The Pug originated in the Far East in China, dating back to around 700 BC, though there is some debate as to the breed it was derived from. It was bred to be a companion dog, rather than a guardian. Pugs were kept by the royalty and were pampered and spoiled, and the expectation of such treatment is a characteristic that seems to remain with them to this day. Sometimes, as a mark of great esteem, Pugs were given to members of the court.
 

When the Dutch started trading with China, sailors smuggled some Pugs home to Europe, where the small dogs and natural companions quickly became popular. Like in China, they soon became associated with nobility.

According to legend, during a campaign against the Spanish by Prince of Orange William The Silent, his Pug, Pompey, thwarted an assassination attempt. One night at Hermigny, while the prince slept, assassins crept toward his tent. Pompey heard them and began barking and scratching to warn his master, finally jumping on his master's face to alert him to the impending danger.

 

 

Famous Pugs

Josephine Bonaparte had a Pug (which met a rather unfortunate end with the chef's bulldog). The Pug's name was Fortune, and he was used by Josephine to send Napoleon secret messages. It is also said that on their wedding night Napoleon refused to allow Fortune to sleep with them in the bed, and Fortune then bit him. Josephine said "If the Pug doesn't sleep in our bed, neither do I!". From then on, Napoleon shared his bed with a Pug (and Josephine).

Otis from The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Percy from Pocahontas

Algy from Rupert Bear

Wilson the Pug, a Pug with his own set of books, cards, and calendars.

The late Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson) were the proud owners of 4 Pugs, who ate steak served in lead crystal dog dishes.

Frank from Men in Black and Men in Black II

Monroe in The Life and Times of Juniper Lee

Weenie in Eloise

William of Orange (the former stadtholder of The Netherlands), had a Pug named Pompey who saved him from an attack of Spanish invaders.

Pakkun from Naruto, even though his tail is not curled.

Alfred from the children's book Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino

 

 

Pugs in the arts

A Pug named Frank appeared in the movies Men in Black and Men in Black II, and a number of Pugs played the role of Otis in the movie The Adventures of Milo and Otis.

Popular Russian mystery author Daria Dontsova features pugs prominently in her slapstick detective series. The pugs provide numerous amounts of comic relief and sometimes even (accidentally) help their owner solve a deadly mystery.

Celebrities such as Jenna Elfman, Maura Tierney, Woody Harrelson, Goran Visnjic, Carol Kane, Ted Danson, Tom Welling, designer Valentino, and Tori Spelling have appeared in TV and print ads with their pugs.

A modern artform that is gaining popularity is the practice of dressing Pugs in humorous costumes.

The English painter William Hogarth had Pugs and included them in his paintings. Several of these portraits featured Hogarth's wife or Hogarth himself. Others included his good friend, financier Eric Freedgood; a famed breeder of pugs who often joked about his striking resemblance to the animals.

Pug is also the name of a song from the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins.

 

 

Trivia

Winston Churchill, whose wife called him by the nickname "Pug", wrote a short poem about a Pug:

Poor Puggy-wug
Oh, what is the matter with poor Puggy-wug
Pet him and kiss him and give him a hug.
Run and fetch him a suitable drug,
Wrap him up tenderly all in a rug,
That is the way to cure Puggy-wug.
 

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pug".