Читать книгу Pug - Juliette Cunliffe - Страница 9

It is now generally accepted that the Pug originated in the Orient and eventually appeared in Europe, much resembling the breed known there today. Many people believe that the Pug descended from the mastiff breeds, with ancestors such as the fighting dogs of ancient Greece. Certainly in Europe there were some extraordinary crossmatings in years gone by—with the Bulldog, among others—but in China the aim was certainly to breed dogs as true to type as possible. It is these that formed a firm foundation for today’s Pug.

Since arriving to the West, the Pug has changed considerably in conformation. This modern Pug is posing with a Victorian plaster model that may reveal some of the Continental crosses to Bulldogs.

Like the Pug, the Shih Tzu, another Chinese breed, once found favor with royalty around the world and today is counted among the world’s most popular toy breeds.

Before reaching the West, the Pug was popular throughout Asia and it seems to have wended its way to Europe via Russia. The aunt of Russia’s Catherine the Great was reputed to have kept a score of Pugs and the same number of parrots in a single room. Perhaps equally fascinating is the picture conjured up in our minds when we learn that several of this Princess’s dogs always accompanied her to church.

The Pug has been very much connected with Holland, for it has been very popular there, though in the early years they were known as “Dutch Mastiffs.” This name may help explain the confusion that arose over the breed’s origin. Pugs from Holland were certainly destined to have a great influence on the spread of the breed throughout Europe.

The Dutch East India Company played an important role in trade with the Orient. It is clear that on many of the ships’ return journeys, both Pugs and Pekingese were brought back as precious cargo. It is a Pug that is reputed to have saved the life of William the Silent when, at Hermigny, around 1572, the Prince was under surprise attack from Spanish troops. When the Pug heard the noise of the troops he made a great noise, scratching and crying, and leapt upon the face of the Prince to awaken him. From then on, the Prince always kept such a dog, and, subsequently, Pugs were the favorite breed at the Dutch Court.

A very successful Pug from the 1930s’ dog show world of Britain was Miss F. M. Daniel’s Eng. Ch. Bouji, bred from Eng. Ch. Poufpouf.