General Appearance

Symmetry and general appearance; decidedly square and cobby. A lean, leggy Pug and a dog with short legs and a long body are equally objectionable.

 

Size, Proportion, Substance

The Pug should be Multum in Parvo (much in little) and should be shown by compactness of form, well-knit proportions, and hardness of developed muscle. Weight from 14-18 lbs. (6.3-8.1 kgs) dog or bitch desirable. Proportion: square.

 

Head

The head is large, massive, round - not apple-headed, with no indentation of the skull. The eyes are dark in colour, very large, bold and prominent, globular in shape, soft and solicitous in expression, very lustrous, and when excited, full of fire. The ears are thin, small, and soft, like black velvet. There are two kinds - the rose ear and the button ear. Preference is given to the latter. The wrinkles are large and deep. The muzzle is short, blunt, square, but not upfaced.

 

Bite

A Pugs bite should be very slightly undershot. Both front rows of teeth should be straight between the canines.

 

Neck, Topline, Body

The neck is slightly arched. It is strong, thick, and with enough length to carry the head proudly. The short back is level from the withers to the high tail set. The body is short and cobby, wide in chest and well ribbed up. The tail is curled as tightly as possible over the hip. The double curl is perfection.

 

Forequarters

The legs are very strong, straight, of moderate length, and are set well under. The elbows should be directly under the withers when viewed from the side. The shoulders are moderately laid back. The pasterns are strong, neither steep nor down. The feet are neither so long as the foot of the hare, nor so round as that of the cat; well split-up toes, and the nails black. Dewclaws are generally removed.

 

Hindquarters

The strong, powerful hindquarters have a moderate bend of stifle and short hocks perpendicular to the ground. The legs are parallel when viewed from behind. Hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. Thighs and buttocks are full and muscular.

 

Coat

the coat is fine, smooth, soft, short and glossy, neither hard nor woolly.

 

Colour

The colours are Silver, Fawn, Apricot or black. The silver fawn or apricot fawn colours should be decided so as to make the contrast complete between the colour and the trace and the mask. Black to be glossy jet black.MarkingsThe markings are clearly defined. The muzzle or mask, ears, moles on cheeks, thumb mark or diamond on forehead, and the back trace should be as black as possible. The mask should be black. The more intense and well defined it is the better. The trace is a black line extending from the occiput to the tail.

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I have added the illustation below so that pug fanciers are able to get a good visual of the purebred pug breed standard colours. Some people may have or may know people that have and love their pug look-alike as much as we love our purebred pugs. This post is not meant to judge their choices, I am sure their dogs are also very endearing. This is meant to educate people on actual purebred pug colours. It has been genetically proven that a pug that is not fawn or black cannot be a purebred pug. Fad colouring comes from cross-breeding our purebred pugs with other breeds.

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Gait

Viewed from the front, the forelegs should be carried well forward showing no weakness in the pasterns, the paws landing squarely with the central toes straight ahead. The rear action should be strong and free through hocks and stifles, with no twisting or turning in or out at the joints. The hind legs should follow in line with the front. There is a slight natural convergence of the limbs both fore and aft. A slight roll of the hindquarters typifies the gait which should be free, self-assured, and jaunty.

 

Temperament

Even-tempered, exhibiting stability, playfulness, great charm, dignity, and an outgoing, loving disposition.

 

Disqualifications

Wry mouth, teeth or tongue showing, white anywhere but the chest…the white on the chest not to be larger than a dime.

 

 

Scale of Points

The Scale of Points is useful for both the breeder and the judge to evaluate the various aspects of the Pug (conformation). It should not be used in a literal or mathematicla manner to consider individual parts above the dog's overall quality. Balance, condition, and zest all contribute to make the Pug far more than merely the sum of his parts.

 

                          Fawn              Black

 

Symmetry                      10                     10

 

Size                             5                     10

 

Condition                        5                      5

 

Body                             10                     10

 

Legs and feet                   5                       5

 

Head                            5                       5

 

Muzzle                           10                     10

 

Ears                              5                       5

 

Eyes                            10                     10

 

Mask                            5                     ---

 

Wrinkles                         5                      5

 

Tail                             10                     10

 

Trace                             5                     ---

 

Coat                             5                       5

 

Colour                           5                      10

 

TOTAL                        100                    100                

 

 

 

To view illustrated standards, go to: 

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