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Appearance |  Temperament | Health | History/Origins  | Pugs in Media and culture

A Pug is a toy dog breed with a wrinkly face and medium-small body. Pug puppies are often called puglets.^[2] The word "pug" may have come from the Old English pugg, which was an affectionate term for a playful little devil or monkey.^[3]

Appearance

The breed is often summarized as multum in parvo ("much in little"), describing the Pug's great personality and small size.

While most Pugs appearing in eighteenth century prints tended to be long and lean,^[4] the current breed standards call for a square, cobby body, a compact form, deep chest, and well-developed muscle.^[5] Their heads, carried on arched necks, should be substantial and round, the better to accentuate their large, bulging, dark eyes. The wrinkles on their foreheads should be distinct and deep,^[4]. The ears should be smooth and soft, like black velvet and come in two varieties: "rose" (small, round and folded with the front edge angled toward the mask, giving the head a more rotund shape) and "button" (level with the top of forehead and folded at a sharp ninety degree angle). Breeding preference goes to "button" Pugs.^[6] The lower teeth should protrude farther than their upper, meeting in an under-bite.^[7]

Coat and color

Their fine, glossy coats can be apricot, fawn, silver or black.^[4] A silver coat is characterized by a very light coloured coat, absent of black guard hairs. Some unscrupulous breeders call "smutty" Pugs silver. A "smutty" Pug typically has a very dark head, with no clear delineation at the mask, and dark forelegs. The tail should curl tightly over the hip; a double curl is considered perfection.^[4]

Pugs of different coat types shed to varying degrees, but they all shed quite a bit year round. Fawn Pugs, which have both an undercoat and an overcoat, are the most notorious for shedding. Pug owners have gone to great lengths to control this Pug characteristic. Partial solutions to the problem involve using special shampoos, supplementing or changing the Pug's diet, or even trimming the Pug's coat. Alternatively, regular coat grooming can keep the shedding down.

The silver variety of a Pug is much less common in the United States with Black and Fawn being the dominant colors. A Pug with a hard or woolly coat is considered objectionable by the AKC and are viewed unfavorably in shows. There is supposed to be a clear trace or black line extending from the head of the Pug to the tail. Additionally, moles and birthmarks are accepted and are not viewed unfavorably.

Temperament

The stern expression of the Pug belies its true sense of fun. Pugs are sociable dogs, and usually stubborn about certain things, but they are playful, charming, clever and are known to succeed in dog obedience skills.^[4] Pugs are sensitive to the tone of a human voice, so harsh punishment is generally unnecessary. While Pugs usually get along well with other dogs and pets, they generally prefer the company of humans and require a great deal of human attention; they may become slightly anxious or agitated if their owner ignores them or does not play with them; however some may happily occupy themselves when the owner is away. In general, they are very attentive dogs, always at their owner's feet, in their lap, or following them from room to room (so be careful where you step).^[4]

Pugs are usually friendly dogs who seem to have a special affinity with children.

Health

Pugs have large, expressive eyes and a wrinkled face. Improper care of the wrinkles can sometimes cause adverse health effects.

Because Pugs lack longer snouts and prominent skeletal brow ridges, they are susceptible to eye injuries such as puncture wounds and scratched corneas and painful Entropion.^[4] Pugs also have compact breathing passageways, which can cause problems with their breathing or their ability to regulate their temperature through evaporation from the tongue. These complications can lead to accelerated injury or death should they be left in hot locations where cooling cannot properly take place such as cars on hot days or in outdoor conditions in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27°C).

Pugs living a mostly sedentary life can be prone to obesity, though this is avoidable with regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Pugs can also suffer from a chronic form of granulomatous meningoencephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) specific to the breed called pug dog encephalitis (PDE). There is no known cause or cure for PDE, although it is believed to be an inherited disease.^[8] All dogs tend to either die or are euthanised within a few months after the onset of clinical signs, which usually occur anywhere from 6 months to 3 years of age.^[9]

Pugs, along with other brachycephalic dogs (e.g. boxers, bulldogs), are also prone to hemivertebrae.^[10] The screwtail is an example of a hemivertebrae, but when it occurs in others areas of the spine it can be devastating, causing such severe paralysis that euthanasia is a serious recommendation.

