The Pug. 263 



with one exception ever since, the pug club has 

 had a show of its own, though sometimes it has 

 taken place in amalgamation with that of other Toy 

 Dogs and Toy Spaniels. In 1886 classes were 

 provided for dogs under and over i81b. weight each, 

 and for bitches under and over islb., but at the 

 more recent gatherings the restriction as to size is 

 dogs, I5lb. weight, and bitches I4lb. weight, thus 

 completely ousting the bigger animals, which are 

 certainly out of place as pugs, for there is no 

 elegance in a large-sized specimen of this variety. 

 In 1887 Mr. H. G. Foster's Comedy, known as the 

 immense Comedy, which weighed probably 24lb., 

 was given the first prize at the National Show at 

 Birmingham. 



I think a pretty good idea of what a pug should be, 

 is given in the drawing by Mr. Wardle which pre- 

 cedes this chapter. As a companion in the house, 

 and for an occasional run into the country, no dog is 

 better fitted than the pug. He is cleanly in his 

 habits, has a pretty, soft coat, and nice skin ; no 

 foul smell hangs about him, and he is gentleness 

 itself. He shows no ill-temper or moppishness, and 

 the objectionable lolling out of the tongue and 

 unpleasant snorting, which at one time were so 

 common in this variety, is quickly disappearing. Of 

 several pugs that I have owned or known, not more 



