Black Pugs are some of the cutest puppies you can find! Get ready to have your heart melt while we learn all about this beautiful breed.
What Is A Black Pug?
A Black Pug is very similar to a fawn or any other color Pug with the exception of their color and single coat.
Origin
The Pug is one of the oldest breeds of dog. It has a long and storied history dating back as far as before 400 BC! The official Pug motto is the Latin phrase “multum in parvo” which translates to, the very apt, “a lot in a little”.
The Black Pug is a genetic variation of a standard Pug so it is safe to assume that it has been around just about as long as Pugs themselves have been around.
The breed first became popular in China during the Song Dynasty which lasted from 960 to 1278 AD. They were incredibly popular as royal companions and were considered to be good luck. They were so valued that they even had their own security.
The breed’s popularity spread throughout the world with them being worshipped in Egypt as well as establishing companionship with the Buddhist monks of Tibet.
By the 1500s and 1600s, Pugs were making their way across Europe. Again, they found themselves in the lap of royal luxury. Many paintings were made featuring prominent historical figures with their pugs dutifully next to them; such as Princess Ekaterina Dmitrievna Golitsyna of Moscow in 1759.
It as not until the late 1800s that the Pug finally made it’s way to the United States. It, along with 14 other breeds were the the very first pure bred dogs to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.
What Do They Look Like?
Pugs are instantly recognizable by their very large, some would say bulging, eyes and short, flat face. Typically, they have a large, round head, as well. Their body is short, “square and cobbly” with a tong, tightly curled tail just over their hips.
How Big Do Black Pugs Get?
For the most part, Black Pugs do not get very big, at all. They are considered a Toy breed by the AKC. The males can grow considerably larger than the females, sometimes weighing twice as much or more!
Here is a size breakdown between males and female:
| Height | Weight | |
| Male Black Pug | 12 to 14 inches | 13 to 30 lbs |
| Female Black Pug | 10 to 12 inches | 13 to 18 lbs |
Coat
One of the key differences between a Pug and a Black Pug, is their coat. And not just the obvious exception of the color. Pugs typically have a double coat; an undercoat and a top coat.
Black Pugs only have a single coat. A single coat requires less grooming and maintenance. It also means they will shed less than their fairer colored cohorts.
Their single coat is often short, straight, and soft to the touch. A healthy coat is also a shiny coat.
Are Black Pugs Hypoallergenic?
While Black Pugs do shed about half as much as other Pugs, they still do shed a good amount. Because of their propensity for shedding, they are not considered to be hypoallergenic.
Color
So, how do we get black pugs?
The black color gene in dogs is considered dominant. Therefore any dogs carrying the gene will show the black color in it’s coat.
That’s the simple answer, of course. Let’s look a little more at the genetics of the black gene (K) in dog coat color to more fully understand how it works.
First, we must level set and understand some basic genetics terminology. A dominant gene means that only one copy is needed in order for that gene to show or express itself.
In dog coat color, the dominant black gene interacts with “the Agouti and MC1R genes” (source). When the black gene is present, this interaction causes a change from red or yellow pigment to black pigment.
So, you may be wondering how to tell what color puppies you will get when you breed two pugs together. This can easily be assessed by using the knowledge above and a Punnett Square. A Punnett Square simply allows you to see what genotypes will occur when you cross or breed two dogs (or anything else) together.
In the below Punnett Squares there are several letter combinations, here is what they stand for:
- KK – dominant black
- KN – black carrying fawn
- NN – recessive fawn
If both parents are dominant black (KK – they have two copies of the black gene), all resulting puppies will also be dominant black.
If one parent is dominant black and one is black carrying the not dominant black gene (which in pugs expresses as fawn colored), you will get 50% puppies dominant black (KK) and 50% puppies black carrying fawn (NK).
When both parents are black carrying the fawn gene (NK) you will get 25% puppies fawn (NN), 25% puppies dominant black (KK) and 50% puppies black carrying fawn gene (NK).
Finally, if both parents are fawn (NN), all puppies will also be fawn.
Puppies
Who doesn’t love puppies? Black Pugs are super cute puppies too.
The standard gestation time for a Black Pug is around 63 days. They can have anywhere between a single pup and 9 adorable puppies! On average, though, they will have between 4 and 6.
Growth Rate
The growth rate of Black Pug puppies is pretty quick. Within a year they grow about 10 times in size!
Black Pug Puppy Growth Chart
| 8 weeks | 2 to 4 lbs |
| 3 months | 5 to 8 lbs |
| 6 months | 8 to 12 lbs |
| 9 months | 12 to 14 lbs |
| 12 months | 14 to 20 lbs |
| 12+ months | 20+ lbs |
How To Care For Your Black Pug
Here are all of the tips you need to make sure that your Black Pug is able to live a long, happy, healthy, and comfortable life.
Food & Dietary Needs
Black Pugs are considered to be a small, or toy, breed of dog. If you did not know, small breed dogs have different nutritional needs than larger breeds do. For that reason, you will want to find a high quality, specially formulated small breed dog food or even a Pug specific dog food.
Most of the time, these foods will have feeding instructions on their label. You can usually follow those without any problems. When switching to a new food or serving size you will want keep an eye on your dog’s weight and body condition.
If either their weight or body condition starts to show any dramatic changes, you will want to adjust their food and, if needed, discuss food options with their vet.
