Everyone loves Pugs and this is why so many people get new puppies every year. Many people have seen Brindle Pugs in recent years and want them.
This has had breeders creating more of them by cross-breeding with other types of dogs to bring more genes into their lines that will produce brindle coat variations in their puppies.
This is leading to some Pugs that are not 100% Pug, even though they appear to be totally Pug. These have now been classified into different categories so that you can understand more about what you are getting.
Classifications of Brindle Pugs
The truth of the matter is that very little is known about the ancestry of the Pug. This is a breed that originated in the Orient and very little is known about how they came into existence.
The origin of the Brindle Pug is even more of a mystery because when they are tested, very few are actually 100% Pug. Still, some of them, in rare cases, are. This leads us to wonder if Brindle was an original coat pattern for this breed or not.
It may be possible that some of them were around when the breed’s origins were being solidified at some point in ancient history, but it is also possible that they were rare at that point too.
If this was the case, as people wanted more of them, could other breeds that carried the genes for brindle coats have been bred into the gene pool of the Pug?
• 100% Brindle Pugs – These have been found, using genetic testing. They are not that common but they really do exist. It is thought that the gene that introduced this coat pattern into their gene pool may have introduced as far as 30 generations ago, but no one really knows.
There are arguments that the brindle gene in the Pug’s history is passed as a recessive gene, while others point out that brindle is known as a dominant genetic trait in most breeds.
This causes there to be a great deal of doubt as to the history of the coat in the Pugs who do test at 100%.
• 50% Brindle Pugs – This is applied to any Pug that is not tested at 100%. Virtually all pugs test out into this particular category.
They are the common Brindle Pug. What does this mean? They are likely Brindle due to a gene that was introduced to their gene pool at some point that would create more Brindle-coated in their lineage.
French Bulldogs and Chihuahua, who both carry the Brindle genes, are most likely the crosses that were made in the history of these dogs.
All of this conversation leads us to a crossroads and an argument among Pug breeders. Most do not recommend that you acquire one of the 50% Brindle Pugs because they do not consider them to be true Pugs – and technically this is true.
They argue that this will, in time, change the Pug from the true genetics of his breed as they appear to us today. In time, their temperament could change, as well as their physical appearance.
These changes are typically subtle. To understand this, one only needs to look closely at the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) bred in America and then compare it to the true, original photos of the German Shepherd Dog that originated in Germany.
They look very different, though the changes were subtle, over many generations.
What Does All This Mean To Pet Owners?
Likely, if you are only seeking a pet, it simply doesn’t matter to you. If you are not going to breed your dog and have them spayed or neutered, You may actually be doing a service to the breed by ensuring that one of the 50% Pugs is not further bred.
When it comes to personality, it is likely that this dog will still mostly be like any other Pug because the length of time they’ve been bred hasn’t been long enough to make dramatic changes, yet.
That said, it is becoming more possible to come across the rare Brindle Pug that has some bad personality traits, such as aggression and barking. These are not Pug traits and are definitely from introducing other genes into their gene pool.
This is how many breeds of dogs get ruined in time and this is why the breeders of Pugs don’t recommend that you choose a 50% Pug or that they are bred.
Which Should You Get?
The only way to be totally sure that you are getting a Pug personality and health history is to go with a 100% Brindle Pug and the only way to know this is to know the family history and genetics. Good breeders have done this for you. That means you must purchase from a reputable
Pugs that are not 100% may have more health issues and cost you more money in the long run. Take this into consideration.
You’ve got to understand that if you get a dog of any breed, that isn’t true to his breed 100%, then there is no guarantee that the dog will behave in any particular way or that they won’t have a tendency toward any health issues.
The same is true for 50% Brindle Pugs. You could potentially end-up with any type of dog, medically and behaviorally. If money is of no concern, then definitely go ahead and get one because they need homes too!
We only want you to take into consideration that there may additional costs, over and above those of normal puppies and dogs as they age.
Do all of the normal things that you should do when seeking a new puppy. Check out the breeder carefully and ask for references.
Meet them and see the parents of the puppies. Take note of the records they keep, the cleanliness of the puppies and their environment and whether the breed has done proper genetics testing and pedigree of their breeding pair.
These things, and being armed with information, can help you make the best choices when it comes to choosing the perfect puppy for you.
“No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.” – Christopher Morley
