The Pugillon is a hybrid or designer breed that was developed by crossing a Papillon and a Pug. Tiny spaniels, called Continental Toy Spaniels and Dwarf Spaniels, which had drop ears were well established in Europe by the 1200s. The Papillon is the modern version of those tiny dogs, and was given the name because of its upright and fringed ears which fanned out like butterflies. Papillon is French for "butterfly". Those who still have the dropped ears are called a Phalene which means moth. Despite their strong French connection, it was in Spain and Italy that they became most popular. It is said that Italian breeders used to pop the dogs onto the back of mules to bring them to the court of Louis XIV. These dogs were painted by master artists including Rubens, Van Dyke and Rembrandt and were popular companions of court ladies throughout Europe. Marie Antoinette was also a fan and owner of the breed. Pugs were the pampered pets of ruling families in China, so highly valued that they were guarded by soldiers. These dogs with their wrinkly, short-muzzled faces, and curled tails, were also kept in Tibet by Buddhist monks. The modern breed is descended from dogs imported to Europe from China in the 16th century. They also were popular at European courts and became the official dog of the House of Orange in 1572 when one little Pug alerted the Prince of Orange that assassins were fast approaching. They were also featured in the work of artists including Goya and William Hogarth who loved Pugs and did a self portrait of himself and his favourite Pug named Trump in the mid-1730s. Pugs from those times had longer legs but this changed when a number of dogs were imported from China in 1860 with shorter legs and the flatter face. The breed arrived in the United States after the Civil War, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885.
