| People love Pugs! There is something about that | | | | breed was also extremely popular in the European |
| rogue-like face that tugs at your heart strings. This | | | | courts and was a favourite of Napoleon's wife, Queen |
| dignified toy breed is loved by royalty and commoners | | | | Josephine of France. Later Queen Victoria of England |
| alike. These loving, intelligent, little clowns are extremely | | | | succumbed to the Pugs charm and introduced several |
| popular and ranked 12th out of 154 dog breeds | | | | Pugs into her household. This British royalty love of |
| registered by the American Kennel Club in 2005. The | | | | Pugs continued down the line into the 20th century |
| Pug is the largest of the Toy Dog Group weighing in a | | | | with the Duke of Windsor becoming a Pug owner. |
| whopping 14 to 18 pounds.The Pug has a fascinating | | | | However by the time of Queen Victoria and her |
| history and one that is somewhat controversial. No | | | | descendants, Pugs were no longer restricted to |
| one disputes that the English painter William Hogarth | | | | royalty. Members of the aristocracy became |
| owned Pugs and portrayed them many times in his | | | | enamoured with Pugs as well.Because the Pug was |
| paintings. For example, Hogarth's 1730 painting shows a | | | | becoming very popular, English breeders were |
| black pug in "House of Cards". Similarly everyone | | | | importing Pugs from other countries such as Russia, |
| agrees that the Pug became the official dog of the | | | | Austria and Holland. In 1860 British soldiers overran the |
| House of Orange after saving the life of the Prince of | | | | Imperial palace in Peking and brought back a number |
| Orange, by giving alarm at the approach of the | | | | of Pugs to England. The black Pug probably was |
| Spaniards in 1572. Later when William of Orange went | | | | imported at this time. Subsequent to this period, |
| to England in 1688 to be crowned King William III, he | | | | breeders established standards for the breed. In 1881, |
| took along several Pugs. So we know how the Pugs | | | | the Pug Dog Club of England was established and in |
| got from Holland to England but the controversy arises | | | | 1883 the British Kennel Club formally recognized this |
| over how the breed got to Holland in the 16th century. | | | | breed club. By 1885, the Pug had been accepted for |
| One group of historians thinks the Pug was developed | | | | registration by the American Kennel Club but no |
| as a result of crossing several small Bulldogs. Another | | | | national American breed club was created until 1931. |
| group thinks it is a miniature form of the rare French | | | | By the beginning of the 20th century, large numbers of |
| mastiff called the Dogue de Bordeaux. However the | | | | Pugs were exported to the United States from the |
| majority of historians think that the Pug originated in | | | | United Kingdom. These Pugs were expensive - as |
| China and was brought back to 16th century Holland | | | | they were still very much upper-class dogs.Now we |
| by the Dutch East India Company traders. This is the | | | | no longer have to be members of the royalty or the |
| history that we will assume is true. The Pug is of | | | | upper classes to own a Pug. Pugs are low |
| Chinese origin and its development seems to pre-date | | | | maintenance dog breeds that require little grooming |
| the Christian era. Early records indicate that there | | | | and get enough exercise playing indoors. They are well |
| were three types of short-nosed dogs bred by the | | | | suited for apartment living. Pugs have a tendency to |
| Chinese. They were the Lion Dog (probably the Shih | | | | put on weight and should be taken for walks when the |
| Tzu), The Pekingese and the Foo Dog or Pug. These | | | | weather isn't too hot.Many royal and well known |
| dogs became very popular with Chinese royalty and | | | | people have been owned by a Pug. This started with |
| the Pug breed was highly prized by the Emperors of | | | | the Chinese Emperors many centuries ago and |
| China and lived a pampered existence. In fact, ordinary | | | | continued right up to the Dowager Empress of China |
| citizens were not allowed to own them. However, | | | | who died in 1908. Many European royal families |
| European traders managed to obtain some Pugs and | | | | including Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine |
| introduce them to Europe - particularly Portugal, Spain, | | | | fell under the spell of the Pug. More contemporary |
| Holland and England which were the home countries | | | | (and quite diverse) Pug owners included Sir Winston |
| of the traders. There, these adorable little animals | | | | Churchill, Valentino, Andy Warhol and Sammy Davis Jr. |
| became the pampered favourites of many royal | | | | You can get free pictures and additional information on |
| families. We mentioned earlier that William III and Mary | | | | the Pug at Pug Pictures.Perhaps it is time for you to |
| introduced Pugs to Britain from Holland when they | | | | consider being royally entertained by the uncommon |
| became King and Queen in 1688 and the little dogs | | | | Pug! |
| became a favourite at the royal court. This small dog | | | | |