Where the Pug came from
The Pug descends from the Lo-sze, a short-coated dog popular at the Chinese imperial court in the Song dynasty. Pugs were also kept as companions in Tibetan monasteries. The Dutch East India Company brought them to Europe in the 1500s.
A popular story says a Pug named Pompey warned the Prince of Orange of assassins in 1572, and that Pugs became the official dog of the House of Orange. That may be a legend. A Pug is said to have traveled with William III and Mary II to England in 1688. Pugs were painted by artists such as William Hogarth, and Queen Victoria was a devoted breeder.
The AKC recognized the Pug in 1885, and the Pug Dog Club of America was founded in 1931. Pugs looted from the Old Summer Palace in China in 1860 helped shape the modern look. Today they are cheerful clowns and popular family companions.
- Song dynasty The Lo-sze is a favorite at the Chinese imperial court
- 1500s Dutch traders bring the dog to Europe
- 1688 A Pug is said to travel with William III and Mary II to England
- 1885 AKC recognizes the Pug
The job a Pug was bred for
The job was being a close companion. That shaped a people loving dog who wants to be near you. At home they are comedians who love food.
Sports that fit a Pug
- Trick dog. Fun
- Scent work. Good
- Rally. Fun
- Therapy work. Friendly
Training tips for a Pug
- Use food rewards but measure portions, because Pugs gain weight fast.
- Keep sessions short and fun.
- Use a harness, not a collar.
- Teach calm greetings and gentle play.
Body and health
Flat faced. Heat and breathing. Avoid jumping and hard exercise.
Fun fact. People often call a group of pugs a grumble. It is a popular informal term, not an official one.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Pug is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.