Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Pug is one of the oldest decorative breeds, originating in China. For centuries, these small yet sturdy dogs were kept at imperial courts and in Buddhist monasteries, where they were considered symbols of status, good fortune, and loyalty. It is believed that Pugs accompanied emperors in palaces and on journeys, were often depicted in art, and were regarded as sacred. In the 16th century the breed was brought to Europe by Dutch merchants, where it quickly gained popularity. In the Netherlands the Pug became a symbol of the House of Orange, and in subsequent centuries it spread widely in England, France, and other countries. The modern breed type was established in the 19th–20th centuries in Great Britain. Today the Pug is recognized worldwide as a decorative companion dog.
General Appearance
The Pug is a small, square-format dog with a compact, sturdy body and powerful bone. Its appearance combines strength and elegance. The head is large and round with pronounced symmetrical wrinkles; the muzzle is short, broad, and blunt. The eyes are large, expressive, slightly prominent but not excessive. The ears are small, thin, soft, in two types—“rose” and “button.” The neck is short and strong, smoothly joining the head to the body. The chest is broad and deep, the back straight and strong, the loin short. The limbs are straight, the feet compact. The tail is set high, tightly curled into a ring or double ring over the back. The coat is short, smooth, glossy. The overall impression is one of energy, balance, and clear breed type.
Important Proportions
The Pug’s format is square, meaning equality of body length and height at the withers. The head is large but proportional to the body; its width emphasizes the breed type. The muzzle is short and broad, occupying about one third of the head’s length. The jaws are strong; the lower jaw slightly protrudes, which gives the muzzle squareness. The chest is broad and deep, reaching the elbows; ribs rounded and well sprung. The back is straight and firm; the loin short and muscular. The tail is set high, curled in a tight ring; a double ring is considered ideal. The limbs are straight; the bone is powerful; the musculature is developed; the angles of the joints are correctly expressed. All proportions create an impression of strength, harmony, and compactness while preserving elegance and breed expression.
Behavior and Temperament
The Pug is distinguished by a balanced, good-natured, and loyal character. It is a cheerful, sociable companion dog that seeks constant contact with humans. Devoted to the family, affectionate, fond of attention and play, it easily finds common ground with children and other animals. Despite its small size, the Pug is brave and can perform watchdog functions, alerting owners with a ringing bark. It is intelligent, has good memory, but can be stubborn at times, which requires gentle and consistent training. Aggression and excessive timidity are uncharacteristic for the breed. In everyday life the Pug is calm, adapts well to apartment living, and is playful and joyful. Its temperament combines cheerfulness and serenity, making the breed an excellent companion.
Head
The Pug’s head is large, round, with a broad forehead and symmetrical skin folds. It must not be elongated or apple-shaped. The skull is broad, proportional to the body, without excessive massiveness. The expression is kind, intelligent, and attentive, underscoring the breed’s character. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance.
Foreface
The muzzle is short, blunt, broad, and square. The jaws are strong; the lower slightly protrudes, giving the muzzle a distinctive expression. The bite is level or with a slight undershot. The nose is black, broad, with large open nostrils. Lips are dry and tight. This underscores the breed type. The silhouette’s lines remain harmonious.
Eyes
The eyes are large, dark, round, slightly prominent but not excessive. Set wide and straight, giving a soft and expressive look. The whites should not be visible in normal position. The expression is friendly, lively, intelligent, with slight alertness. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance.
Ears
The ears are small, thin, velvety, lying close to the head. Two types are distinguished: “rose” and “button,” both permitted. Set high, they emphasize the head’s shape and adorn the outline. Coat on the ears is short and close-lying. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance.
Neck
The neck is short, strong, slightly arched, harmoniously connecting head and body. It is sufficiently powerful to support the large head but not heavy. The neck’s circumference corresponds to the build. The skin may have slight folds enhancing breed type. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance.
Body
The Pug’s body is square, compact, with strong bone. The back is straight, short, and strong. The loin is broad and muscular. The chest is deep and broad, reaching the elbows. The ribs are rounded and well sprung. The abdomen is slightly tucked up. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance. Proportions remain balanced.
Tail
The tail is set high, short, tightly curled into a ring over the back. A double ring is considered a sign of high quality. The tail is well visible, emphasizes the square format of the body, and completes the dog’s outline. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance. The construction appears correct and stable.
