Wonderful World of Coloured Pugs
Pugs come in all colours and markings however some people view only pure breed pugs can come in 3 colours, that being Fawn, Black and Apricot. But that does not take into account that from those three colours, genetic mutation has generated many other colours in other breeds. However as kindly pointed out to us by a knowledgeable pug breeder, Ann Lewis ~”mixing blacks and fawns does not result in silver ever. Just smutty fawns [that can give a perception of being silver] or double coated blacks with often White chests. Pups may be black when born but by 8 months can be a poor bronzy black [chocolate looking].”
Here we show all the colours we are aware of, if you have others send a picture. To enlarge the photo, click on the photo once and it will go to the photo page, once on the photo page click on the photo again and it will enlarge to original size. Not all enlarge but most will.
The most common colours are fawn
Black
Apricot
Apricot Fawn
The rare colours are silver (some even thought this colour a myth.) The first picture is a smutty Fawn (Fawn crossed with a black) but the second is one that has been breed with a silver colour gene – it is reported Queen Victoria had a silver pug!
Brindle (this is the colour that causes most controversy whether it is a pure breed pug or not – some maintain its often a cross with a French Bulldog)
White – The white pug has been bred from paler and paler fawn pugs that could well mean that it is possible to have a pure pug that is white.
Albino
Chocolate – possibly a black pug mated with a fawn which will be born black but turn a bronzy colour as they get older.
Hi there to you all , I am so pleased to read all and discussions we will never know what really happens with either cross Brea dinging’s or mixes all you need is a happy healthy puppy/dog mmmmmmmmmmmm yes I do think the colour restriction should be lifted a bit in this Day & Age mm cause of small gene pool please adhere the first Lab that won Cruft’s had a parent of a Flat Coated Retriever and in years ago we used to breed in and out to get a good line of any breed, this is why we have many breed’s Today bless you all and keep safe X
We are new pug owners,although we have had other breeds before, we have never had a puppy. Our girl is 15 weeks old and we’ve had her for 2. Her mum was fawn pug and her dad black pug with a white splodge on his forehead and chest. She is mainly pale fawn, with some black, black face but a white splodge too. Her siblings were either similar to her or very pale.
She is wonderful.
I have in the past had a black pug and very true to the breed standard infact it was funny going to crufts to see them all looking the same and doing their backwards sneezing all owning the ring like they are royalty with independent streaks I absolutely love them. My bubs sadly died, we went back to her breeder and lo and behold still black and fawns but whites and chinchillas too. I am now pug mum again to a white girl Lola kc registered Lora of white miracle (I had to pick that one because she is like a little miracle after bubs passing). She is exactly the same in every aspect of the breed standard except her colour no health problems as of yet. I think some people are just annoyed it fazes out other breeders with more competition for colours. Surely the kc wouldnt of even registered the litter at all if it was to be detrimental to the breed. To me she is perfect the way she is!
I think all these new colours in pugs, French and English bulldogs are nothing but good news. If it is due to different breeds being introduced then this will make them a healthy outcross for the future generations. They are only dog breeds after all not endangered giant pandas.
Love the site, what a great article 🙂 Really appreciated.
Hi…My fawn pug fully kc reg mated with an apricot boy fully kc and we now have what looks like silver pugs…her grandad was silver and her mum was black(my bitch) so there is no such thing as 3 main colours…absolute rubbish if you believe that….I have all papers to prove this…
I think it is quiet clear that pugs come in all colours its only the kennel club that puts an artificial restriction on colours that are acceptable for showing pugs. The more I learn about the showing influence on the breed the less i agree with these artificial restriction
I have purebred pugs and my one pug has been throwing puppies with white on their faces. I was told that they are called Jacket Pugs. My male is AKC registered and my female could have been AKC registered but I never had paper work done. I have the grandmother to my female also. I have been raising pugs for over sixteen years and this is the first female that I have ever got puppies like this. People keep saying that they are not purebred, but I know they are. They are very beautiful puppies. Just thought I would let you know that their is at least one more different kind of color out their.
Thank you for posting these coloured pugs. Too bad some people gave you harsh criticism that was somewhat inaccurate. The kennel clubs may only accept certain colours for individual breeds but it does not mean that purebred dogs do not give birth to other colours. In the past black pugs were not an accepted variety.
I agree that some unique colours seen in various dogs breeds are the result of cross breeding but others are naturally occurring and should be acknowledged. Dog breeds are a result of long process of breeding different breeds to eventually develop a dog of unique appearance and temperament, etc. At some point the kennel clubs decide what colours are going to be permitted from the litters as they may try to perfect a certain look for the breed.
The fawn pug is a perfect example of a dog breed that has been poorly managed over the decades by breeders who thought they were doing a good thing for the breed by selectively breeding for a specific colour and a more compact body. Unfortunately, the breed is now a genetic mess although adorable in appearance. Eye problems, spinal problems, breathing trouble, and the list goes on…
So thank you for showing some of the rare colours and it promotes genetic diversity.
