The Pug. 265 



saw a pug dog thin and gaunt, with its ribs and back- 

 bone almost sticking through the skin? He always 

 looks smooth, contented, and comfortable, eats well, 

 and he should have as little meat and fat-producing 

 food as possible. Some writers have given him the 

 reputation of stupidity, but I do not believe him deserv- 

 ing of such an epithet. In the house and out of doors 

 he is as sensible as any other dog, follows well in a 

 crowd when properly trained, and is no more liable 

 to lose himself than an ordinary terrier. Some 

 friends of mine had what they called a pug, but she 

 was not more than half or three-parts pure bred, 

 who was particularly sensible. She would retrieve, 

 kill rats, was fond of the gun, and liked a ride on the 

 'bus or tramcar so well that she continually would 

 take one on her own account, which the kindly 

 conductor allowed her to have gratuitously, the 

 conditions of the " tram " company notwithstanding. 

 This dog had the curly tail, fawn colour, and general 

 appearance of a pure-bred animal, excepting that she 

 was rather long in face. She lived to a great age, 

 but as a rule the pug is not the longest lived of the 

 canine race. 



For a long time there was a fallacy abroad that 

 the sex of the pug could be determined by the 

 carriage and curl of the tail, the dog having his over 

 on the right side and the bitch on the left. As a 



