Читать книгу Pug - Juliette Cunliffe - Страница 16

Pugs are found in silver, apricot-fawn and black, although presently silvers are few and far between. Although not mentioned in the breed standard, apricot-fawn and silver Pugs have a double coat, which consists of an outer weatherresistant coat and a softer, insulating undercoat. Black Pugs have a single coat.

Colors are clearly defined and should have a black line extending from the back of the head along the top of the back to the twist of the tail, called a trace. The mask (or muzzle) should be as black as possible, as should the ears, moles on cheeks and the diamond or “thumb mark” on the dog’s forehead.

Many breeders consider the overall quality of today’s black Pugs to be not as good as once it was. However, there is still a handful of top-quality black specimens that are well capable of holding their own with the best, comparing favorably with those of years gone by. Unfortunately, today there are only very few breeders currently specializing in blacks. It is hard to breed good blacks, for the coat should be jet black and no other markings should be visible. Because of the color, the desired wrinkles on the head need to be deep and clear in order to be seen.

The Pug’s coat is easy to maintain, for it is fine, smooth and soft. This is a short, glossy coat that should be neither harsh to the touch nor woolly. Pugs’ coats do shed to a certain extent, though not so much as those of many other breeds. People with sensitive allergies ought to check before buying a Pug that the coat does not affect them. You must always keep foremost in mind that a dog should remain with you for life, so you must be certain that you are making a well-informed decision before deciding upon a particular breed.

On the subject of allergies, some Pugs themselves suffer from flea allergies, so it is extraimportant to keep your Pug free from parasites.

Because of the wrinkling on the head of the Pug, special care needs to be taken to keep this area clean, so as to avoid any build-up that can cause irritation to the skin.

WHAT A CHARMING SIGHT!

Years ago in Italy the Pug could be seen wearing strikingly colorful and well-cut jackets, often with pants. Soon the breed came to be looked upon contemptuously, although looking back today you can imagine what a charming sight these colorful little canines made!