With their distinguished squishy faces, bug-like eyes, short, stocky legs, and cute curly tails, Pugs are one of the most recognisable breeds in the dog world. Their colouration is also a major feature that adds to their character, but what are the common Pug colours you can find?
For years, the most common ones seen were fawn and black, but these days a variety of colours are available. Do Pugs have markings? How many colours are there, and which ones are recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council?
To get the low down on the different Pug markings and colours, read our guide below!
Pugs come in several delightful coat colours. The most common shades are fawn and black, each adding to their distinctive appeal. Fawn Pugs feature a light tan coat with a characteristic black mask, which enhances their expressive faces. Black Pugs, on the other hand, present a sleek and glossy appearance. In addition to these primary colours, Pugs can also be found in shades like silver fawn and apricot, though these are less common.
Although fawn and black are the most commonly seen colours, Pugs do come in other colour varieties. They can also have different markings, with these mostly being seen on fawn Pugs.
The most common place for markings is the muzzle or mask. This can vary a lot, either covering most of the face or being separated between the muzzle and the eyes.
Some Pugs have light-coloured hairs throughout their muzzles, but in the show ring, dark masks are more desirable. Check out some of the many colours below!
The most common Pug colour, a fawn Pug, is a creamy hue – think the colour of a lightly toasted marshmallow! The muzzle and ears are usually both black.
A fawn Pug may not have a completely solid colour – they may have colour blending in the coat, with the facial wrinkles having some colour variation too.
Although a Pug’s registration papers may list its colour as fawn, it may be silver. However, silver fawn Pugs are not commonly seen.
Another commonly seen colour, a black Pug, should have a rich, solid, and deep colour from head to tail. The coat also has a brown sheen when the sun shines on it. Black Pugs typically have one fawn and one black parent, with the black gene being the most dominant.
Deep apricot Pugs have warm orange undertones in their coats. The orange hues are deeper and richer in colour than the fawn. But, it is common for apricot Pugs to have white or fawn colouring through the coat, so they’re not a full apricot colour.
Although they’re rare, brindle Pugs can be found. The brindle colouring gives a striped coat pattern with interwoven dark and light colours. Other rare colours include black and tan Pugs, merle, albino, and panda Pugs!
Most major kennel clubs recognise four different colours as the Pug breed standard. The following colours are recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council:
The above-mentioned colours are the only ones accepted by the council, but the markings must be clearly defined, and the mask and the ears must be as black as possible.
This completely depends on your personal preference. If you’re not bothered by the colour, then a fawn or black Pug will be easy to find since these are the most common colours.
However, if you have your eye on a rarer colour, such as silver fawn or brindle, be sure to do your research on the breeder. The Pug breed is popular, and some breeders have what they claim to be “exotic” or rare colours, such as chocolate, albino or merle Pugs.
These are not breed-standard colours and are considered bad practices amongst breeders. If a Pug has an exotic colouring, it usually means that there are unknown factors present in the bloodline that resulted in the colour change. This is misleading, and it may mean it’s not a purebred Pug.
A Pug’s coat can change colour as they get older. For example, it’s quite common for a fawn puppy’s coat to get darker or lighter. This change usually happens before the puppy is 12 months old; however, apricot tones might appear later than that.
Some Pug puppies are also born with smuttiness. But, this can darken, light, or fade completely as the dog ages, often leaving a trace line down its back. That said, some puppies are born with a strong trace line that fades with age.
Breed standards are there for a reason. If breeders didn’t follow these standards, purebred Pugs would look a lot different than they do now. Ultimately, you should always buy responsibly and never buy a puppy or dog based only on the colour on a whim.
Always ask the breeder questions, and never buy a dog unseen. Joining a Pug dog club is a great way to find responsible breeders!
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