PUG – BREED STANDARD
GENERAL IMPRESSION
The Pug is square, cobby, and well-balanced. Lean, leggy Pugs or dogs with short legs and long bodies are undesirable.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
Compact, well-knit, and muscular, showing strength and substance in a small frame. Weight: 14–18 lbs (dog or bitch) desirable. Proportion: square.
HEAD
• Large, massive, round; skull without indentation; not apple-headed.
• Eyes: dark, large, bold, prominent, globular, expressive, and lustrous.
• Ears: small, thin, soft (“black velvet”), either rose or button; preference for button.
• Wrinkles: large and deep.
• Muzzle: short, blunt, square, not upfaced.
• Bite: very slightly undershot.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
• Neck: slightly arched, strong, and thick, with enough length to carry the head proudly.
• Topline: short, level from withers to high tail set.
• Body: short, cobby, wide chest, well-ribbed.
• Tail: tightly curled over the hip; double curl preferred.
FOREQUARTERS
• Legs: strong, straight, moderate length, set well under the body.
• Elbows: directly under withers.
• Shoulders: moderately laid back.
• Pasterns: strong, neither steep nor down.
• Feet: well split toes, black nails; neither hare- nor cat-footed. Dewclaws generally removed.
HINDQUARTERS
• Strong, powerful, with moderate bend of stifle; hocks short and perpendicular.
• Legs parallel when viewed from behind; balanced with forequarters.
• Thighs and buttocks: full and muscular.
• Feet same as forequarters.
COAT
• Fine, smooth, soft, short, and glossy; neither hard nor woolly.
COLOR
• Acceptable colors: fawn or black.
• Markings: mask, ears, moles on cheeks, thumb mark/diamond on forehead, and back trace should be black and well-defined.
MOVEMENT
The Pug moves with strength, balance, and self-assurance.
• Forelegs: Carried well forward, landing squarely with central toes straight ahead.
• Hind legs: Strong and free through hocks and stifles, aligned with the forelegs, with slight natural convergence acceptable.
• Slight roll of the hindquarters may be present. Overall gait should be jaunty, free, and self-assured.
TEMPERAMENT
• Even-tempered, stable, playful, charming, dignified, outgoing, and loving.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
• Any color other than fawn or black.
