Pug history: from Chinese imperial courts to European royalty

Part 1

Where pugs first appear in the record

Pugs are an ancient breed, and most historians trace their origins to China, where they served as companions for the wealthy as far back as 400 B.C. Some accounts push the breed's roots even earlier, to around 700 B.C. during the time of Confucius, when the dogs were known as lo-sze. In China, an emperor of the Han dynasty is said to have brought pugs as tribute, and the Ming dynasty court also kept them as pets.

Tibetan Buddhist monks kept pugs in their monasteries, and Chinese emperors and their families kept them too. Only members of the imperial household were allowed to own these small-nosed dogs, and female pugs were said to hold the same rank as the emperor's wives. Breeders in China are said to have selected dogs for round heads, short snouts, and large eyes.

The pug's job in China was simply to be a companion. Some pugs even had guards and servants of their own to protect and care for them. If you have ever spoiled your own pug, this pampered history will sound familiar.

Part 2

How pugs reached Europe

Pugs reached Europe through trade, arriving in Holland with the help of the Dutch East India Company. From the Netherlands, the breed also spread to England and beyond. Once in Europe, pugs quickly became fashionable among aristocrats and royalty, who saw them as a symbol of high status.

William the Silent, Prince of Orange, had a dog named Pompey. According to the story, assassins crept toward the sleeping prince's tent one night in 1572, and Pompey barked, scratched, and finally jumped on his master's face to wake him in time. Different tellings place the event near Hermigny in France or during a siege of the period, and there is disagreement about whether Pompey was truly a pug or another small breed such as a Kooikerhondje. After this, the pug became known as the official dog of the House of Orange, and an effigy of William with his dog at his feet was carved on his tomb in Delft. When William III later became king of England alongside Mary II, their pugs reportedly wore ribbons to the coronation. If your own dog has ever woken you from a bad dream, you can appreciate why Pompey's story stuck.

Part 3

Pugs and royal courts across Europe

Catherine the Great's court and Napoleon's wife

The aunt of Catherine the Great kept pugs and even took them to church with her. Napoleon's wife, Josephine, had a pug named Fortune, who reportedly bit Napoleon on their wedding night.

Queen Victoria's fondness for the breed

Queen Victoria loved pugs. She is said to have kept as many as 36 pugs during her reign, with names such as Minka, Venus, Fatima, Olga, and Pedro. Her enthusiasm for the breed is credited with helping establish the Kennel Club in 1873.

Pugs in royal portraits and court fashion

Because of their place at court, pugs were painted by well-known artists of the period, including Goya, William Hogarth, and Reinagle.

Part 4

The breed club era and the modern pug's face

Queen Victoria's interest in breeding pugs is credited with helping establish the Kennel Club in 1873. The American Kennel Club recognized the pug in 1885. Pugs are a brachycephalic breed, meaning their short, flat noses can make breathing harder, especially in heat. Pugs can have breathing problems, especially in hot weather.

Part 5

What the name and nicknames tell us

The most popular theory is that the name pug comes from marmoset monkeys, which were also called pug monkeys and were popular pets in the early 1700s. Another theory traces the name to the Latin word pugnus, meaning fist. In the Netherlands, pugs were known as Mopshond, from a Dutch word meaning to grumble, which fits the breed's snuffling and talking sounds. In China, the breed was once called lo-sze, and in Japan pugs later became known as Pagu. If you have ever heard your own pug grumble, you know exactly what the Dutch name is getting at.

Part 6

Pugs in art and popular culture

In 1740, a group of Roman Catholics formed a secret society called the Order of the Pug, using the dog as their symbol because pugs were seen as loyal and trustworthy. Members reportedly had to wear a dog collar and scratch at the door to be initiated. The author Harriet Beecher Stowe later kept two pugs named Punch and Missy, and more recently the designer Valentino owned a pug named Oliver, after whom he named a clothing line. You do not need a secret society to enjoy your own pug's company, but it shows how far their popularity has traveled.