The Pug

As the Pug’s many fans will attest, this breed makes a charming companion. Some Pugs are placid and dignified and others are excitable extroverts, but all are “people” dogs that want to spend as much time with their owners as possible. At 14 to 18 pounds ideal weight (often exceeded by gluttonous individuals indulged by doting owners), the Pug, the largest member of the Toy group, is a sturdy but still laptop-size model. The phrase “multum in parvo,” used in the AKC breed standard, means “much in little” and can be interpreted in the case of the Pug to refer to both its compact but solidly muscled physical form and a personality much bigger than its stature would suggest.

Large, wide set, round eyes; small ears; a pushed-in nose; and a wide mouth—all set amongst large, deep wrinkles—create the unique and sweet expression beloved by besotted Pug guardians, including many royals, from Empress Josephine Bonaparte to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The Pug’s “I’m-the-centre-of-the-universe-and-it’s-a-great-place-so-why-not-join-me?” outlook on life is one of the keys to this breed’s enduring and popularity.

Is the Pug right for you? Find out at moderndogmagazine.com/pug.