My neighbors have an 8-week-old pug puppy that is perhaps the cutest creature who has ever graced this Earth. Right now its head is a bit too big for its body, so as it toddles around the yard it usually tips over, and then just starts chewing on whatever is in the immediate vicinity of where its mouth landed. Oh, and its name is BELUSHI. Seriously, I can’t even handle how cute this dog is. Whenever I see it come out in the yard I just stare at it moaning like Tina from “Bob’s Burgers” until my boyfriend is like, “Seriously, you have to stop doing that.” I wouldn’t be surprised if this dog takes out a restraining order against me at some point.
My love for Belushi made me want to write something pug-related, and I was reading up about these little dogs I thought, Hey, why not a list of fun pug facts?! Because sometimes I like to pretend I write for Highlights magazine instead of The Frisky. Ready for a pug fact party? Here we go!
1. The pug’s lineage can be traced all the way back to 400 BC in China, where they were the preferred breed of Tibetan monks. Holy dogs? Yes, indeed.
2. While we can’t be 100% sure of the reasons behind ancient dog breeding practices, it is widely believed that the pug’s signature wrinkles were valued because the extra flaps of skin formed the shapes of Chinese characters.
3. A pug has only won Best In Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show once in the contest’s 107-year history (what a crime!). In 1981 a pug named Dhandys Favorite Woodchuck finally took home top honors and broke the breed’s long losing streak.
4. Due to their short legs and trouble with breathing, pugs are not usually good swimmers, although there are always exceptions to that rule.
5. In Germany, pugs are called mops!
6. Marie Antoinette had a pug named — you guessed it — Mops that she had to leave behind when she entered France to marry Louis XVI at age 15.
7. The latin phrase “”multum in parvo” is often used to describe pugs. It means “A lot of dog in a small space.”
8. While they’re not big barkers, pugs have shown a propensity for singing and vocal tricks. For example, here is a video of a pug singing the theme from “Batman”:
9. Unlike the more energetic members of their species, pugs sleep an average of 14 hours a day, and any pug owner can tell you it can be quite a feat to get a comfy pug off the couch.
10. A group of pugs is called a grumble. Let me just say that again: A GRUMBLE OF PUGS. Cutest fact of all time? I think so.
P.S. If you’re interested in getting a pug, or any kind of dog for that matter, please consider adopting from a rescue group instead of buying from a breeder!
Original by Winona Dimeo-Ediger
