Pugmania Fashion or Fraud?
PUGMANIA! You can't seem to pick up a magazine or newspaper nowadays without seeing a celebrity carrying their Pug dog. Jonathon Ross has a Pug called Mr Pickles who is enormously fat and sleeps in his bedroom, Kelly Osbourne is often pictured with her Pug who wears designer jackets and gets carried around in Kelly's handbag, Jessica Alba has two, called Sid and Nancy and Mickey Rourke has one called Raphael who he spoils like a child.
There's no doubt that they are increasing in popularity, but have they always been a popular breed?
Dating back to the Shang Dynasty (before 400 BC) they were bred for Chinese Emperors, lived in the lap of luxury and had armed guards to watch over them day and night.
William of Orange is reported to have introduced the first Pug to Britain more than 300 years ago and it would seem this breed has been the favourite of many members of the Royal Family ever since.
Queen Victoria actually bred pugs and kept 36 of them, but it was the Duke and Duchess of Windsor who seemed to take Pugmania to a new level, owning dozens of them back in the fifties and sixties. They drank from silver bowls, wore silver collars and had special monogrammed bedding and cushions.
When the Duke died in May 1972, his Pug, James, was said to have pined until he died of a broken heart. Later, when the Duchess suffered a bad fall, it was one of her beloved Pugs who alerted the servants to her plight.
Unfortunately, because Pugs are one of the most inbred of all dog breeds (all of Britain's 10,000+ Pugs are descended from just 50 animals), they are prone to many health issues.
Because they are a short snouted breed, Pugs have an elongated palate. This makes them susceptible to 'reverse sneezing' where the dog snorts and gasps when they are excited. A dog's nose it used to assist with breathing and to help regulate temperature, so their short snout means that Pugs find it hard to control their temperature and can easily overheat.
Pugs are one of several breeds that can suffer from Demodectic mange, also known as Demodex. This is caused by a weakened immune system and can result in the Pug catching diseases more easily than other dogs. Other problems are caused by their large amount of skin folds and owners should make sure that the creases are kept clean to avoid irritation and infection.
Pugs can also suffer with chronic stomach problems, hip dysplasia, collapsed larynxes, dislocated knees, curvature of the spine, obesity and problems caused by their protruding eyes (often becoming ulcerated due to scratches).
Having said all this, Pugs are very friendly and outgoing, fiercely loyal, protective and, some may say, very cute! They are known to be confident, show no aggression and give heaps of love to their owners.
