Raining Cats & DogsDog Year 2027 · Every Day Has Its Dog
Week 29 · Jul 18 – Jul 24

Pug

A face full of wrinkles and a heart full of mischief.

Pug

The Pug looks worried. The Pug is not worried. The Pug is waiting for you to notice it is adorable.

The breed is ancient. Pugs lived in China more than two thousand years ago, where emperors kept them as palace companions. Traders carried them to Holland in the 1500s, and the Pug became a favorite of European courts.

Dutch legend says a Pug named Pompey barked a warning when Spanish soldiers crept toward the Prince of Orange in 1572. The prince lived. The Pug became a hero.

The breed motto is multum in parvo. Much in little. Josephine, wife of Napoleon, kept a Pug named Fortune. Queen Victoria loved them too. The AKC recognized the breed in 1885.

At home, a Pug snores, snorts, and shadows you from room to room. It hogs the couch and the covers. It eats anything and then looks at you for more.

Keep it cool, keep it trim, and expect a lap that is never empty. A group of Pugs is called a grumble. It is the best kind of noise.

9Dogs of Summer countdown, 13 to 1annual rank No. 38 (AKC)

Much dog in a small package (AKC)

Expected age
12–15 years
Height
10–13 in
Weight
14–18 lb
Breed group
Toy
Origin
China, over 2,000 years ago

Origin of the Name

No one knows for sure. One theory is the Latin pugnus, a fist, for the shape of the face.

Notable Pugs

Pompey, who saved a Dutch prince. Fortune, Josephine Bonaparte’s feisty Pug. Frank, the wisecracking Pug of Men in Black.

Good to Know

Short noses mean noisy breathing and trouble in heat. Watch the weight. Clean the wrinkles daily.

Coats & Colors

A short, smooth coat in fawn or black. The tail curls tight over the hip. The wrinkles are the trademark.

By the Numbers

Fourteen to eighteen pounds. Bred in China over two thousand years ago. Recognized by the AKC in 1885.

The week
Pug on SundaySundayJul 18Pug on MondayMondayJul 19Pug on TuesdayTuesdayJul 20Pug on WednesdayWednesdayJul 21Pug on ThursdayThursdayJul 22Pug on FridayFridayJul 23Pug on SaturdaySaturdayJul 24Last walk of the weekLast WalkWeek close

Shop the Pug

COFFEE PUG. A mug and a tee made for the Pug fan.

COFFEE PUG Pug mugMug11 oz or 15 ozCOFFEE PUG Pug teeT-shirtPhotos on the frontDog Breeds book coverDog BreedsNo. 38 of 50
See the Pug mug and teeRead about the Pug in Dog Breeds

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Books from Raining Cats & Dogs

Cat Breeds coverCat BreedsBreed guideDog Breeds coverDog BreedsBreed guideEvery Dog Has His Day coverEvery Dog Has His DayIdiom bookThe Cat's Pajamas coverThe Cat's PajamasIdiom book
Dog Year 2027 · Every Day Has Its Dog · Raining Cats & Dogs