Pug

The Pug is a small companion breed that traces its roots to China. It has a compact, square frame, a heavily wrinkled face, a short blunt muzzle, and a tail that curls tightly over the hip. A fully grown Pug usually weighs between 6 and 8 kg (14 to 18 lb) and stands 25 to 33 cm (10 to 13 in) at the shoulder, a size that suits most homes, whether that is a cottage, a terraced house or a flat.

The breed was never bred to work; its only real job has always been company. A Pug likes to stay within sight of its owner and will happily potter from room to room after them. The temperament is steady, sociable and more than a little bit of a show-off, a combination that has long made the breed a favourite with families and with older owners who want a dog for the house rather than the field. Fanciers still quote the old Latin tag "multum in parvo", a lot in a little, to sum up how much character fits into such a small dog.

Daily upkeep is simple thanks to the short coat and modest exercise needs, though the flat face does bring its own responsibilities, chiefly around heat and breathing. The Pug suits someone after a close indoor companion rather than a working or sporting breed.

Who the Pug suits

The Pug suits owners who are around the house a good deal and want a dog that would rather sit with them than go off on long solo adventures. It settles well into a flat or a small house, needs only light to moderate exercise, and is patient around children. Anyone living somewhere very hot, or unable to manage a flat-faced dog's particular heat and breathing needs, should think that through carefully before taking one on.

The Pug's story begins in ancient China, where small flat-faced dogs were kept purely as companions for emperors and the ruling classes. Written accounts and images of short-muzzled lapdogs in China date back roughly two thousand years, and these dogs lived a pampered life within palace walls.

Dutch traders are credited with bringing the breed out of China and into Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Pug became closely tied to the House of Orange in the Netherlands, and one story from that period has endured: a Pug is said to have raised the alarm when assassins approached William, Prince of Orange, earning the breed a lasting place at court.

From the Netherlands the Pug travelled across Europe and became a fashionable companion among the nobility. Paintings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries show Pugs in royal and aristocratic households in several countries, and the breed's popularity grew further in Britain during the Victorian period.

Major kennel clubs recognised the Pug in the late nineteenth century, and it has held a steady place as a household companion ever since. In Ireland, the breed is recognised by the Irish Kennel Club (IKC), the national body for pedigree dogs and the register most Irish breeders and owners work through. Modern breeding has kept the focus on the Pug as a pet rather than a working dog, and its history as a court companion still shows in the close, people-focused temperament seen today.

The Pug carries a compact, square, thickset body that feels solid for its size when you pick it up. The head is large and round, with deep wrinkles across the face, a short blunt muzzle and large, dark eyes that give the breed its typically soulful expression. The ears are small and soft and are carried either in a "rose" shape or a "button" shape. The tail sits in a tight curl over the hip, and a double curl is particularly prized in the show ring. Taken together, the impression is one of weight and balance packed into a small frame.

Coat and colours

The coat lies close to the body: short, smooth and fine to the touch. Short as it is, it sheds steadily right through the year, and fawn Pugs carry a double coat that sheds more heavily than the single coat seen on blacks. The colours recognised are fawn, apricot, silver fawn and black. Fawn Pugs typically show a dark mask across the face, darker ears, and a trace line running down the back. The mask, the ear colouring and a small thumbprint-shaped mark on the forehead are all part of the breed's traditional look.

A Pug wants to be part of whatever its family is doing, and its affection for people is more or less constant. The temperament is even, good-natured and rarely aggressive, with a comic, attention-seeking streak that most owners end up finding hard to resist. A Pug is just as content having a game as it is curling up on a lap, which suits a quiet household well.

Around children the Pug is patient and gentle, though given its small size, play with very young children needs supervision. With strangers the breed tends to be welcoming rather than wary, so it will bark at the door but makes a poor guard dog after that. Pugs generally get on well with other dogs and with cats, particularly when they are raised together from the start.

The other side of all that devotion is a real dislike of being left on its own. A Pug left alone for long stretches can grow miserable and may bark or misbehave as a result, so the breed suits a household where someone is around for a good part of the day. Pugs are also notably food-motivated and a touch stubborn, a combination that shapes both their training and their tendency to put on weight.

Grooming

• Brush the coat once or twice a week to keep on top of steady shedding; fawn Pugs need more frequent brushing when they are blowing coat.
• Clean the facial wrinkles several times a week with a soft, damp cloth and dry them thoroughly afterwards to prevent skin infection.
• Check and clean the ears regularly, and trim nails every few weeks.
• Bathe every few weeks to a couple of months, drying the folds carefully each time.

