The Jug is a popular designer dog that has been in
development since the 1960s, an intentional crossbreed between the Jack Russell
Terrier, an energetic and enthusiastic
fox hunting dog developed in England, and the Pug, an ancient lapdog that was
favored in China for thousands of years.
The Pug is actually believed to be one
of the oldest dog breeds on record and
the dogs have been considered prized possessions
by Chinese Emperors since the Shang dynasty, around 1600 BCE. Like many other
dogs that were valued by royalty, Pug puppies were often given as gifts to
visiting royal families and other dignitaries and in this way were distributed
throughout the world.
The Pug became particularly popular with the royal family
in 19th century England, where they gained favor with Queen Victoria
who’s involvement with this and other breeds led to the establishment of the Kennel
Club in 1873. The Pug breed was also one of the first 15 breeds to be
recognized by the American Kennel Club when they were first established in
1885.
The Jack Russell Terrier, also known as the Parson’s Jack Russell
Terrier, is a much more recently established breed than the Pug, developed by a
man named John Russell, a parson and breeder of foxhounds in Devonshire,
England. Originally inspired by a single female of undetermined parentage that
Mr. Russell bought from a milkman in 1819, the Jack Russell Terrier was developed
to be both tall enough to keep up with the foxhounds and small enough to go to
ground if the fox retreated to their dens.
Unlike many other terriers, the Jack
Russell Terrier was bred to chase the fox without capturing or killing it. The
Jug is typically less high-strung and hyperactive than the Jack Russell Terrier
and has fewer breathing problems than the purebred Pug.
