10+ Fun & Fascinating Facts About Pugs Most Pet Parents Don't Know

Who doesn't love Pugs? They're cute, energetic, hilarious little bundles of fun, though I'll admit I may be biased, as I have a special nostalgic affinity for these snub-nosed pups. I have an aunt and uncle who are complete Pug fanatics, and playing with their Pugs has always been a highlight of my many visits with them ever since I was a kid.

Though they may be small dogs , they are mighty little canines with enough personality and vivaciousness to compete with pups five times their size, and there's so much more to them than most people realize. In fact, there's even a day dedicated to them. Yep, National Pug Day is October 15!

The Straight Facts About Pugs

Pugs are classified as a toy dog breed due to their tiny, compact little bodies. According to DogTime , the average Pug stands between 10-14 inches tall , weighs between 14-18 pounds, and can live to be up to 15 years old. Their adorably iconic appearance makes them stand out from other breeds: Pugs sport short, usually light-color coats, perfect little curly-Q tails, floppy black ears, and wrinkly, snub-nosed (or brachycephalic) faces. Temperament-wise, they're expressive, playful, and very outgoing. Between their comically adorable appearances and their big personalities, Pugs have an irresistible charm about them!

But there's a whole lot more to Pugs than meets the eye. From the breed's long and fascinating history to important facts about their health and grooming needs, there's a lot about these weird and wonderful little dogs that most pet parents don't know. Get ready to brush up on your Pug trivia and expand your mind with these 10 mind-blowing facts about Pugs!

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Pugs Throughout History

Few dog breeds have a history so long, strange, and storied as the Pug. Let's go on a trip back through time and dig up some surprising facts from Pug history!

The Pug Bloodline Goes Way Back - Like, Way Back

Did you know that the Pug is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world? According to dog writer September Morn, the origins of the Pug can be traced all the way back to ancient China, circa 400 BC, where the earliest ancestors of Pugs were depicted in ancient Chinese sculptures, drawings, and paintings. For context, this was around the same time in history when Alexander the Great was conquering the Persian Empire and Confucius was making his mark on Chinese philosophy. Yeah - Pugs have been around for a while!

Pugs Have Been Canine Royalty Since Time Immemorial

For many centuries, Pugs were bred as the companion dogs of ancient Imperial Chinese royalty. Though the breed spread out to other parts of Asia like Japan and Tibet (where they were raised by monks in Buddhist monasteries), Pugs were highly revered in their native homeland and lived in the lavish lap of luxury as canine companions to emperors and empresses.

The Pug's social standing didn't downgrade much when the breed finally made the move westward. Pugs were first brought over from China and introduced to Europe by Dutch traders in the 16th century, and European royalty soon took to these princely pups just as much as the imperial Chinese rulers did. In fact...

A Pug Once Saved the Life of a Famous European Ruler

Shortly after Pugs were first brought over to Europe, one very loyal Pug saved the life of his royal parent. In 1572, William, the Dutch Prince of Orange, was asleep in a tent on the battlefield when an enemy assassin crept inside, intent on killing William. Unfortunately for the assassin, he didn't count on William's Pug Pompey being there! According to writer Mimi Matthews, Pompey saw the assassin and started barking and scratching up a storm, awakening his master and allowing them to escape in the nick of time.

After Pompey the Pug saved William's life, the Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange. Other European rulers came to love these feisty little pups as well, notably two very prominent female figures: Josephine Bonaparte, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, and Queen Victoria.

Pugs Were the Symbol of a Freemason-Like Society

After the Catholic Church barred Catholics from joining Freemasonry and other secret societies in 1738, some Catholic would-be Freemasons decided to rebel by starting their own secret society called the Order of the Pug. According to HistoryFacts.com , the Pug was chosen as their mascot for the breed's " qualities of loyalty, trustworthiness, and steadfastness ." Prospective initiates were expected to prove their dedication by first acting like dogs in front of current members, after which they would, uh, smooch a pug statue on the keister. Talk about kissing butt...

