy coats can be apricot, fawn, silver or black. A silver coat is characterized by a very light colored coat, absent of black guard hairs. Some unscrupulous breeders call "smutty" Pugs silver. A "smutty" Pug typically has a very dark head, with no clear delineation at the mask, and dark forelegs. The tail should curl tightly over the hip; a double curl is considered perfection. Pugs of different coat types shed to varying degrees, but they all shed year round. Fawn Pugs, which have both an undercoat and an overcoat, are the most notorious for shedding. Pug owners have gone to great lengths to control this Pug characteristic. Partial solutions to the problem involve using special shampoos, supplementing or changing the Pug's diet, or even trimming the Pug's coat. Alternatively, regular coat grooming can keep the shedding down. Temperament Pugs are very sociable dogs, and usually very stubborn. Yet they are playful, charming and clever and are known to succeed in dog obedience skills. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of a human voice, so harsh punishment is generally unnecessary. While Pugs mostly get along well with other dogs and pets, they generally prefer the company of humans and require a great deal of human attention; they may become slightly anxious or agitated if their owner ignores them or does not play with them, however some may occupy themselves when the owner is away. In general, they are very attentive dogs, always at their owner's feet, in their lap, or following them from room to room. Health Pugs have large, expressive eyes and a wrinkled face, these wrinkles can sometimes cause adverse health affects. Because Pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as puncture wounds and scratched corneas and painful Entropion. Also, the compact nature of their breathing passageways can cause problems such as difficulty breathing. Furthermore, dogs regulate their temperature through evaporation from the tongue. Because of the problems Pugs have with breathing, in conjunction with how all dogs regulate their temperature, Pugs may have trouble controlling their temperature. Pugs living a mostly sedentary life can be prone to obesity. Therefore, it is important for Pug owners to make sure their pets have regular exercise and a healthy diet. Pugs can also suffer from a chronic form of granulomatous meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) specific to the breed called Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE). There is no known cause or cure for PDE, although it is believed to be an inherited disease. All dogs either die or are euthanised within a few months after the onset of clinical signs. Pugs, along with other brachycephalic dogs (e.g. boxers, bulldogs), are also prone to hemivertebrae . The screw-tail is an example of a hemivertebrae, but when it occurs in others areas of the spine it can be devastating, causing such severe paralysis that euthanasia is a serious recommendation. The Pug, like other short-snouted breeds has an elongated palate. When excited, they are prone to a "reverse sneeze" where the dog will quickly, and seemingly laboriously, gasp and snort. This is caused by fluid or debris getting caught under the palate and irritating the throat or limiting breathing. "Reverse sneezing" episodes will not hurt a Pug, but it will scare the dog, and maybe its owners, a good deal. The quickest way to stop these episodes is to talk to them calmly and gently rub the throat to induce swallowing. Otherwise, the reverse sneezing will usually resolve on its own Most Pugs give birth by cesarean section. Some breeders watch over their expecting mothers for the last 3 weeks of their pregnancy as the mother Pug, due to their pushed in face and jaw, are unable to break the birth sack when the pups are born, so the human must do this for her. As Pugs have many wrinkles in their faces, owners must take special care to clean inside the creases, as irritation and infection can result from improper care. Pugs are one of several breeds that are more susceptible to Demodectic mange, also known as Demodex. This condition is caused by a weakened immune system, and it is a minor problem for many young Pugs. However, it is easily treatable. Some Pugs, however, are especially susceptible to the condition, and will present with a systemic form of the condition. This vulnerability is thought to be genetic, and good breeders will avoid breeding dogs who have had this condition. Pugs can be expected to live from about 10 to 15 years. Pug Hybrids Pugs have been cross-bred with a number of other dog breeds such as Poodles (Pugapoo), Beagles (Puggle), and Brussels Griffons (Brug). These mixed-breeds have had some popularity with the public. However, buyers should be very careful in buying a hybrid dog for a number of reasons: Unscrupulous breeders can produce expensive hybrid dogs without taking the quality of the dog into account. Even if you buy from a good breeder, there may be unknown genetic problems resulting from the cross breeding. Many people buy hybrid dogs because they are novel or cute. A puppy is not always going to be a puppy. He will not be that cute forever. Many people who buy hybrid dogs for the wrong reasons end up mistreating their dog or surrendering their dog to a shelter.
|
|||