See, I don’t agree here. My dog is a companion dog. Why not get a dog bred for that specific purpose, rather than a poor working dog who’s going to be miserable? I know so many families who have struggled endlessly with a dog that just didn’t fit their lifestyle. People get Border collies, German shepherds and (dear lordy) Jack Russell terriers that drive them insane. Why?? Because they have to have a purpose, but one that you don’t need or use?
Pugs were bred for exactly what I want – being loving companions. I wanted a dog who would be happy with the life I actually have. I didn’t actually like the look of the pug at first (though I came to appreciate it later) but what I did like is the personality and temperament. They’re pretty mellow but love to play, and get along well with other dogs. My little guy is surprisingly athletic (you should see him jump!) but it doesn’t take too much to be ‘enough’ for awhile. Despite being a toy dog (after caring for dog with a knee replacement, having a dog I can easily lift was a big selling point for me), they’re pretty sturdy and can safely play with big dogs. They’re just generally happy little dogs, and I’ve left him with various people to watch him and they all think he’s pretty great. Granted I do take care of him so he doesn’t get all gross – though I do jokingly call him “Ol’ Fullabugs Pugs!”
I will say, too, that the pugs I know are all great with cats. My pug will even let my somewhat mentally challenged cat ‘nurse’ on his neck and groom his face, and plays gently with him too.
Trusting the AKC for factual material about dogs is like trusting Exxon to tell you the truth about oil extraction.
It’s true that the Chinese were way ahead of anyone else in the dog-deformation game. They also were big on creating goldfish that can barely swim and so forth. And check out what they used to do to women’s feet.
I am far from asking that dogs be able to “survive in the wild”. I’d be content with dogs that “can breathe, digest, and reproduce normally”.
You’d be surprised how cute and entertaining normal-shaped dogs are.
It seems that a lot of people in this thread have only come into contact with pugs that are somehow sick or not very well taken care of.
I can say without a doubt that my pugs:
do not ooze or slime with any regularity
do not sneeze or snot more than any other dog I’ve known
do not fart more than any other dog I’ve known
do not have ants or other vermin crawling anywhere on them
do not stink
are not crusty
have no breathing problems
have no digestive problems
are not fat, lazy, nor sleep more than most dogs
play fetch and other doggy games
are generally dog-like and a joy to be around.
You might not like the breed and that’s fine. There’s lots of breeds I don’t like. But if your impression is that all pugs are somehow stinky slimy snotty creatures, they’re not.
My pugs have informed me that in the case of pugs, “toy dog” means that I have to buy them a lot of toys.
I am a fan of pugs, but wouldn’t ever want to own one. My Mom has had one since I was in middle school, and he was the family dog while I was growing up. He’s still alive and kicking (barely), but pugs are mired in health problems. You really do have to take care of them or they can go to hell in a handbasket quickly.
That being said, pugs are amazingly friendly and happy dogs, and I agree that they can really make you happy inside.
A normal, healthy pug can breathe, digest, and reproduce normally. Yes, they are more prone to breathing problems more than other breeds, which is why I got my pug screened for a large palate during his neuter operation. He’s fine. He does snore slightly in certain body positions; you wouldn’t know from more than a couple feet away. If that makes you ‘deformed’ then most human beings are deformed. Keep in mind, nearly any breed is going to have problems they’re more prone to.
Sure, he does have the need to clean his folds on occasion, especially when the weather is wet. Lots of dogs have grooming needs. Is any long-haired dog that needs the occasional brush or trim ‘deformed’? Clearly no. Practically any dog, in the conditions of pet ownership, needs owner intervention like nail trimming, baths, that sort of thing.
You don’t like pugs? Fine. But despite some out-of-shape, poorly-cared-for specimens, they’re not naturally unhealthy dogs. Can you get poorly bred pugs? Yes, but that’s true of any in-demand breed.
Other than occasional fold cleaning and not just leaving him outside in the heat, I don’t really need to do anything special for my pug. He gets plenty of social time with other dogs that seems to provide the bulk of his needs for exercise, and he’s trim and not lazy at all.
Dude! It is so cool that you have a dog drawn by Allie Brosh! How did you manage that? (Seriously, something about the eyes plus the head tilt in that first picture.)
And they may be one of the oldest breeds, but without caesarian sections, they would be no more. I don’t even think they can mate without intervention can they? (I mean other than the requisite bags on their heads.)
Yeah, they manage. I can say that definitively because our pug got knocked up when my wife took her to her friends’ house to play with her litter-brother. Puggy abortion and hysterectomy followed.
Pugs are actually dogs described as “pug”. The adjective “pug” means that an animal is fat, fuzzy, and ugly. (In the olden days.) Another pug animal is the “pug horse”. Also, pugs are actually called “pug dogs” and “pug” is the shortened name of the breed. :smack:
None of this is true according to any etymology source I can find. Where did you hear it?
Also, while this is an old thread, I’m not sure how this myth didn’t get busted years ago: pugs don’t generally need c-sections to breed. That’s American bulldogs. Different dog entirely.
