Pugs are an ancient breed. They were introduced to Europe in the Renaissance, but they have an even longer history in China.
That being said, some of their more intense issues are recent. Official dog breed standards in the 20th century caused the pug (or rather, people breeding pugs) to develop heavier wrinkles, stockier bodies, and larger heads, all of which have contributed to poor pug health. In the modern day, there are two different movements (one seeking to breed current pugs for health specifically; another seeking to crossbreed pugs with related dogs to ‘revert’ the breed standard to an earlier point as ‘retro pugs’) seeking healthier pugs as the seriousness of these issues has begun to overtake the importance of arbitrary breed standards.
Didn’t know their history went back so far, but I’m happy to hear that a) pugs didn’t always suffer from their build and b) some people are trying to give their future offspring a less painful life.
Didn’t know those dogs have been struggling with breathing for over a century already
Pugs are an ancient breed. They were introduced to Europe in the Renaissance, but they have an even longer history in China.
That being said, some of their more intense issues are recent. Official dog breed standards in the 20th century caused the pug (or rather, people breeding pugs) to develop heavier wrinkles, stockier bodies, and larger heads, all of which have contributed to poor pug health. In the modern day, there are two different movements (one seeking to breed current pugs for health specifically; another seeking to crossbreed pugs with related dogs to ‘revert’ the breed standard to an earlier point as ‘retro pugs’) seeking healthier pugs as the seriousness of these issues has begun to overtake the importance of arbitrary breed standards.
Didn’t know their history went back so far, but I’m happy to hear that a) pugs didn’t always suffer from their build and b) some people are trying to give their future offspring a less painful life.
Behold! The path to a healthier puggo!
He sure is cute