The Pug, like other short-snouted breeds, has an elongated palate. When excited, they are prone to a "reverse sneeze" where the dog will quickly, and seemingly laboriously, gasp and snort. This is caused by fluid or debris getting caught under the palate and irritating the throat or limiting breathing. "Reverse sneezing" episodes are not harmful to the Pug but are usually resolved by the owner calming the dog and gently rubbing the throat to induce a swallowing action; the symptom may also resolve itself without intervention.^{[citation needed]} Owners typically recognise this phenomenon as a pathological symptom rather than as an endearing behavioral pattern.

As with all small breeds, some problems may arise in pregnancy and during birth. The most common problems include the need for a Caesarian section birth and new mothers being disinterested in the puppies, sometimes accompanied by the mother not opening the birth sack.

As Pugs have many wrinkles in their faces, owners normally take special care to clean inside the creases, as irritation and infection can result from improper care.^[11].

Pugs are one of several breeds that are more susceptible to Demodectic mange, also known as Demodex.^[12] This condition is caused by a weakened immune system, and it is a minor problem for many young Pugs. It is easily treatable, however, some Pugs are especially susceptible to the condition, and will present with a systemic form of the condition. This vulnerability is thought to be genetic, and good breeders will avoid breeding dogs who have had this condition.^[12]

History/Origins

Bred to adorn the laps of the Chinese sovereigns during the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC),^[4] in East China, they were known as "Lo-Chiang-Sze" or "Foo"^[4][13] (ceramic foos, transmogrified into dragon, with their bulging eyes are very Pug-like). The Pug's popularity spread to Tibet, where they were mainly kept by monks, and then went onto Japan, and finally Europe.^[4]

 Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

Hogarth with his Pug, Trump, 1745

The breed was first imported in the late 16th and 17th centuries by merchants and crews from the Dutch East Indies Trading Company.^[4] The Pug later became the official dog of the House of Orange.^[4] In 1572, a Pug saved the Prince of Orange's life by barking at an assassin.^[14] A Pug also travelled with William III and Mary II when they left the Netherlands to ascend to the throne of England in 1688.^[4] This century also saw Pugs' popularity on the rise in other European countries. In Spain, they were painted by Goya,^[4] in Italy Pugs dressed in matching jackets and pantaloons sat by the coachmen of the rich,^[4] and in Germany and France. Pugs appear several times as footnotes to history.^[4] Sometimes, they were used for Scent hounds. They were used by the military to track animals or people, and were also employed as the guard's dogs.

Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

The popularity of the Pug continued to spread in France during the eighteenth century. Before her marriage at age 15 to Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette owned a Pug named Mops (the German, Dutch, Russian, Danish and Swedish name for the dog's breed).^{[citation needed]} Before her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine had her Pug, Fortune, carry concealed messages to her family while she was confined at Les Carmes prison. The pet was the only recipient of visiting rights.^[15]

The English painter William Hogarth owned a series of Pugs, to which he was devoted. In 1745 he painted his self-portrait together with that of his Pug, Trump, now in the Tate Gallery, London.^[16]

In nineteenth century England, Pugs flourished under the patronage of the monarch Queen Victoria.^{[citation needed]} Her many Pugs, which she bred herself, included Olga, Pedro, Minka, Fatima and Venus.^[4] Her involvement with the dogs in general helped to establish the Kennel Club, which was formed in 1873.^[4] Victoria favoured apricot and fawn Pugs, whereas the aristocrat Lady Brassey is credited with making black Pugs fashionable after she brought some back from China in 1886.^[4][1]

The Pug arrived in the United States during the nineteenth century^[4] (the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885)^[4] and was soon making its way into the family home and show ring.

Pugs in media and culture

In a May 23, 2007 web issue of The Onion, Pugs were lampooned in a fake news article titled Dog Breeders Issue Massive Recall Of '07 Pugs.^[17] The piece satirized Pugs and Pug breeders by speaking of the dog and its characteristics as a faulty product, "evidenced" by a fictional quote from the American Pug Breeders Association director, "While pug owners are accustomed to dog malfunction, the latest animals are prone to more problems than just the usual joint failures, overheating, seizures, chronic respiratory defects, and inability to breed without assistance. The latest model Pug is simply not in any way a viable dog."^[18]

Pugs have also held their own as featured players in many films and television shows.

