pug

pug

pug, breed of sturdy, compact toy dog that became popular in England during the 19th cent. It stands about 11 in. (27.9 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 14 to 18 lb (6.4–8.2 kg). Its short, smooth, glossy coat is either silver or apricot fawn in color with black mask and ears. As is true of most toy dogs that have short faces and tails curled tightly over their backs, the pug probably originated in China. Traders of the Dutch East India Company brought specimens of the breed back to Holland from Southeast Asia and later introduced them into England, where they quickly became fashionable with the nobility. Today the pug is raised as a watchdog and pet. See dog.

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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Pug

 

(also Dutch pug), a breed of small dog, similar to the bulldog, of ancient origin. The pug was imported into Holland in the late 17th century from China, its native land. It was subsequently imported into England, where its present-day strains were developed. Pugs measure 25–32 cm high at the shoulder and weigh between 2.5 and 6 kg. They are stocky and cobby animals that tend to be overweight. The short hair is silver-gray or pale yellow; the muzzle, ears, and back-trace are black. Pugs are raised by dog breeders in many countries, including the USSR.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

pug

1. a small compact breed of dog with a smooth coat, lightly curled tail, and a short wrinkled nose

2. any of several small geometrid moths, mostly of the genus Eupithecia, with slim forewings held outstretched at rest

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005