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This article is about the dog breed. "Pug" can also refer to several species of moth or a shunting locomotive (UK).
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The Pug is a small but robust dog about 25 - 28 cm tall and with an average weight of 15 to 25 lb (7 to 11 kg). They are said to have been bred to be royal companions. The Pug is a very sociable dog. They are extremely smart and quite stubborn. Their appearance is characterized by a flat, wrinkled face, compact body, and curled tail. Pugs have three color variations: fawn with a black mask and ears, entirely black, or (much less commonly) silver. The pug is popular as a housepet, as it requires little exercise and is easy to groom. They are also compatible with most children and other animals.
Because they have extremely short snouts, some pugs easily scratch their corneas, and can develop breathing problems. They are also prone to skin infections if the crevices in their face are not kept clean. Pugs can also suffer from a fatal disease specific to their breed called (PDE), which is a chronic form of Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis (GME) (inflammation of the brain). PDE is an inherited disease in pugs. The disease progresses rapidly, and there is currently no known cause or cure.
Josephine Bonaparte had a pug (whom met a rather unfortunate end with the chef's bulldog). The dog's name was Fortune and was used by Josephine to send Napoleon secret messages.
A pug appeared in the popular movie Men in Black. Celebrities such as Maura Tierney and Carol Kane have appeared in TV and print ads with their pugs. A pug was also one of the stars of the movie Milo and Otis.
Winston Churchill, whose wife called him by the nickname "Pug", wrote a short poem about a Pug: