10 Incredible Pug Facts

The pug is a dog breed known for its wrinkly face, short nose, curled tails, and relatively small size. They have a long, affectionate history with humans, including children across generations, and are generally considered unproblematic cuties. There are tons of interesting facts about this miniature dog and below are 10 of them:

1. Pugs Have Existed For a Millennia

While pugs are still very much with us today in the 21st century, they are an ancient breed. Experts believe they originated from China over 2,000 years ago where Chinese monks grew very fond of them and more of them were bred. 

Old Chinese emperors were very fond of them and pugs were often kept as companions and lap dogs and they were sometimes assigned human guards. 

2. Pugs Have a Group Name

While a group of dogs is referred to as a “pack,” a group of pugs is called a “grumble.” If you are wondering who came up with that, we are, too. However, some people have guessed that the name is related to their natural proclivity to grunting and snorting. They also reportedly snore a lot while sleeping so the group name, “grumble” actually tracks. 

3. A Pug Once Saved Its Owner’s Life

Pugs are very cool with and around human beings and that has characterized the breed across centuries and generations. 

In the 1500s, a certain Prince William of Orange led a crucial Dutch rebellion against the Spaniards. At some point, Spanish soldiers launched an assassination attempt on the prince and while they were close to his tent, the Prince’s pug barked so loudly that it saved its master’s life. The act conferred “hero status” on the pug and it was named the official breed of the famed House Of Orange. 

4. Pugs Are Low Maintenance

Not only do they have a special relationship with humans, but pugs are also very low-maintenance. This means they don’t take as much money, energy, or space to maintain. They are like the perfect budget per dog if there ever was one. 

Pugs are very easy to care for when compared to other dogs. Some experts recommend a daily exercise of 15-30 minutes, a bath once or twice a month, and nail trimming every two months. Pretty soft, right? 

They also do not take up so much space. As a matter of fact, there is a Latin description for pugs that corroborates this- “multum in parvo” meaning “a great deal in a small space.”

5. Pugs Love Their Sleep

A big part of the unproblematic disposition of pugs is their love for sleep. They can sleep as much as 14 hours a day, making them heavy sleepers who just want to have a nice time in the dream world of pugs. 

6. Pugs Are Very Unhealthy

One downside to having a pet pug is that it can be very unhealthy. In fact, there are arguments positing that they shouldn’t be called dogs because of their health complications. Worse still, a huge chunk of their health problems are hereditary and they include food allergies, patella luxation, hip dysplasia, and eye infections. 

Pugs also have breathing problems known as the brachycephalic syndrome due to their compressed nose. This is why they would often stop on long walks and may even make loud noises while breathing. 

Some experts say they have a malformed skull so much so that their eyeballs might pop out of the sockets when you pull them too strongly on a leash. 

Not to worry though, there are plenty of pug owners who are raising them just fine with help, advice, and regular treatments from pug doctors. 

7. Pugs Are Bad Swimmers

Truth is, some dogs like the Poodle and the Golden Retriever are good swimmers, so it’s not odd to expect that pugs would be good at swimming since they are a dog breed themselves. 

Interestingly, pugs typically cannot swim nor do they enjoy it. It’s not so much of a natural aversion to water as it is the state of their bodies. As we mentioned earlier, pugs are brachycephalic, which means they have a compressed nose and a short head related to their malformed bones. They already have breathing difficulties on land and that would naturally get worse if they try to paddle in the water. 

8. Pugs Have Ties To The Freemasons

Ever heard of the Freemasons? They are one of the most iconic secret cults sitting in the ranks of the equally popular Illuminati. Here is the story – After the widely publicized ban of Freemasonry by the Roman Catholic Church, some Catholics formed a new cult and called it “The Order Of The Pug.” They had some very “doggy” rituals like having first-timers blindfolded while leading them around on a leash with other members barking at them like dogs. Kinda creepy, right?

Well, the usual question on the minds of people after learning of this is “Why Pugs?” Well, some historians claim the cult chose “pug” because the breed is considered a symbol of loyalty and trustworthiness. If you have a pug around you, you’d certainly attest to the veracity of those descriptions. 

9. India’s Most Famous Dog is a pug

India is one of the most popular countries in the world known for its massive population and rich/diverse cultural heritage. There are quite a number of dog breeds with origins in India yet a pug named Cheeka is the most famous dog in India. 

The story goes thus: an Indian telecom company, Vodafone, featured a pug named Cheeka in one of their advertising campaigns in 2003. The footage shows Cheeka following a child everywhere with relentless persistence which was supposed to align with the tagline “Wherever you go, our network follows.” The campaign was celebrated nationwide with Cheeka featuring on billboards and newspapers all over the country. 

No dog breed ever got that level of fame in India; not even the ones with Indian origins. Charming an entire nation is no small feat; big ups to Cheeka and the entire pug species. 

10. Pugs are Screen Darlings

Speaking of fame, pugs are also regularly featured in many movies and primetime TV shows. That includes the iconic Men in Black series, The Campaign, Valentino: The Last Emperor, The Nut Job, The Secret Life Of Pets, and The Crown(Netflix’s show based on the British Royal Family). 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Poltavets Anastasiia/Shutterstock.com