According to Pai, Hodge was one of six pugs that were exhibited at the Botanic Dog Show in 1897.
Hodge was the great-grandson of a Pekingese that was crossed into pugs to “improve” the head and reduce inbreeding problems that were becoming more and more common in British pugs.
So pugs did receive some more blood from East. In addition to black pugs from China, they also received a bit of peke blood.
However, there probably wasn’t a lot of pekingese blood in pugs, for pugs are more closely related to Brussels griffons than they are to pekes.
Now that is Pug my Dad likely loved. Dad told of an experience as a small child. He found himself faced with a large breeding bull speeding towards him. The family pug jumped to take a grip on the bull nose. The bull swinging his head to free the Pug gave him the needed time to roll under the fenching. He said once the Pug recognize he was safe let go of his grip. My Dad said the Bull tossed the little guy quite far, but the dog landed unharmed.
I look at these Pugs today, and say…NO Way Dad.
The date 1897 likely correlates to my Dad’s age in the early 1900’s? Dad called the Pug the little dog with a Big Heart.
Agree with you countrymae. A lady in our village bought her daughter a pug and they seem to think the noise made when the poor dog struggles to breathe is almost funny. As the pug gets older and is becoming fat the condition seems to be getting worse. Yet this is a popular choice of breed. In Britain our Kennel Club has begun to discourage cruel designs through disqualifications at major shows, but immediately an orgainsation has been set up reacting to it on behalf of those who stand to lose financially and in terms of prestige. So far the Kennel Club is standing its ground with support from the public.
Pugs are usually such nice little fellas, too. What a shame it is that they are deliberately bred to live a life of smothering misery!