If you do not have experience with a dog’s body condition, it is easy to learn. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) made an easy to follow body condition chart with all of the information you need.
Exercise
A common health issue with Pugs is obesity. Because of some of their breathing problems, they can often appear to be struggling when exercising. This is especially true for Black Pugs in hot weather.
Do not assume they do not need any exercise just because they are breathing heavier. In fact, these little guys need anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes of exercise a day.
It does not have to be all at once. You can split it up between a few walks in the morning and in the evening; the cooler parts of the day, or you can give them a walk and spend a while playing fetch or another energetic game later.
You can help them with their breathing on walks by using a quality small breed harness. This will distribute the pressure across their body instead of the pressure a normal collar puts on their throat.
Are Black Pugs Easy To Train?
Black Pugs are a pretty intelligent breed of dog. Anything they may lack in smarts they more than make up for in their agreeableness and pursuit to please their human.
They are a sensitive breed of dog, however, they can get their feelings hurt pretty easily with harsh training techniques. They respond much better to positive reinforcement, such as praise and treat.
Health Concerns
Unfortunately, Pugs come with their own share of unique health problems. Black Pugs do not have anymore health issues than any other Pug, however.
Many of the health issues that a Pug must deal with are due to their adorably short face. Over time, focus has been put on maintaining a very flat face and that has been the primary cause of a Pug’s poor health.
Brachycephalic Breed
Being a brachycephalic breed means that Black Pugs have a shorter airway due to their flat face. Unfortunately, this can lead to a wide variety of health issues; mostly involving breathing problems and eye/vision issues.
- blindness
- breathing problems
- bulging eyes from skull structure
- cataracts
- labor/birthing difficulty
- luxating patella
- screw tails
- skin issues/infections
How long do Black Pugs live?
On average, a Black Pug will live between 12 and 15 years. However, there have been cases where a healthy Pug can live even longer than that.
Grooming
As we have already mentioned, Black Pugs do not have double coats like most Pugs. They have single coats which makes them much easier to groom. In fact, Black Pugs really only need a good weekly brushing to maintain their coat.
Bathing them is even easier. Because they have their own oils to nourish their skin and coat, they do not need a regular bath unless they have gotten into something. Once every 3 or 4 months should be fine. Just make sure to use a good Pug blend of shampoo.
You will want to pay close attention to their folds. They have a lot of excess skin which can trap moisture, dirt, and debris. If left to build up, it can lead to skin irritation and even infection. This is something you can do while brushing them weekly.
Temperament and Personality
You will notice immediately that a Black Pug will steal your heart away with it’s charm and adorably mischievous personality. They love to love you and will show you through their constant expressions of affection.
Black Pugs love nothing more than to please their person. On top of their intelligence, their agreeability, makes them pretty easy to train.
These pups are energetic and playful. Once you get them going you will have a ton of fun playing with them before they eventually exhaust themselves and lovingly snuggle in your lap for nap time.
They do become very attached to their family. They do best with multi-person households so they do not get lonely and experience separation anxiety.
How Are They With Kids & Pets?
They do great with kids. Unlike some other, smaller breeds, like Teacup Poodles, Teacup Pomeranians, or Teacup Maltese, these guys are usually sturdy enough to handle playing with young children without injury.
Also, as we mentioned above, the more people they have around, the less likely they are to get lonely and experience separation anxiety.
Start them socializing with other animals from an early age. With proper training and socialization, they will have no problem sharing a house with other pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
While researching Black Pugs, we found a few questions that kept popping up. Here they are:
Q1. Are black pugs rare?/How expensive are black pugs?/Are black pugs more expensive?
Black Pugs are a fairly rare type of Pug. Not quite as rare as white or silver but still hard to find, none the less. Because of their scarcity, they are often priced at a premium and much more expensive than your standard colors. Do not be shocked to see a price tag of $2k, $3k, $4k or even more depnding on their pedigree and breeder.
Q2. Are black Pugs pure bred?
Black Pugs, along with Pugs, in general, were one of 15 breeds to be first be recognized by the American Kennel Club. They are, in fact, one of the oldest pure bred dogs.
Q3. Are black pugs more aggressive?
Black Pugs are no different in personality or temperament than any other color Pug. This breed is very friendly, loving, and agreeable. Pugs, in general, including Black Pugs are not aggressive.
Q4. Can 2 fawn Pugs have a black puppy?
Two fawn pugs cannot have a black puppy. The reason for this is that the black gene is dominant which means at least one parent would show the black color is they had the black gene.
Q5. Do black pugs shed?/Are black pugs hypoallergenic?/Do black pugs have a double coat?
Yes, but not as much as Fawn Pugs since they lack a double coat. They are not considered Hypoallergenic, though.
Q6. Why is my black pug turning white?/Do black pugs change color?/Do black pugs turn brown?
There are several factors that can contribute to a change in your Black Pugs coat color. If they are turning white, that can simply be due to old age. Often times, as dogs get older, their coat will start to get a bit lighter and can even turn white.
There can be pigmentation issues that can cause this, assuming they are younger and not quite old enough to consider age related color change.
Black Pugs can turn brown. It’s not uncommon for a dog’s coat to change slightly in color over their life. This can be due to age or environmental influences, like more sun exposure.
Final Thoughts
Now you know everything you need to know about this adorable rarity of the dog world, the Black Pug! Perhaps you will consider adding one to your family.
Until next time…
