Victorian Era Pugs: From Royal Companions to Modern Pets

Pugs history took an interesting turn during the Victorian Era. Pugs are also well known during this era because of their unique physique features, which include, but are not limited to: deep wrinkles, small frame and structure and curled tail.

Key Characteristics

Compact Size: Their small sturdy body structure ensured that they could live indoors.
Distinctive Features: Other common physical features include round heads, short muzzled faces and big round eyes.

Influence on Society

Having them in one’s possession was largely an element of prestige and many pictures as well as books illustrated that.

Living Conditions

During many occasions, the pugs lived within rich families, this reveals their dominating status. They lived in ease and comfort.

The Origin of Pugs and Their Popularity

It all started in ancient China whereby the history of pugs began, particularly in walled cities. This dogs were adored by the emperors and aristocrats of China where they were exclusively bred for companionship.

Physical Characteristics: Round faces with a flat nose, a bit curled ‘s’ tail and bulky in shape.
Cultural Significance: It was considered a lucky charm in the ancient cultures of China.

In the 16th century, pugs were brought to Europe by Dutch traders. Their twa had their royal bites like Queen Victoria who owned several of them. Thus they quickly graduated from being royal pets to today’s family furniture.

Victorian Society and the Rise of Pug Ownership

Pugs emerged as a fashionable pet among the upper class in the period of Victorian age. Queen Victoria was of no exception, as she had several numbers of pugs in her lifetime. This further spurred the fashions and trends in society.

Reasons for popularity

Royal Influence: The queen’s abuse made pugs come into fashion.
Symbol of Status: Pugs came to be associated with richness and class.
Companionship: Their loving nature made them great friends.

People went to social events with pugs adorning caps and other expensive pieces and this indicates how the pugs were regarded in the Victorian period.

Fashion Trends and Pug Accessories

During the Victorian period, the bulbus pugs were again a new bout of refinement normally flaunted in fashion wear. In affluent households, pugs were dressed with:

Velvet Collars: These had elaborately embroidered and decorated collars that incorporated gemstones.
Silk Ribbons: These would often complement the outfits of owners.

From images of the pug’s earlier times, these can be learnt:

Doilies around the neck.
Tight fitted Mini Coats

Currently, modern accessories for pugs include:

Designer Pet Clothes: Stylish pet wear as per fashion.
Special Collars: With plates and different charms.
Funky Harness / leash Combo: Cute but very functional ones.

Pugs in Victorian Art and Literature

Pugs were common in pictures and texts of the Victorian age.

Art

In Victorian age, pugs were often represented in p[paintings and belonged to aristocracy.
Pugs were also included in LEWIS’, SIR EDWIN LANDSEER sketches and portraits depicting royals.
Pug boxes and statues were an acceptable pastime for the aristocrats.

Literature

Victorian novels, included Pugs too.
Charles Dickens featured pugs in many of his writings.
Many Victorian stories featured Pugs as symbols of devotion and fidelity.

“It was customary for pugs, with their amusing looks, to be the embodiment of the aristocratic inaction of those days.”

The Pug Breeders and Kennel’s Role

Pug breeders and their respective kennels became instrumental in upholding the breed’s parameters during the Victorian Era. Some of their duties were as follows: Selective breeding: Making pugs with the physical and behavioural characteristics requisite among the high class.

Health management: Siding with the health of the pugs so that the common pug genetic problems do not arise.
Show participation: Exhibiting the pugs on dog shows for the purpose of promoting and improving the breed
Documentation: Maintaining compliance with breed standards and accurate records of pedigree.

Such activities helped to maintain the steadiness and the value of pugs, solidifying their role in society of loyal friends and priceless decorative pets.

Taking Care of a Pug – Victorian Age

Diet: Most female pugs’ diets consist of meat, bread, and milk, fresh water was usually present.
Exercise: Going for daily walks was an important means of exercise which was however, low intensity for pugs.
Grooming: It was common to brush them from time to time in order to keep their short haired coats under control and prevent them from losing much hair.
Health Care: Animal healthcare was just beginning to develop and therefore domestic circulation and ordinary observation were dominant.
Accessories: Collars for the pugs and even clothing were common use.

Overall Victorian pug care involved proper feeding, plenty of exercise, grooming and polite health.

Pug Portraits: An Elegant Photography

Pug portraits were commonplace in the homes of the wealthy, as these images immortalized the relationship of the pet, and the pet owner.

Attentiveness: Detailing the pug’s protruding forehead, wrinkled panel, expressive eyes, or curled tail was painstaking.
Symbolism: Such portraits meant fidelity, association, and societal prestige.
Artistic Settings: Pugs were painted in royal settings- surrounded by luxurious curtains, splendors which added to their fearless majesty.

Such portraits of pugs can be called relics of history, for they show how revered the pugs were.

Pugs as Pets in High Society

Pugs, like other breeds in the Victorian period, represented class and sophistication. Influential persons such as aristocrats and royals wooed these little Dogs as they had good looks as well as good spirits.

Popularity: Pugs stole the limelight as Queen Victoria owned some.
Symbolism: These also stood for prestige and wealth.
Breeding: There was deliberate heartache through breeding so that they could seek to feel their tails and wrinkled heads more distinctive.
Public Appearances: Pugs were almost a feature in portraits, which was showing how egregious their places were.

Due to their diminutive stature and nurturing characteristics, they were very suitable in the circles of the high-class society.

Having a pug in the Victorian age offered many social benefits and implications:

A Fashion Accessory: They were small in size and unique which made them a fun addition to the demanding fashion world amongst the rich.
Social Contact/Networking: With their usual presence in social events among the elite, owning a pug made it easier to meet with people of interest.
Cultured and Classy: The dog breed characteristics were a reflection of the owner therefore possessing class and humanity aspects.
Art: Pugs appeared in various forms of decoration and art which signified advanced culture.