Pugalicious!

Let me introduce you to a little pug called Sidney, officially the cutest puppy in London. I met Sidney on my way to work one morning and, as I saw him trotting along the pavement, looking absolutely tiny, I immediately approached his owner for a chat. He is only 14 weeks old but his plucky personality already shines through. His adorable little face bears a constant expression of inquisitiveness. Being still a toddler in dog terms, Sidney has a lot to learn and he takes to his task with a admirable gusto. He first sniffed at my feet, then jumped up, then, when I kneeled down he took to gently trying his baby teeth on my hands. He is such a little bundle of joy, that I could not help but pick him up and give him a cuddle and kiss.

It seems that he was born with the outgoing personality of an intrepid explorer. His owner tells me that, when it came to choosing a pup, she wanted a pug bitch, but once she arrived to see the pups, Sidney climbed out of the dog bed and bounded over towards her. No wonder that, once the owner saw Sidney's loveable face, she fell for him head over heels and he was pronounced 'the one'.

Apparently, Sidney is always on the go, exploring the world for a whole day, so, by early evening, he suddenly drops off to sleep on the sofa.

Sidney is such a little charmer that I found it difficult to leave him and go to work. As I live in the neighbourhood, I am hoping to see much more of Sidney, and see him grow from a cute pup into a fabulous dog!


To find out more about Pugs meet Darcy and Oscar - a pair of Islington pugs.

To see a new hybrid breed of a beagle and a pug see Barney the Puggle.

Is it a Pug? Is it a Beagle?

No! It's a Puggle!


This exceedingly good-looking young gentleman is called Barney. As he approached from a distance, I thought he was a Boxer but his curly tail seemed odd if that was the case. Barney's unusual looks are those of a new hybrid breed called a Puggle, a mix of a Pug and a Beagle, so I was thrilled to meet him.

Barney is a stunning dog, with a lovely friendly personality. He is still quite young, at 6 months, he is full of enthusiasm and energy and his fur is still puppy-soft. He loves walks and running around the park. In fact, he loves it so much, that he often runs away, the naughty boy!

Barney's owners told me that he is being trained to be more obedient. I am sure they will succeed as he looks like a very clever dog to me. He immediately worked out that the box in my hand contained treats, and he gave me his paw without me even asking for it. He inherited the supreme sense of smell from his Beagle ancestors so he loves food and indulges in picking scraps of food off the pavement. Mind you, it must be that pesky dog trait, as my Dachshund, Kevin, does exactly the same thing!

It was a pleasure to meet Barney. He is not only very charming but also a beautiful example of his breed. Puggles are playful and energetic like Beagles but have the relaxed and home-loving characteristics of their Pug side, which makes them an ideal pet.

Pug and Prejudice

These two gentlement are Oscar and Darcy, who are both Pugs.

Oscar is the fawn coloured one, while Darcy is the moody looking black one in the distance.

I bumped into Oscar and Darcy in Islington last night, on my way home. Apparently Oscar is a bit of ladies' man and loves female company. He was very charming, with his cute wrinkled face nudging my hands asking to stroke him. This, however, did not extend to sitting down for his treats. Whilst he displayed a great fondness for them, he refused to sit and when I repeated the command he looked at me quizzically as if to say 'Sitting, my dear? I don't do sitting.' Neither did Darcy. He was suitably dark and brooding, like his namesake, Mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, and he kept his distance. He sniffed a treat I was trying to coax him with, and turned his back on me, showing his perfectly curled tail.

Their owner tells me that Darcy and Oscar are very loving and happy dogs, great with children but very much their own dogs.

Pug is an ancient Chinese toy breed, first mentioned as early as 960 AD. Legend has it that pugs were imperial dogs and could be owned only by the Emperor and his closest circle. Pugs were first introduced to Europe in the 16th century by the Dutch, who were trading with China at the time.

Their royal origins may be the reason why Pugs carry themselves with a great dignity, despite their dimunitive size and cute looks. Pugs are gentle, loving, constant and playful, so make fabulous pets and companions.

More about Pugs: The Pug Dog Club