Exterior Description
Forequarters
The forequarters are straight, parallel, with strong bone. Shoulder blades are well laid back; the shoulders lie close. Forearms are straight; pasterns short and resilient. Feet are compact, round, with strong pads. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance. Proportions remain balanced.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong, muscular, and parallel. Thighs of medium length, powerful. Lower legs lean; hocks strong and well defined. Metatarsi short and straight. Feet compact, rounded, with tight toes. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance. The structure conforms to the standard.
Gait and Movement
The Pug’s gait is free, energetic, with correct coordination. The forelegs move straight forward; the hindquarters provide powerful drive. The topline remains steady in motion. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance. Proportions remain balanced.
Coat
The coat is short, smooth, soft, and glossy, lying close to the body. Undercoat is moderate. The color must be rich, even, emphasizing the breed type. This underscores the breed type. Details maintain balance. The impression is unified and expressive.
Acceptable Colors
The Pug is accepted in black, silver, apricot, and fawn. All shades must be clean, bright, and even. A black mask on the muzzle, dark ears, and distinct markings on the wrinkles are mandatory, emphasizing the breed’s expressiveness. This underscores the breed type.
Size
Height at the withers in males and females is 25–32 cm. Adult weight is 6–8 kg. Males are usually stronger and more massive; females appear more graceful and lighter. The body format is square; proportions are balanced, corresponding to the ICCF standard. This underscores the breed type.
Faults
Faults in the Pug include any deviations from the established standard that affect breed type and overall impression. These include weak bone, loose build, excessive coarseness or excessive lightness. Violations of format—an elongated or shortened body—lower the evaluation. A flat chest, insufficient depth, weak back, or excessive curvature of the topline are considered faults. Minor bite deviations, incomplete dentition, uneven pigmentation of nose or eyelids, overly light eyes, an excessively long or too short muzzle are also faults. Coat faults include softness, excessive sparsity, lack of gloss. Faults include a low or incorrect tail set, or a straight tail without curl. Pigeon-toed stance, stiffness of movement, narrow limbs, and weak angulation lower quality. All faults are assessed by degree of severity.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults in the Pug are serious deviations from the ICCF standard that exclude the dog from breeding and shows. These include manifestations of aggression or excessive shyness, indicating mental instability. Dogs with incorrect bites—overshot, undershot, jaw asymmetry, absence of multiple teeth—are disqualified. Blue eyes, complete depigmentation of the nose leather or eyelids are unacceptable. Individuals with curly or excessively harsh coat, as well as any colors other than those permitted, are disqualified. Absence of a black mask, white patches on the coat, or colors outside the palette are severe faults. Physical defects, including congenital deformities, cryptorchidism, limb deformities, paralysis, deafness, or blindness, lead to exclusion. Amputations and surgical interventions intended to conceal faults are also prohibited.
Important Notes
When evaluating the Pug under the ICCF standard, special attention is paid to its square format, harmonious build, and pronounced breed type. The head must remain large and proportional, with a short and broad muzzle. The coat must be short, smooth, glossy, well-groomed, and even in length. The color must be clean and rich; a black mask is mandatory. Any artificial interventions, including dyeing or changing coat texture, are unacceptable. In judging it is important to consider sexual dimorphism: males should appear stronger and more massive; females—more graceful and lighter. Wariness toward strangers is permissible; aggression and timidity are excluded. Movement must remain free, balanced, and energetic. The expert must consider the overall impression: harmony, strength, and elegance must be combined with a friendly character and breed expression.
Conclusion
The Pug is a unique decorative breed with a rich history and expressive appearance. It combines a compact build, square body format, large head, and characteristic wrinkled muzzle that gives the breed recognizability. The ICCF standard defines the requirements for exterior, character, and behavior that all representatives must meet. Only dogs that fully comply with the standard, without disqualifying faults, may participate in shows and breeding work. A mandatory condition for admission is the presence of official ICCF documents confirming the dog’s origin and breeding status. Only such animals have the right to represent the breed at international shows and be used in breeding. The Pug remains a companion dog combining a joyful temperament, fidelity, and an inimitable appearance that has been valued and preserved for centuries.
