Curly-tailed and being famous for their snoring, the pug’s history has been defined by one particular purpose: keeping humans company. Many other dogs have been utilised for all manner of activities – hunting, sports, being service dogs and even finding drugs. The pug, however, has always been bred to address humanity’s longing for a friend.
The pug is an ancient breed of dog (which comes to the surprise of many). Their origin comes at around 400 B.C. in ancient China as companion animals for wealthy people. They made a name for themselves as ideal lapdogs and companions, used even in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries as company to the self-isolating ascetics.
Pugs also received royal treatment by Chinese emperors, who kept guards and servants around the dog to protect and care for them. The pug was not the only flat-faced dog bred by the Chinese. These include the Lion Dog, the Pekingese and, the star of today’s article, the ‘Lo-sze’ a.k.a the pug.
Some historians think that the reason pugs were bred to have wrinkled faces was to create a pattern of wrinkles for the Chinese character for ‘prince’ (王). The name is also alleged to have come from marmoset monkeys which were known locally as pug monkeys. These monkeys were also kept as pets in the early 1700s.
As their popularity spread from China to Japan and Russia and then eventually Europe, the dogs were perfectly suited as household pets due to their small size and minimal exercise requirements. The dogs were kept by Queen Victoria of England and taken to church by the aunt of Catherine the Great of Russia.
The pug mania never really died down, only dimming and increasing over the ages. In 1981, the pug Dhandys Favourite Woodchuck won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in the USA, making it the only pug to have won the competition since its start in 1877.
Pugs are also unfortunately known for having serious health conditions. They suffer from everything from eye conditions, breathing issues and even getting overweight. They are a delicate dog to take care of but they have survived the test of time as some of the friendliest and cuddliest canines around.
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