Is my dog a Pug? Face, ears and tail
A Pug is round-headed, wrinkled and square-bodied, and it is often confused with Frenchies and Puggles. Upload a photo for a free comparison with 357 breeds; the details below show what to check.
Also known as: Mops, Carlin
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About the Pug
The Pug is one of the oldest companion breeds, kept by Chinese emperors long before Dutch traders brought it to Europe, where it became a favourite of the House of Orange. Its motto, ‘multum in parvo’ (a lot in a little), fits: a sturdy, charming dog that loves people, follows its family from room to room and rarely shows aggression. Pugs are playful but not built for long or hard exercise. FCI places them with companion dogs in group 9; AKC and KC list them in the Toy group. The short face shapes daily care, from breathing to heat.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Small
- Adult weight
- 6–8 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–15 years
- Exercise
- Low
How to recognise a Pug
- Large, round head with deep, clearly defined wrinkles on the forehead and a fold over the short, flat muzzle.
- Fawn coat, from apricot to silver, with a black mask and ears, or solid black. The hair is short, fine and smooth, and sheds a lot.
- Small, thin, velvety ears: rose (folded back) or button (folded forward, tips against the head). The standard prefers button ears.
- Tail curled tightly over the hip, and a double curl is prized. A straight tail is unusual in a pure Pug.
- Large, dark, round and prominent eyes with a soft expression.
- Square, cobby body with a wide chest; fawn Pugs sometimes show a dark line along the spine, called the trace.
Photo tip. Show the whole head with the ears relaxed and, if you can, the tail. Folded ears, a black mask and a tight curl distinguish a Pug from a French Bulldog.
Pug or look-alike?
French Bulldog
A French Bulldog has large upright bat ears, a short tail carried low and usually a brindle or fawn coat without a defined black mask. A Pug’s ears fold and its tail curls.
Puggle
A Puggle has a longer muzzle, fewer wrinkles, longer drop ears and a leggier frame from its Beagle parent. The tail may curl, but more loosely than a Pug’s.
Petit Brabançon
The smooth-coated Brussels Griffon is smaller and lighter, with an upturned chin, a stronger underbite and a straight tail. It lacks the Pug’s heavy forehead wrinkles.
Pug mixes
Pug crosses include the Puggle (with a Beagle), the Chug (with a Chihuahua), the Frug (with a French Bulldog) and Pug–Jack Russell mixes. The black mask, the curled tail and the wrinkled forehead tend to show through, while a longer muzzle usually comes from the other parent. The identifier lists the closest pure breeds, so a Puggle normally comes back as Pug with Beagle; a DNA test gives the percentages.
Health and care
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS) is known in the breed. Snoring, noisy breathing at rest or tiring quickly are worth discussing with your vet; ask breeders for the parents’ respiratory function grades.
- Pugs cope poorly with heat. Walk early or late on warm days, keep a cool spot indoors and save hard play for cooler weather.
- Prominent eyes scratch easily, and the facial folds need regular, gentle cleaning. Ask breeders for an eye examination and the PDE (Pug Dog Encephalitis) DNA test.
- Pugs gain weight easily, and extra weight makes breathing harder. Measure meals, count treats and use a slow-feeder bowl for fast eaters. Hip and patella screening are worth asking about too.