• Jonathan Ross amongst his five dogs has a pug called Pickle or Mr Pickle
• Otis from The Adventures of Milo and Otis
• Odie the Talking Pug - First appearing on David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks" Odie went on to win America Online's Top T.V. Moment of the Year in 2004.
• Frank from Men in Black and Men in Black II
• Weenie, from Kay Thompson's Eloise book series
• Shakespug is a friend of Satchel Pooch, a main character in the comic strip Get Fuzzy.
• Mr. Pickle, BBC-presenter Jonathan Ross's Pug, seen in his talk show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
• Ethel Skinner, a now deceased character in the British soap opera EastEnders, had a pug called Willy.
• Ralph, Don Burke's dog In the long running channel 9 show, was a Pug and a frequent guest of the show.
• Percy Pug from Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.
• Bean from The Clique (novel) series.
• Tori Spelling's pug Mimi LaRue.
• Frank Iero, Guitarist of My Chemical Romance owns one
• Lloyd from Norbit
• Heidi Range from the Sugababes has a pug called Buddy.
• Marie Antoinette had a pug named Mops.
• Molly Moon, the main character in the series by Georgia Byng has a pug named Petula, whom she keeps with her at all times.
• Lady Bertram, a character in Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park, had a female pug called Pug.
• Pakkun (パックン, Pakkun?) from Naruto.
• Rich Perez in Las Vegas & creator of "Best Damn Sports Show Period" has two black pugs named Mac, the male and Zoey, the female.
• In the American Kennel Club(AKC) a double curl is considered perfection for a pugs tail.
• The Bedford CA van of the 1950's and 60's is commonly referred to as pug-nosed, because its frontal appearance is reminiscent of a pugs face.
• Pug dogs appeared as royalty pets in the movie Dune and the 2000 SciFi Dune miniseries
• Pug appears in many of the Hutch (An Indian cellphone company acquired by Vodafone) commercials.
• A pug appears in U.S. commercials for the allergy/asthma medication Advair.
• President Walken owns a pug, Bess, on The West Wing.
• Monroe, in The Life and Times of Juniper Lee.
• Rock band Menomena claims to be managed by a black female pug named Geddy Lee

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Appearance
Coloring
Sense of smell
Breed Varieties
Hybrids
Temperament
Health
Other roles
In popular Culture
Popularity

The Beagle is a breed of medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game. They have a keen sense of smell and tracking instinct that often sees them employed as detection dogs for prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the world. They are popular as pets because of their size, even temper, and lack of inherited health problems.

Although beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier.

Beagles have been depicted in popular culture since Elizabethan times in literature and paintings, and latterly in film, television and comic books. Snoopy of the comic strip Peanuts has been promoted as "the world's most famous beagle".^[1]

Appearance

The Kennel Club (UK) standard states the Beagle should give the impression of quality without coarseness.

The general appearance of the Beagle resembles a Foxhound in miniature, but the head is broader and the muzzle shorter, the expression completely different and the legs shorter in proportion to the body. They are generally between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm) high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb (8 and 16 kg), with females being slightly smaller than males on average.

They have a smooth, somewhat domed skull with a medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black (or occasionally liver), gumdrop nose. The jaw is strong and the teeth scissor together with the upper teeth fitting perfectly over the lower teeth and both sets aligned square to the jaw. The eyes are large, hazel or brown, with a mild hound-like pleading look. The large ears are long, soft and low-set, turning towards the cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips. Beagles have a strong, medium-length neck (which is long enough for them to easily bend to the ground to pick up a scent), with little folding in the skin but some evidence of a dewlap; a broad chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist and a short, slightly curved tail tipped with white. The white tip, known as the "stern" or "flag" has been selectively bred for, as it allows the dog to be easily seen when its head is down following a scent. The tail does not curl over the back, but is held upright when the dog is active. The Beagle has a muscular body and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat. The front legs are straight and carried under the body while the rear legs are muscular and well bent at the stifles.

