The Pug
I met a snuffly snorting dog yesterday. She was small, compact, friendly, adorable. Couldn’t quite stick her in my pocket, or I might have attempted it. Y’all, meet Coda the Pug.
A big thanks to Coda’s dad, who was willing to meet a stranger and let her give his dog treats, take her photo.
Coda is a rescue Pug, about three years old. She’s quite obviously the apple of her daddy’s eye, doing tricks for treats. Like George, from yesterday, it was tough for her to sit still when she could smell the Rabbit Entree’ Jerky.
I’ve looked up Pugs on the AKC website, but I have a feeling Miss Stella Rose could tell us a lot more about this breed. We’ll see what the AKC has to say anyway.
The Pug is well described by the phrase “multum in parvo” which means “a lot of dog in a small space.” They are recognized for their even-tempers, playful personalities, and their outgoing, loving dispositions. This square and cobby breed comes in fawn, silver fawn, apricot fawn or black, with a well-defined “mask” on his muzzle. A popular companion dog, the pug also excels in the show ring.
The Pug is small but friendly, the perfect little lap dog. I asked Hunny if this is his idea of a lap dog and he says no. We’re still trying to narrow that down. Hmph. But I gotta tell ya, just about everything I know about Pugs is either from reading Miss Stella Rose’s blog, or from the comic strip Sheldon, which I adore. 
Dave Kellet writes Sheldon, one of my favorite comic strips, and his portrayal of the Pug is HILARIOUS. Y’all find his book here. Dog Breed Info’s page describes Pugs like this:
The Pug is a small, stocky, square, thickset dog. The round head is massive with a short, blunt, square-shaped muzzle. Moles on the cheeks are considered beauty spots. The teeth meet in a slight undershot bite. The very large, prominent eyes are dark. The small, thin ears are either rose or button shaped. The face has large, deep wrinkles. The high-set tail is curled over the back and a double curl is preferred in the show ring. Dewclaws are usually removed. The short coat is soft, fine and smooth.
Pros and Cons of Ownership
Pros and cons of owning a Pug? Pros:
- Happy, happy, happy! Lively, energetic, happy to be with their favorite person, playful
- Intelligent, learning new tricks pretty easily
- Usually good with kids and other dogs
- Great in an apartment – Pugs are cold and heat intolerant and should be kept indoors
- Easy to groom, only a seasonal shedder
- Lifespan – 12 to 15 years
Cons:
- Health – there’s a lot that can go wrong with a Pug’s health, including, but not limited to, prone to colds, chronic breathing issues, encephalitis, eye issues – the list goes on
- Prone to jealousy, guarding of toys, food, etc., but this can be trained away
That’s it, really. They’re great dogs. Small, but sturdy and fun, without being too excitable or yappy. And I can tell you from experience that Pugs – at least one Pug – like Rabbit Entree’ Jerky from Jones. I’m thinking they’d probably love a Pig Ear, too, but Pugs are prone to weight gain, so let’s stick with bones and jerky.
Spreading the good chews …
Flea
