the royal pug

People love pugs! There’s something about that roguish face that tugs at your heartstrings. This dignified toy breed is loved by royalty and commoners alike. These affectionate and intelligent little clowns are extremely popular, ranking 12th out of 154 dog breeds registered by the American Kennel Club in 2005. The Pug is the largest of the Toy Dog Group, weighing between 14 and 18 pounds.

The Pug has a fascinating and somewhat controversial history. Nobody disputes that the English painter William Hogarth owned Pugs and he portrayed them many times in his paintings. For example, Hogarth’s 1730 painting shows a black pug in “House of Cards.” In the same way, everyone agrees that the Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange after saving the life of the Prince of Orange, by raising the alarm before the approach of the Spanish in 1572. Later, when William of Orange was to England in 1688 to be crowned King William III, he took several Pugs with him. So we know how the Pugs got from Holland to England, but the controversy arises as to how the breed got to Holland in the 16th century. A group of historians believe that the Pug was developed as a result of the crossbreeding of several small Bulldogs. Another group thinks it is a miniature form of the rare French mastiff called the Dogue de Bordeaux. However, most historians think that the Pug originated in China and was brought to Holland in the 16th century by traders from the Dutch East India Company. This is the story we will assume to be true. The Pug is of Chinese origin and its development appears to predate the Christian era. Early records indicate that there were three types of short-nosed dogs bred by the Chinese. They were the Lion Dog (probably the Shih Tzu), the Pekingese, and the Foo Dog or Pug. These dogs became very popular with Chinese royalty and the Pug breed was highly regarded by the emperors of China and lived a pampered existence. In fact, ordinary citizens were not allowed to own them. However, European traders managed to obtain some Pugs and introduce them to Europe, particularly in Portugal, Spain, Holland and England, which were the countries of origin of the traders. There, these adorable little animals became the favorites of many royal families. We mentioned earlier that William III and Mary introduced Pugs to Britain from Holland when they became king and queen in 1688 and the pooches became favorites at the royal court. This small dog breed was also extremely popular in European courts and was a favorite of Napoleon’s wife, Queen Josephine of France. Later, Queen Victoria of England succumbed to the allure of Pugs and brought several Pugs into her home. This British royal love for pugs continued into the 20th century when the Duke of Windsor became a pug owner. However, by the time of Queen Victoria and her descendants, Pugs were no longer restricted to royalty. Members of the aristocracy also fell in love with the Pugs.

Because the Pug was becoming very popular, English breeders were importing Pugs from other countries such as Russia, Austria, and Holland. In 1860, British soldiers invaded the Imperial Palace in Peking and brought several Pugs to England. The black Pug was probably imported at this time. Following this period, breeders established standards for the breed. In 1881, the Pug Dog Club of England was established and in 1883 the British Kennel Club formally recognized this breed club. In 1885, the American Kennel Club had accepted registration of the Pug, but no national American breed club was created until 1931. In the early 20th century, large numbers of Pugs were being exported to the United States from the United Kingdom. These Pugs were expensive as they were still high class dogs.

Now we no longer have to be members of royalty or the upper classes to have a Pug. Pugs are low-maintenance dog breeds that require little grooming and get plenty of exercise playing indoors. They are very suitable for living in an apartment. Pugs tend to put on weight and should go for walks when the weather is not too hot.

Many royals and well-known people have owned a Pug. This began with the Chinese emperors many centuries ago and continued until the Empress Dowager of China who died in 1908. Many European royal families, including Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine, fell under the Pug’s spell. More contemporary (and quite diverse) Pug owners included Sir Winston Churchill, Valentino, Andy Warhol, and Sammy Davis Jr. You can get free pictures and additional information on the Pug at pug photos.

Perhaps it’s time you considered being entertained like royalty by the rare Pug!