Colouring

A pair of Polish show Beagles showing a faded tricolour

Beagles appear in a range of colours. Although the tricolour (white with large black areas and light brown shading) is the most common, Beagles can occur in any hound colour. Tricoloured dogs occur in a number of shades, from the "Classic Tri" with a jet black saddle to the "Faded Tri" where the faint black markings are toned with brown. Some tricoloured dogs have a broken pattern, sometimes referred to as pied. These dogs have mostly white coats with patches of black and brown hair. Two-colour varieties always have a white base colour with areas of the second colour. Tan and white is the most common two-colour variety, but there is a wide range of other colours including lemon, a very light tan; red, a reddish, almost orange, brown; and liver, a darker brown, and black. Liver is not common and is not permitted in some standards; it tends to occur with yellow eyes. Ticked or mottled varieties may be either white or black with different coloured flecks (ticking), such as the blue-mottled or bluetick Beagle, which has spots that appear to be a midnight-blue colour, similar to the colouring of the Bluetick Coonhound. Some tricolour Beagles also have ticking of various colours in their white areas.

Tricolour Beagles are almost always born black and white, with the brownish areas developing later. The brown may take between one and two years to fully develop. Some Beagles gradually change colour during their lives.

Sense of smell

Alongside the Bloodhound, the Beagle has one of the best developed senses of smell of any dog. In the 1950s, John Paul Scott and John Fuller began a 13 year study into canine behaviour. As part of this research, they tested the scenting abilities of various breeds by putting a mouse in a one acre field and timing how long it took the dogs to find it. The Beagles found it in less than a minute, while Fox Terriers took 15 minutes and Scottish Terriers failed to find it at all. Beagles are better at ground-scenting (following a trail on the ground) than they are at air-scenting, and for this reason they have been excluded from most mountain rescue teams in favour of collies, which use sight in addition to air-scenting and are more biddable. The long ears and large lips of the Beagle probably assist in trapping the scents close to the nose.

Breed varieties

The American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club recognize two separate varieties of Beagle: the 13-inch (330 mm) for hounds less than 13 inches (33 cm), and the 15-inch (380 mm) for those between 13 and 15 inches (33 and 38 cm). The Kennel Club (UK) and FCI affiliated clubs recognize a single type, with a height of between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm).

English and American varieties are sometimes mentioned. However, there is no official recognition from any Kennel Club for this distinction. Beagles fitting the American Kennel Club standard—which disallows animals over 15 inches (38 cm)—are smaller on average than those fitting the Kennel Club standard which allows heights up to 16 inches (41 cm).

A Puggle, a Beagle/Pug cross, shows traits from both breeds.

Pocket Beagles are sometimes advertised for sale but the bloodline for this variety is extinct, and, although the UK Kennel Club originally specified a standard for the Pocket Beagle in 1901, the variety is not now recognised by any Kennel Club. Often, small Beagles are the result of poor breeding or dwarfism.

A strain known as Patch Hounds was developed by Willet Randall and his family from 1896 specifically for their rabbit hunting ability. They trace their bloodline back to Field Champion Patch, but do not necessarily have a patchwork marking.

Hybrids

In the 1850s, Stonehenge recommended a cross between a Beagle and a Scottish terrier as a retriever. He found the crossbreed to be a good worker, silent and obedient, but it had the drawback that it was small and could barely carry a hare. More recently the trend has been for "designer dogs" and one of the most popular has been the Beagle/Pug cross known as a Puggle. Less excitable than a Beagle and with a lower exercise requirement, these dogs are suited to city dwelling.

Temperament

Beagles are happy to rest without being exercised to exhaustion.

The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Described in several breed standards as "merry" they are amiable and not generally aggressive or timid. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be standoffish with strangers they are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs for this reason, although their tendency to bark or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar makes them good watch dogs; in a 1985 study conducted by Ben and Lynette Hart the Beagle was given the highest excitability rating along with the Yorkshire Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier and Fox Terrier.^[39][c] Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to train. They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted.

Beagles are excellent with children and this is one of the reasons they have become popular family pets, but they are pack animals, and can be prone to separation anxiety.^[40] Not all Beagles will howl, but most will bark when confronted with strange situations, and some will bay (also referred to as "speaking", "giving tongue" or "opening") when they catch the scent of potential quarry.They also generally get along well with other dogs. They are not demanding with regard to exercise; their inbred stamina means they do not easily tire when exercised, but they also do not need to be worked to exhaustion before they will rest, though regular exercise helps ward off the weight gain to which the breed is prone.

