Tea Cup Pugs

 There are various types of tea cup pugs.

The pugs have their origin in China and their breeding was by Chinese Royalty, during the Dynasties of Tang and Yang, and resided in the Forbidden City. They were so admired that for centuries they refused to trade them with the new world. The pugs were introduced in Europe in the 19^th century where they also became a favorite among royalty. In Tibet, these dogs were kept in the Buddhist monasteries and were elevated as religious symbols.

Examples of famous people in history who have kept tea cup pugs are William the III, Josephine (Napoleon's wife), Goya (the artist), Mary the II of England, Queen Victoria and Marie Antoinette.

The tea cup pugs started gaining attention in the United States after the Civil War and were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. Since then the growing popularity of pugs has persisted and are currently among America's most favored dog breeds and have been for many years. They have consistently been among the top 20 breeds in the American Kennel Club and will continue to do so due to its increasing popularity among celebrities.

Despite its popularity as a dog breed of choice, the pug is susceptible to a various health problems. Due to their unique head shape they are vulnerable to respiratory problems. Some of these problems include pneumonia and an elongated soft palate. Another problem tea cup pugs suffer from is cataracts, which is a whitening of the lens, leading to poor visibility and in extreme cases blindness due to their large eyes. Corneal ulcers caused by eye trauma are also a common ailment among pugs. Due to excessive skin folds on their heads, pugs experience a condition known as entropies caused by irritation due to these skin folds rubbing against the eyes.