Pug - History

The pug is an ancient Chinese breed. In ancient times in China there were dogs called «Ha Pa» and "Lo Tsze". They were very similar among themselves, and differed only with length of a wool. The wool of «Ha Pa» was long. And "Lo Tsze" was short-haired,similar to Pekineses, and probably they were ancestors of modern pugs. In those days the nobility was the owners of pugs, and dogs lived, mainly, in rich houses. They had not such wrinkles at that time, but had accurate drawing, similar to hieroglyphs, on their forehead which was named an imperial sign.

400 years ago the pug has been delivered to Europe by the Dutch seamen. It has quickly got love, both of kings and simple people. Dutches named this dog the Chinese mastiff. Once, during war of Holland with Spain, the sleeping camp of king Wilhelm was attacked by the opponent. Dutches were rescued by a pug which started barking and scratching that has woken the king. The pug has been awarded to become an official dog of the house Oransky for the whole 16 century.

In the 16-th century this breed became very popular and possessing this dog was a good sign. Pugs have gained the biggest distribution in Europe at the time of Napoleon as his wife Josephine was unseparable with her favourite pug Fate.

In the first half of the 18-th century in England and France pugs were an obligatory accessory of each fashionable lady. Pugs very often drew attention of artists and sculptors which represented them in their products - painting, on engravings, porcelain, gobelins, clay, bronze.

In our country pugs have appeared in the early eighties last century and for today had time to become favourites of huge set of people, and today each fan of dogs has possibility to become the participant of continuation of history of this remarkable breed.