300 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



is the trace, which is a line of black running along the top 

 of the back from the occiput to the tail. It is the exception 

 to find a fawn Pug with any trace at all now. The muzzle 

 should be short, blunt, but not upfaced. Most of the winning 

 Pugs of the present day are undershot at least half an inch, 

 and consequently must be upfaced. Only one champion of 

 the present day possesses a level mouth. The toe-nails 

 should be black according to the standard, but this point 

 is ignored altogether. In fact, the standard, as drawn up by 

 the Club, should be completely revised, for it is no true guide. 

 The colour, which should be either silver or apricot fawn ; 

 the markings on the head, which should show a thumb- 

 mark or diamond on the forehead, together with the orthodox 

 size, are not now taken into consideration, and the prizes are 

 given to over-sized dogs with big skulls that are patchy in 

 colour, and the charming little Pugs which were once so highly 

 prized are now the exception rather than the rule, while the 

 large, lustrous eyes, so sympathetic in their expression, are 

 seldom seen. 



The black Pug is a recent production. He was brought 

 into notice in 1886, when Lady Brassey exhibited some at the 

 Maidstone Show. By whom he was manufactured is not a 

 matter of much importance, as with the fawn Pug in existence 

 there was not much difficulty in crossing it with the shortest- 

 faced black dog of small size that could be found, and then back 

 again to the fawn, and the thing was done. Fawn and black 

 Pugs are continually being bred together, and, as a rule, if 

 judgment is used in the selection of suitable crosses, the puppies 

 are sound in colour, whether fawn or black. In every respect 

 except markings the black Pug should be built on the same 

 lines as the fawn, and be a cobby little dog with short back and 

 well-developed hind-quarters, wide in skull, with square and 

 blunt muzzle and tightly-curled tail. 