Health

The median longevity of Beagles is about 12.3 years, which is a typical lifespan for a dog of their size.

Weight gain can be a problem in older or sedentary dogs, which in turn can lead to heart and joint problems.

Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, but this can be controlled with medication. Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy, in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses; and Chinese Beagle Syndrome in which the eyes are slanted and the outer toes are underdeveloped but otherwise development is as normal. Hip dysplasia, common in Harriers and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered a problem in Beagles.

In rare cases Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis (where the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age. The symptoms can sometimes be relieved by steroid treatments.

Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, and this can lead to ear infections. Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems; two common ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy.^[47] "Cherry eye", a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist; both these conditions can be corrected with surgery. They can suffer from several types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the nasolacrimal drainage system can cause dry eye or leakage of tears onto the face.

As field dogs they are prone to minor injuries such as cuts and sprains, and, if inactive, obesity is a common problem as they will eat whenever food is available and rely on their owners to regulate their weight. When working or running free they are also likely to pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks, harvest mites and tapeworms, and irritants such as grass seeds can become trapped in their eyes, ears or paws.

Beagles may exhibit a behaviour known as reverse sneezing, in which they sound as if they are choking or gasping for breath, but are actually drawing air in through the mouth and nose. The exact cause of this behaviour is not known, but it is not harmful to the dog.

Other roles

Their friendly nature and gentleness make Beagles popular as pets.

Although bred for hunting, Beagles are versatile and are nowadays employed for various other roles in detection, therapy, and as family pets. Beagles are used as sniffer dogs for termite detection in Australia, and have been mentioned as possible candidates for drug and explosive detection.Because of their gentle nature and unimposing build, they are also frequently used in pet therapy, visiting the sick and elderly in hospital. In June 2006, a trained Beagle assistance dog was credited with saving the life of its owner after using his owner's mobile phone to dial an emergency number.

In popular culture

Beagles have featured across a wide range of media. References to the dog appear before the 19th century in works by such writers as William Shakespeare, John Webster, John Dryden, Thomas Tickell, Henry Fielding and William Cowper, and in Alexander Pope's translation of Homer's Iliad.^[d]

Beagles appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons from the 1950s with the Peanuts character Snoopy (billed as the "the world's most famous Beagle"^[1]), Walt Disney's Beagle Boys and Beegle Beagle, the constant companion of Hanna-Barbera's Grape Ape.

They have appeared in numerous films, taking a central role in Cats and Dogs, and the title roles in the adaptation of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's book Shiloh and the live-action version of Underdog. They have played supporting roles in films including Audition, The Monster Squad and The Royal Tenenbaums, and on television in Star Trek: Enterprise, EastEnders, The Wonder Years, and To the Manor Born among others.

Bagel, one of Barry Manilow's two Beagles, appeared on several of his album covers. Former US President Lyndon Baines Johnson had several Beagles, and caused an outcry when he picked up one of them by the ears during an official greeting on the White House lawn.

The ship on which Charles Darwin made his voyage which provided the material for his travel book The Voyage of the Beagle and much of the inspiration for On the Origin of Species was named HMS Beagle after the breed, and, in turn, lent its name to the ill-fated British Martian lander Beagle 2.

Popularity

As a pedigree dog, Beagles have always been more popular in the United States and Canada than in their native country. The National Beagle Club of America was formed in 1888 and by 1901 a Beagle had won a Best in Show title. As in the UK, activity during World War I was minimal, but the breed showed a much stronger revival in the US when hostilities ceased. In 1928 it won a number of prizes at the Westminster Kennel Club's show and by 1939 a Beagle, Champion Meadowlark Draughtsman, had captured the title of top-winning American-bred dog for the year. On 12 February 2008, a Beagle won the Best In Show category at the Westminster Kennel Club show for the first time in the competition's history. In North America they have been consistently in the top ten most popular breeds for over 30 years. From 1953 to 1959 the Beagle was ranked number one on the list of the American Kennel Club's registered breeds;in 2005 and 2006 it ranked 5th out of the 155 breeds registered. In the UK they are not quite so popular, placing 28th and 30th in the rankings of registrations with the Kennel Club in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

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