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