Meet the breeds! This section is dedicated to those animals we love. Look for different breeds in each magazine. Information taken from www.akc.org. For more information, visit https://www.akc.org/ dog-breeds
The Pug’s career as citizen of the world began sometime in the 1500s, when Dutch traders returned to Europe with specimens of the breed. Legend holds that the Pug became the mascot of Holland’s royal House of Orange when a Pug save the life of the Prince of Orange by barking to warn the prince of an attack on his camp by Spanish troops. When William and Mary of Orange arrived in England to assume the monarchy, their Pugs accompanied them and began a craze for the breed among the British.
PUGs
The worldwide fascination with Pugs can be gauged by how many names the breed has had in various eras and places: Lo-sze (China), Mopsi (Finland), Doguillo (Spain) are just a few. Among the Dutch, still closely associated with Pugs, they are known as Mophonds. Theories abound as to the origin of the name Pug. One suggests that Pug is based on the Latin word ‘pugnus,’ meaning ‘fist’ the idea being that the dog’s face resembles a clenched fist. Did You Know? Josephine, wife of Napoleon, used her pug “Fortune” to carry secret messages under his collar to her husband while she was imprisoned at Les Carmes.
About the Breed Once the mischievous companion of Chinese emperors, and later the mascot of Holland’s royal House of Orange, the small but solid Pug is today adored by his millions of fans around the world. Pugs live to love and to be loved in return. The Pug’s motto is the Latin phrase “multum in parvo” (“a lot in a little”) is an apt description of this small but muscular breed. They come in three colors: silver or apricot-fawn with a black face mask, or all black. The large round head, the big, sparkling eyes, and the wrinkled brow give Pugs a range of human-like expressions: surprise, happiness, and curiosity, that have delighted owners for centuries. Pug owners say their breed is the ideal house dog. Pugs are happy in the city or country, with kids or old folks, as an only pet or in a pack. They enjoy their food, and care must be taken to keep them trim. They do best in moderate climates–not too hot, not too cold–but, with proper care, Pugs can be their adorable selves anywhere. History The Pug, often called the Pug Dog, is an ancient breed that can be traced back some 2,000 years. The emperors of ancient China had a preference for flat-faced toy dogs’ the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, and Pug were all developed as refined pets of the emperor, his family, and members of the imperial court. Like many breeds favored by Far Eastern potentates of the ancient world, Pugs were a closely held treasure that outsiders could acquire only as a gift.
The Pug is one of the oldest breeds of dog; it has flourished since before 400 BC.
The Pug was a pet of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet.
Although called “mopshond” (Dutch, “to grumble”) in Holland and “carlin” in France, the name “Pug” probably comes instead from the dog’s facial expression, which is similar to that of the marmoset monkeys that were popular pets of the early 1700s– and were known as “Pugs”. The Pug was the official dog of the House of Orange in Holland after one of the breed saved the life of the crown prince; the dog appears in the effigy of the monarch over William’s tomb.
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 23
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