Ten Best Dogs For Families

From The Reader's Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs

The origin of the Pug's name is unknown. It may derive from pugnus, the Latin word for fist, which its profile is said to resemble. The most likely explanation, however, is that it stems from an old English word that was used as a term of endearment to describe pets, and particularly pet monkeys.

The Pug's appearance could be described as comical: a squat body and a wrinkled black face that seems to be covered with soot. But the ungainly little dog won many hearts in the fashionable salons of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe and Great Britain.

This breed had a long history in the Orient, and its image, almost identical to today's dog, can be seen on the fragile porcelain of Chinese antiquity. Brought to the West by merchants trading with China, it had become well known in Holland by the sixteenth century. King Henry II of France found his Pugs more entertaining than the royal clowns. For many years the favourite pet of Spanish royal children, it was portrayed in a number of celebrated paintings by the Old Masters.

The Pug reached the height of its popularity during the Victorian period and its stocky little form became a familiar sight as scores of pottery figurines were fashioned in its likeness.

Traditionally a companion to nobility and the wealthy, the Pug is now enjoying a well-deserved come-back. Extremely clever and mischievous, it makes an amusing companion. But it can also be gluttonous, sulky, and distant with strangers, to the point of showing outright hostility.

Practical information: The Pug does not tolerate heat well and has a tendency to catch cold; it should be dried briskly, if wet. Its delicate eyes are prone to frequent 'weeping,' and its short, fine coat should regularly be given a vigorous brushing. The Pug is also subject to gastric problems when overfed.

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