Pugs are known for their distinctive large eyes, snub-nosed appearance, and face wrinkles. They also tend to be friendly, loving, and playful. They love nothing more than being with their favorite humans. Here are a few more facts about Pugs:

1. The Pug is an Ancient Dog Breed

The Pug’s origins stretch back into China to over 2,000 years ago. This makes them one of the ancient dog breeds. Much like the Pekingese and the Shih Tzu, the Pug was bred by the Chinese royalty and was a prized pet among them.

Pugs were considered one of China’s national treasures. Although other royal Chinese breeds were kept isolated to the country for most of their history, there were a few instances of Pugs being gifted to outsiders. This was the only way outsiders could access the breed.

2. Dutch Traders Brought the Pug Outside of China

During the 1500s, Dutch traders were gifted a few Pugs and brought them back to Europe. They are credited with bringing the Pug outside of China and starting to get it on the world stage. Pugs remained a companion to nobles and even became the mascot of Holland’s Royal House of Orange.

As Dutch nobility traveled to England, they brought Pugs along with them and introduced the breed. From there, the Pug continued to gain popularity and spread around the world. They made their way into the United States in the 1800s and have continued to rise in popularity ever since.

3. They Are Quintessential Companion Dogs

Pugs are quintessential companion dogs and are one of the most affectionate dog breeds. They tend to have a playful, social, and charming personality along with a gentle nature and sweet disposition. They get along well with children, other pets, and other dogs, and tend to be very loving towards them.

They thrive on attention and being around their favorite humans. They tend to fans of napping and cuddling. Pugs also tend to shadow their owners and will follow them from room to room to stay nearby.

4. Pugs Overheat Easily

Pugs are known for their squished, wrinkly faces and large eyes. This makes them a brachycephalic, or snub-nosed or flat-faced, dog breed and makes them particularly sensitive to heat. Their short snouts mean they overheat easily and cannot cool themselves off as quickly or regulate their body temperature as well as other dogs.

Because of this, you need to be careful and keep a close eye on your Pug while out in hot or cold temperatures. You also need to be careful about your Pug overexerting themselves and becoming overheated.

This doesn’t mean your Pug can’t run around; in fact, there are Pugs that train to compete in dog sports. It just means you need to find safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs and help them keep their temperature within a normal, manageable range.

These are just a few facts about Pugs. If this dog breed sounds like the right fit for you, learn more about them, and then check out the available Pug puppies. Who knows? You could end up finding your new best friend!