Unlike other Masonic societies of the time, the Order of the Pug made a surprisingly progressive move by allowing women to join as members and hold positions of authority, even the lodge-leading role of "Grand Pug". Unfortunately, a French Catholic cardinal's expose blew the whole lid off of the secret society in 1745, and the Order of the Pug came to an end. Still, it left quite an amusing mark on Masonic history!

The Peculiar Quirks of a Pug

Yes, pugs have cute, stocky little bodies, curly tails, and squashed, snuffly faces. But if you thought that's where the Pug's peculiarities ended, you ain't seen nothing yet:

Pugs Might Be Named After Monkeys

We're not monkeying around with you here! While the exact origins of the name "Pug" aren't certain, the most popular theory, according to the American Kennel Club , is that the breed was named after marmoset monkeys , who were popular pets in the early 1700s. At the time, marmosets were also called "pug monkeys," and their flat, grumpy-looking faces somewhat resembled those of Pugs (the dog, that is).

Another theory suggests that Pugs were named after "pugnus," the Latin word for "fist," but we prefer the prevailing marmoset theory. As to where those marmosets got the name "pug monkeys," well... that's a mystery for another time.

The Chinese Could Read 'Em Like a Book

You can read quite a lot in a dog's expression (especially with a dog as expressive as a Pug), but the ancient Chinese literally could read a Pug's facial wrinkles! According to the AKC , legend has it that Pugs were originally bred to have a very specific pattern of forehead wrinkles that resembled the Chinese character for "prince," 王. You know, when I look closely at a few Pug pics, I can actually kinda see it on some of them...

The Twist Is in the Tail

Second only to their famously flat faces, the Pug's cutely-curled tail is one of the breed's most recognizable features. According to Pug blogger Welcome to the Grumble, a Pug's tail is actually straight when they're born, but after the first few weeks, it curls up into the classic "cinnamon roll" we all know and love.

A Pug's tail can be loosely or tightly curled, but a very tight double curl over the hip is the "breed standard" and expected of Pugs that are show dogs. As the American Kennel Club puts it, " The double curl is perfection ."

A Group of Pugs Is Called a "Grumble"

Don't call a group of Pugs a pack! According to Nationwide Pet Insurance, a group of three or more pugs is called a " grumble ." Considering the breed's talkative tendency to vocalize in adorable grumbly growls, I suppose it only makes sense!

Pugs Are Sleepy, Low-Maintenance Pups

If you're looking for a low-maintenance dog , you can't go wrong with a Pug. According to Dogster , the average Pug sleeps around 8-10 hours per night and another 4-6 hours during the day, for an average total of 14 hours per day ! Of course, maybe they like to sleep so much because they're so active and playful while they're awake!

Pugs are generally happy, lively little pups and are broadly considered low-maintenance by pet parents. Still, it's important to encourage them to exercise a little bit every day to keep them happy and healthy. Not that that should be too difficult - Pugs are natural people pleasers who love playing with their favorite humans!

Pugs Need Extra Help to Stay Cool

Finally, on a sobering yet important note, Pug parents need to know that their four-legged fur babies need more help cooling off than the average dog. According to Pug Pals Pug Rescue, brachycephalic dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs can't tolerate hot weather because their short noses and air passages aren't long enough to adequately cool air or release heat. Temperatures above 75F can quickly become very dangerous for Pugs (and hopefully this goes without saying, but Pug parents should never leave their dogs alone in a parked car, even if it's only in the 70s outside).

During the summer months, you should only exercise your Pug outside during the early morning or late evening, or consider walking them inside a dog-friendly store or another indoor location that's air-conditioned and pet-friendly. Make sure they always have access to cool water whenever you go out on walks, and stay off of asphalt that's too hot. Oh, and while many Pugs enjoy swimming to stay cool, they can also get sunburn, so if you plan on taking them swimming, Pug Pals recommends using a dog-safe sunscreen!

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