| Pug | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| General information | |||
| Universe | Real Life | ||
| Classification | Canis familiaris | ||
| Homeworld | Earth | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Distinctive features | Short snout, small body, flabby skin | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Ancestor(s) | Dog | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Leaders | Humans | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Earth | ||
| Domain | Eukarya | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Phylum | Chordata | ||
| Subphylum | Vertebrata | ||
| Superclass | Tetrapoda | ||
| Class | Mammalia | ||
| Subclass | Theria | ||
| Infraclass | Placentalia | ||
| Superorder | Laurasiatheria | ||
| Order | Carnivora | ||
| Suborder | Caniformia | ||
| Family | Canidae | ||
| Genus | Canis | ||
| Species | C. familiaris | ||
| Infraspecies | C. l. f. simum | ||
| Race | Pug | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Domesticated Least Concern | ||
Pugs are a breed of dog native to planet Earth. They have short muzzles due to selective breeding by those lowly Earth creatures called "humans".
Defects[]
These poor beasts suffer breathing problems, all due to their owners' vanity. Apparently finding these deformities "cute"!
However, the actual reason behind the pug's (Chinese name: 哈巴狗) face and body is due to selective breeding, particularly in China. People would breed this dog to retain infant-like features, however it was also believed that dogs with shorter snouts had stronger jaws, and pugs were likely bred to have an advantage in hunting this way.
People aren't all to blame though. Genes have also had plenty to do with pugs. The most recently found gene mutation that affects many short-faced dogs is the SMOC2 gene, a gene in many short-faced dogs such as the Bulldog. The gene mutation suppresses the SMOC2 gene, a gene known to aid in normal facial development. The actual SMOC2 gene helps cells stick together and multiply. When comparing dogs with longer, more normal snouts to the pug, it is found that pugs have a suppressing mutation for the gene, a mutation many, if not all, long-snouted dogs no not have.
And it's always been this way. Dating back to China, where pugs originate, they were depicted as the short, toy-sized, baby-faced dog. In reality, pugs, unlike the British hunting dogs or the roman canis, pugs were always made to be a companionship dog. It's evolutionary traits and its oh so regal behaviour lines up too. Pugs never want to exercise, and would rather be the only pet. And it should be noted that pugs were pets for the wealthy.
Still, pugs weren't always built like this. Before selective breeding really started to occur, they had less fat. But they were still small, and still had a mutation affecting the SMOC2 gene.
All in all, you can still blame the people for messing up the pug, but there are still a number of other factors that go unnoticed in the eye of the majority.