264 Modern Dogs. 



than one of them was addicted to either of these un- 

 pleasant habits. All were lively and tractable, and 

 if not actually as intelligent as a highly-trained 

 poodle, one pug I knew was quite accomplished in 

 many little tricks he used to perform. No doubt 

 had a professional trainer taken this little dog in 

 hand it would have been able to earn more than its 

 own living on the stage. Again, a pug can remain 

 sweet and healthy on less open-air exercise than any 

 other dog, and two of them will play about the 

 dining room or nursery and amuse themselves as 

 much as two terriers would by a scamper in the 

 green fields. 



The pug is not a hunting dog, except so far as 

 tracking the footsteps of his fair mistress is con- 

 cerned, but he has been known to take to the 

 unladylike occupation of killing rats, which he has 

 done as well as a terrier. Still, it is no part of the 

 duties of a lady's lap-dog to soil his pretty mouth 

 by contact with the most obnoxious of creatures, 

 because we all know that perhaps the next minute 

 he may be fondled and caressed by his owner. 

 Although I have said a pug dog can do with com- 

 paratively little out-door exercise, still, he is better 

 for as much as he can be given, for no dog has a 

 greater tendency to put on fat, and reach a state of 

 obesity, than the one of which I write. Whoever 