Super website, if you look back at old paintings and pictures there is evidence of WHITE pugs and SILVER pugs
I love this forum…in America it is horrible… AKC is BLACK or FAWN. Well I occasionally get a silver, silver Plat and white…sorry but it’s not fair to call an AKC or KC white Pug a fawn.
Why on earth are you publishing this rubbissh about pug colours? Pure bred pugs only come in the colours stated – Fawn, Apricot and Black. The pictures of the other colours you show are quite clearly crossbreds – it is easy to see French Bulldog and Chihuahua in some of them. Your example of a “Silver” is simply a mismarked fawn (often known as “Smutty). You do the breed a great disservice, and as a plus point lay yourself open to legal action under the trade description act.
Thanks for your comments. Your comments of cross-breeding are interesting and I will look into it and update the post. I wish all the pug showing community was so outspoken about the breathing difficulties as they are about the colours; we have had many rescued pugs and it seems to me pugs bred for showing have so much more health issues.
Gwen you don’t know what your talking about. I have raised pugs for many years and thought the same way as you do. Now that my one female has been throwing Jacket pugs which are not mixed with anything, My thinking is different. If you don’t know for sure you shouldn’t open your mouth. Just because AKC doesn’t acknowledge something doesn’t mean that they aren’t purebred. And My Pugs are AKC registered. I have seen some AKC registered Pugs that have long noses on them and do not even look like a pug but they are still registered. Think before you speak is all that I am saying.
I have a brown pug which I can assure you is pure pug. Bred from s fawn and black. She was born broen. 4 of the litter of 5 were broen and one born fawn. The mother of litter was only 11 months when she had the pups , maybe this is the readon for the colouring as she was so young and still developing? My vet said this does happen when breeding from black and fawn. My brown bitch has had pups (not planned) but my male got her when my back was turned. She had 5 besutifil pups 2 fawn and 3 blacks. The pups are stunning.
It is not true that pure bred pug pups only come in apricot fawn or black,as we just had a pug pup from our apricot male and our black female. Looks kind of like a gray apricot.I guess what they call Smutty, but he does have very clear markings.
This is horrible!!!! You are as truly disgusting person! This is a classic example of pug racism 🙁 (I know as a member of the NPRS XD). It’s okay to not know much about pug colours, people like me can help with that, but leaving wrong hate comments like this is terrible. This person got ONE thing wrong – not what you even said about! A mismarked fawn pug’ (as you so rudely call it) is called SILVER FAWN, this can be found in a simple google search – as the first result. Get your facts straight!I know this is a strong comparison but are you gonna call a brown person ‘made wrong’ because they’re NOT PURE? Sorry for getting so angruy but i like to put people like this in their place very rightly >:(
The colours you quote are incorrect.DNA tests would prove this. The brindle is introduced by crossing with frenchie or other small brindle dogs. I have emailed people with brindle”pugs” they have confirmed it is a frenchie cross.also that is not the correct silver colour of a pug…the virrect silver us a very clear colur nit smutty grey,White pugs are also not correct in any country. Bred from paler and paler pugs introducing White crosses into they possibly breed true. My family has been in pugs since before 1850.. I do know what I am talking about. I find it offensive to attempt to con newcomers in a breed. When DNA tests become compulsory this will elaborate the true pug colours….fawn, black, apricot and silver. Until the person who composed this site understands the genetics of colour and what exactly DNA can reveal about colour then the above is purely fantasy.
Thanks Ann – I knew this was a controversial subject when I wrote the post. Now I understand how controversial. I will give prominence to your comment. What is your opinion on the chocolate is this a black that has diluted. It seems similar to a chocolate Labrador. As a paler black. Great to have your input as you are clearly very knowledgeable.
I only wish pug breathing difficulties in the show pugs caused such an out spoken reaction by the showing community, seems those involved in showing pugs care only for the colour.
Hello ann lewis,it will be good to hear from you regarding a BLACK PUG with brown shades
we have just added a pug puppy to our family. we have dave a black cat, jake a black pug and now elsa a chocolate brown pug. we were not aware of brown pugs? Jake comes from fawn to black, elsa comes from fawn to black. of the 5 pups in elsa’ litter, one was fawn with black mask, 2 mink colour and 2 chocolate.
Linda
Wow – can you email a picture, we would love to put them up on our coloured pug web page. Evelyn@pugs.co.uk
What wonderful pictures. While doing a google search for pug puppies (we are looking for a friend for our pug Alfie) I found these great characters.
I am amazed by all the different colours! They are all absolutely gorgeous. We have two pugs, Titus and Isadora, both fawn, and both much loved!
The brindle intrigues me most, but a pug is a pug, whatever their colour, so, I love them all!!
Alice
Great names Titus and Isadora
Thank you! Both rescue pugs, Titus was originally ‘Derek’, which is my husbands name! And Isadora was ‘Shadow’. Allowed my husband to name them both as I was so desperate for a pug I would have let him name them anything!!
Alice