Pugs are gaining more and more popularity in the United States as domesticated pets. According to the American Kennel Club, they are ranked 31 out of all the dog breeds. Today, I wanted to share some interesting facts about Pugs that you should know about.
Pugs are part of the toy group, despite their stocky, muscular build. You might already know that these pups grow to be around 10 to 12 inches and can weigh between 14 and 20 pounds. With proper diet, nutrition and routine checkups, they can live for 10 – 12 years.
Now let’s take a look at some interesting fun facts that you may not know about this breed.
14 Interesting Facts About Pugs You May Not Know About
#1 Early Pugs Were Found In Ancient China
The Pug is a very old breed that traces back to around 700-400 B.C.E. Emperors kept them as lapdogs and often guarded them with their own soldiers, some were even given castles.
#2 Pugs Aren’t As Lazy As You Think
Even though this breed has a small body and doesn’t require a lot of daily exercise, at least not as much as a large dog. They aren’t as lazy as some people make them seem. Typically a Pug will sleep around 14 hours a day, but only because there is nothing else going on.
When they aren’t sleeping, they have a natural curiosity that will cause them to go looking for exciting things to do. We used to call Mindy our black Pug “Nozilla,” because she was always into everything.
If you put their harness on and take them outside for a walk, they will be happy to walk alongside you. Just make sure that you don’t take them for a walk in the hot temperature.
#3 Pugs Snore Louder Than A Grown Man
A lot of dogs snore occasionally, but a Pug will do it often and is usually extremely loud. This is due to them being a brachycephalic breed, which means they have a “shortened head.”
Just like humans, when their soft palette relaxes during sleep, it causes them to snore extremely loud. This is why it’s important to make sure that you have the right dog bed that will help them stretch out and help open up their airways.
How loud can they get? Well, Otis the Pug snores at 96 decibels and it has caused him to suffer from sleep apnea. Here’s the video just in case you want to see how loud they can get.
#4 Pugs Shed A Lot Year Round
Most dogs will shed in the spring when they lose their winter coats. Then they’ll shed again in the fall when they lose their summer coat. NOT a Pug, they shed year round, which means that you better make sure you have the right grooming products to help maintain their coat.
Despite having short hair, when it comes to shedding, you’ll find that a fawn-colored Pug sheds more than a black one. The constant shedding is caused by a shorter life cycle on their double layer coat. Find out everything you need to know about the fawn Pug.
You’ll need a great vacuum and lint brush to keep the hair off your floors and furniture. But their loyalty and love make it worth all the loose hair around your house.
#5 The Pug Is The Largest Breed In It’s Group
This canine is classified as a “toy” dog, which is considered a small dog. However, the Pug is the largest breed in the toy dog classification category.
So while they are a small dog, they are still considered the biggest of the small dog. They have no clue that they are considered the biggest dogs, they love curling on their owner’s lap to watch television.
#6 Only One Pug Has Ever Won Best In Show At Westminster
In 1981 a 3-year-old Pug named Chucky won the coveted Best in Show title beating out 2,910 other dogs to take the top prize. You can read the full source here.
At the time of this writing, there have currently been 143 shows of the Westminster Kennel Club dog shows.
#7 Pugs Come In Several Different Colors
Pugs are typically fawn or black, but they can also be silver tinted or apricot. However, the fawn-colored Pug is the most popular among people.
There isn’t a lot of difference between the different colored Pugs. The fawn pugs have a little more markings around the ears covering the face. But other than that, they are the same.
Some people say that the black ones are more active, but that isn’t true. The only difference is the color of the two breeds.
#8 A Group of Pugs Is Called A Grumble
As humans, we tend to give a name to a group or bundle of things? I’m not sure if it’s just because we like attach names to things or what? But this site clearly states that the collective noun for Pugs is a “grumbling.”
I’m not really sure why this is, but the only explanation I could find is that Pugs are known for their nasal vocalizations, and involuntary sounds, which tend to make a “grumbling” sound.
#9 They Are Adored Because Of Their “Smushed Face” Appearance
The “smushed face” which is known as brachycephalic, can also cause breathing difficulties. I’ve mentioned several health problems that Pug owners can face with this breed.
As a Pug owner, it’s important to have Pug pet insurance so you can take them for their routine checkups to help maintain their health. If you watch their diet and care for them properly, your Pug can live a healthy life.
#10 A Pug May Save Your Life One Day
While they aren’t as smart as a Labrador or German Shepherd, they are smart dogs. Back in the day, William I from the led the Dutch revolution against Spain, one night his camp was infiltrated in an attempt to take his life.
Pompey his Pug, alerted his master by barking and waking him up before he was killed by the Spanish troops. You can read the full story here.
#11 Pugs Are Terrible Swimmers
Most dog breeds are thought of as skilled swimmers, unfortunately, most Pugs do not like to swim. This breed is front heavy and this makes it difficult for them to stay above water.
If you are going to teach your dog how to swim and you have a pool, make sure that you take precautions to protect them and prevent them from drowning.
#12 People Prefer the “Double Curl” of The Pug
The Pugs tail is naturally curly and rest on the top of their short backs. Some canines have tight double curls in their tails, which is considered to be an extremely desirable trait in quality show dogs.
It’s important to understand what the curl means and when their tail should be straight. A Pugs tail is naturally curly and there are only certain times that it shouldn’t have a curl.
#13 Fawn Pugs Can Have Black Puppies
The black Pug is not as common as the fawn colored Pug. However, an expectant mother can give birth to black, fawn or silver puppies. Silver-coated Pugs are extremely rare, in fact, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen one.
Although black Pugs possess the dominant gene color, it doesn’t mean that you’re more likely to have a black one if you breed a fawn-colored one with a black one.
The litter of puppies are more likely to contain a mixture of colors that won’t be recognized by the AKC.
#14 Female Pugs Live A Little Bit Longer
The average life span of a Pug dog is between 12 and 15 years. The average male will live around 12.8 years while the female can live to be around 13.2.
I’ve met some people who have said their black Pug lived longer than their fawn colored Pug. I couldn’t find any research or statistics to back up those claims.
All I can say is that my black Pug lived for 16 years. I’ve never had a fawn colored Pug, so I can only go by what I find online or what someone tells me about their pet.
What I can say is that if you have a dog regardless of breed, if you give them the proper exercise, pay attention to their nutrition, and health, they can live long lives.
Conclusion
The Pug can make a great family pet, they get along well with babies, kids, and other animals. They are people pleasers and when you gain the trust of your Pug, you’ll have a loyal companion for life.
Mindy my black Pug used to follow me around everywhere, I called her my shadow. As she got older, she would follow me to the mailbox or short walks without needing a leash.
Of course, you want to make sure they are properly trained so they don’t run away. I never had any issues with Mindy trying to run away from me.
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- 15 Things You Need to Know Before Owning A Pug
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