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Pug
By: Pug Puppy for Sale in Massachusetts
Appearance
The Pug's appearance is characterized by their flat, wrinkled faces,
compact muscular bodies, and curled tails. Pugs have four color
variations: fawn with a black mask and ears, solid black, silver, or
apricot. The silver or apricot-fawn colors should be decided so as to
make the contrast complete between the color and the trace and the
mask. The pug usually stands between 10 and 11 inches tall at the
shoulders with an ideal weight range of 14 to 18 pounds. However,
current AKC judges indicate slightly larger Pugs as higher quality.
Many pet pugs are somewhat chunky and overweight from being overfed and
may weigh as much as 25 to 30 lbs. "Fawn" is the most common Pug color,
black is rare, and silver which is an almost white coat with no black
guard hairs. Silver is often confused with "smutty" which is
undesirable and is characterized by a dark head and sometimes chest and
forelegs. Most fawn Pugs have black facial masks.
Noise
While most Pugs do not bark much, many do, and they are still quite a
noisy breed of dogs. Many Pugs make a grunting nasal noise, that
increases when they get excited, nearly all pugs snort quite often,
almost as if they are sneezing, showering anyone who is too close. All
may snore, especially if overweight. Yet, there are some pugs that
hardly ever snore or never sneeze.
Temperament
The Pugs are very sociable dogs, but are quite stubborn sometimes. The
Pug is a popular breed as a house pet, as it is easy to groom (though
it sheds substantially more than other dogs of similar size). However,
a pug likes to consider himself the boss. Therefore tiny children who
do not understand how to correctly treat the pug can cause the pug to
be scared, defensive, or shy. Pugs are true "lap dogs", in that they
most often want nothing more than to curl up in their owner's lap. They
will follow their owner from room to room to be close by. They require
regular exercise, and some Pugs will walk for an hour or more. When
exercising a Pug, it is important to make sure they do not overheat, as
their short noses do not cool them off as easily as those of
longer-nosed breeds. Pugs are generally compatible with most children
and other animals. Pugs will run for a toy and bring it back, they love
to play. Pugs love attention so much that they will sit for a very long
time while you play dress up with them.
Some Pugs, like many breeds of dogs, suffer from separation anxiety;
that is, when they are left alone, they bark and whine. Pugs are
capable of being trained to stop their crying.
Pugs are not noted for high achievement in obedience competitions,
although, like all dog breeds, they are intelligent and learn quickly
in the right environment. According to the book The Intelligence of
Dogs, they have only fair ability to learn new commands and to obey
commands the first time. On the other hand, it is worth noting that
there is much debate about how to accurately measure dog intelligence.
Health
Part of the Pug's appeal is the wrinkled, expressive face.
Because they have extremely short snouts and no skeletal brow ridges,
Pugs can scratch their corneas (corneal ulcer) or puncture their
eyeballs. Their short noses can also cause them to develop breathing
problems. They are also prone to skin infections if the crevices in
their faces are not kept clean. Additionally, The breed's
characteristic flat face may also contribute to tooth and mouth
problem, they may have crowded teeth or a tongue that hangs out. Pugs
typically love to eat, and so are prone to obesity; they can quickly
reach unhealthy weights. It is therefore important for Pug owners to
make sure their pets get regular exercise. Due to their short snouts,
Pugs are vulnerable to temperature extremes. It is important to make
sure that they do not overheat in hot weather, and likewise they should
not be left outside in very cold weather.
As with other brachycephalic (short muzzled), screw-tailed dogs, they
are more prone to hemivertebrae [3]or "butterfly" vertebrae. This
defect is present at birth and genetically based, although the genetic
structure appears to be a complex (multiple genes involved)
interaction. In fact the screw-tail is actually an example of a
hemivertebrae formation. This malformation may be pleasing when located
in the tail but can have serious repercussions when located elsewhere
in the spine.
A healthy Pug can be expected to live 10 to 13 years, although many
well cared for Pugs have reached 18.
History
The demeanors of a Pug range from expressive and playful to calm and
warm.
The Pug originated in the Far East in China, dating back to around 700
years BC, though there is some debate as to the breed it was derived
from. The Chinese Pug was bred to be a companion dog, rather than a
guardian. Pugs were kept by the royalty and were pampered and spoiled,
and the expectation of such treatment is a characteristic that seems to
remain with them to this day. Sometimes, as a mark of great esteem,
Pugs were given to members of the court.
When the Dutch started trading with China, sailors smuggled some Pugs
back to Europe, where the small dogs quickly became popular. Like in
China, they soon became associated with nobility.
The Pugs of today have been accepted in programs such as therapy dogs
as well as hearing aid dogs. Most pugs, however, happily fill their
role as a beloved companion. They are affectionate, charming, and
playful. Pugs always make great pets. They behave impeccably with
children and visitors, especially when they are given lots of
attention. Pugs love attention! They can be playful or lazy, depending
on the situation. Their wagging, curly tail puts a smile on anyone's
face. A pug, being a natural clown, is always ready to show off. They
even love to play dress-up. Yet a pug who feels ignored will surely
become jealous. Pugs are devoted and make good watchdogs, without being
too yappy. They also get along well with other pets.
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