Are you interested in a Pug?
Who can blame you? These compact, cute little dogs are great for small spaces like apartments. They are well-rounded, happy in the city or country. They also thrive in moderate climates, where the temperature isn’t too hot or too cold – a great choice for new dog owners.
Originating over 2000 years ago, Pugs were bred to be lap dogs and they’ve served royalty in China and Europe. With their main function to provide companionship, Pugs have a playful nature.
Dogtime reports that pugs are “happy and affectionate, loyal and charming, playful and mischievous.”
They have a characteristic round head with slight wrinkles, big eyes, and are the largest Toy category dogs. If trained, they’ll do well with strangers and children. The Pug may be just the dog you’re looking for.
How many types of Pugs are there?
As you do your research, you’ll find many different types of Pugs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes two colors, fawn and black. But there are other variations of these colors, which I’ll discuss below.
What color pugs are there?
There are three main types of Pugs; Fawn, Black, and Brindle – each of which has color variations.
Fawn
Fawn pugs come in three different colors:
- Fawn: Fawn Pugs are very light with a yellowish-tan coat, almost off-white.
- Apricot Fawn: Apricot fawn Pugs have a deeper tan, almost gold or orange. The AKC will recognize the apricot fawn if the owner requests it. The Continental Kennel Club (CKC) identifies the apricot fawn as a variation of the fawn color.
- Silver Fawn: The silver fawn Pug gives an appearance of light gray to white and they’re the rarest of the fawns. In a survey of 2,693 pug owners conducted by PetPugDog.com, only 3% of pug owners had a silver fawn. Keep in mind that the AKC normally doesn’t recognize the silver fawn (but will consider requests), but other organizations such as the CKC do recognize silver.
Many Pug owners search for the fawn colors and they are commonly pictured as an example of a Pug.
All fawn Pugs have a “black mask”. The face has a melanistic covering that resembles a superhero mask.
The Pug’s facial design allows them to have different expressions that remind their owners of human expressions. They can appear happy or sad, or even appear to laugh.
Black
The coat of the black Pug shines jet black. Some black Pugs have a white marking, usually on the chest. As Pugs age, their coat begins to show gray hairs and this shows more on black Pugs.
If you like to stand out in the crowd, consider a black Pug – they’re not as popular as their fawn-colored siblings. In the past, breeders even considered the black coat to be a birth defect. This changed after Queen Victoria grew to love them. She owned many black Pugs. The public took notice and black Pugs grew in popularity.
Some breeders will tell you that the black Pug is a rare breed and may even try to charge more. But black Pugs aren’t as rare as these breeders would have you believe. You shouldn’t have to pay a higher price.
Brindle
Brindle colored Pug coats show a mixture of light and dark colors, usually ranging from grey to black. No well-reputed kennel clubs recognize the brindle colored Pug.
It’s believed that the brindle shade entered Pug bloodlines through another breed, so a brindle Pug would not be a purebred. This is under debate.
The brindle color could be a recessive gene lasting many generations. Other dog breeds such as Bull Terrier or Boxer have brindle variations. As well, paintings from the 18th-century show brindle Pug dogs, though those lines could have died out.
If you like brindles, you’ll have to search. They are pretty rare.
Wrapping up
Pugs are low-maintenance and have no problem lying on the couch and watching Netflix – not needing much exercise compared with other breeds.
With the types of Pugs available you’re sure to find one that fits your style!