Exercise

• Aim for 20 to 40 minutes of light to moderate activity a day, split into a few short spells.
• Walk during the cooler parts of the day and keep the pace easy.
• Use indoor play and short outings to keep the dog active without letting it overheat.
• Skip strenuous exercise, long runs and any exertion in warm weather.

Environment

The Pug is very much an indoor dog and is not suited to living outside. It settles comfortably into a flat or a small house. Keep the living space cool and make sure shade and water are always available. Because the flat face limits how well the dog can cool itself, Pugs are sensitive to heat and to high humidity, and a fan or air conditioning is often needed during warm spells. Ireland's cool, damp, mild oceanic climate, with rain on the cards for much of the year, generally suits a Pug's limited tolerance for heat, though a heatwave or a stuffy, unventilated room still calls for extra care.

A Pug should be fed a complete, balanced dog food suited to its life stage and small size. Weight is the main thing to watch: Pugs love their food and pile on the pounds quickly, and any excess weight makes the breed's breathing and joint problems worse. Measure out each meal rather than leaving food down all day, and adjust the amount to keep the dog in lean condition, with the ribs just feelable under a light covering of fat. Fresh water should always be available, particularly in warm weather.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to around 10 percent or less of daily calories, and count them as part of the daily total rather than extra. Low-calorie options, such as small pieces of plain vegetable, work well for a Pug that will do almost anything for food. Most Pugs on a complete diet do not need supplements; if joint or skin supplements seem worth considering, check with a vet first rather than adding them on your own initiative.

A Pug typically lives 13 to 15 years. Most of the health issues the breed faces trace back to its flat face and stocky build. The short muzzle leaves many Pugs prone to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, which shows up as noisy breathing, snoring and poor tolerance of heat. The prominent eyes are easily injured and prone to corneal problems. Careful weight control and keeping the dog away from heat go a long way towards easing several of these issues.

Preventive care

• Keep the dog lean through measured feeding and regular weigh-ins.
• Book an annual veterinary check-up, with more frequent visits for older dogs.
• Stay on top of vaccinations and parasite prevention.
• Clean wrinkles and ears and brush teeth on a regular schedule.
• Avoid heat and exertion, and never leave a Pug in a parked car.

The Pug is a clever dog that generally wants to please, though it also has a stubborn streak that can slow things down. Short, upbeat sessions with clear rewards work best with this breed. Pugs are strongly food-motivated, which makes treats an effective training tool, though the portions need to be counted towards the daily total to avoid weight gain. Harsh handling does not suit a breed this sensitive and people-focused, and it tends to backfire. House-training can take a bit of patience and a consistent routine. Early socialisation with people, other animals and everyday situations helps a Pug grow into a confident, easygoing adult.

Basics

1. Start with name recognition and reward attention with a small treat.
2. Teach sit, then down and come, using short sessions of just a few minutes.
3. Practise loose-lead walking in cool conditions to protect the dog's breathing.
4. Set a firm house-training routine with frequent outings and praise for success.
5. Socialise early, introducing new people, dogs and places at a calm, unhurried pace.

Pugs reach sexual maturity at around 6 to 12 months old, but responsible breeders wait until a dog is physically mature and has been health-tested before breeding, usually at around two years of age. Gestation runs to about 63 days, in line with other breeds. The Pug's large, round head can make a natural birth difficult, and a good many litters are delivered by caesarean section, so a planned breeding should involve a vet from the outset.

Litters average four to six puppies. Newborn Pugs are tiny and need warmth and close watching in the early weeks. The dam usually raises the litter attentively, and puppies should stay with their mother and littermates until around eight weeks old for proper weaning and early socialisation. Given the breed's known health issues, responsible breeding includes screening parents for breathing, eye and joint problems, and selecting for clearer airways and sounder structure.

How to register a Pug in Ireland

Get the profile sorted first: your Pug's name, his date of birth, a photo, and your phone number, saved in a couple of minutes. The record is free for the whole of his life, and the chip number slots in whenever the vet has done his part. Dog registration is where it starts.

The implant is the vet's job; the record is down to you, and the 2015 rules assume you'll keep it current. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: whatever brand the vet reached for is grand, a house move costs nothing to record, and the number stays searchable day and night. Create your free account and have the pair of jobs done before the tea goes cold.