JUDGING THE PUG HEAD
by Donnelle Richards
P ugs are a thumb breed. All exhibi- tors can help the judges by train- ing their puppies to have their head touched in a calm easy man- ner. All judges should know how to ex- amine the Pug head correctly and the bite in particular. Be gentle and calm and the Pug will too. If the judge does not examine correctly then the ex- hibitor should tell the judge and help them to learn. First when approaching the Pug from the front always put your fingers be- hind the ears. Look at the large round dark eyes and the overall wrinkle
above the nose. The middle of the eye should be in a line with the bottom of the ear. The nose wrinkle must not cover the nose nares. The Pug needs to be able to breathe easily. Your thumbs can then continue to ex- amine the head. Using your thumbs start at the top of the head to feel through the wrinkles and tell just where the skull is. Run your thumbs down each side and feel the nice broad head and down to the jaw. Feel for the wide muzzle. This is where you can feel if the jaw is wry
too. Our Pugs have a lot of loose skin, and a judge must feel through it, not just look and think where the struc- ture is. Take one thumb and put it in the mid- dle front of the lips to feel the slight undershot jaw. Be careful that your thumb does not block the nose. It is easy and quick and the Pug will not be upset by a judge wanting the mouth opened. It is not neces- sary, as there is nothing in our stan- dard that mentions how many teeth a Pug must have, only that the jaw is slightly undershot.
“Pugs are a thumb breed. ALL EXHIBITORS CAN HELP THE JUDGES BY TRAINING THEIR PUPPIES TO HAVE THEIR HEAD TOUCHED IN A CALM EASY MANNER. ALL JUDGES SHOULD KNOW HOW TO EXAMINE THE PUG HEAD CORRECTLY AND THE BITE IN PARTICULAR. Be gentle and calm and the Pug will too.”
T op N otch T oys , S eptember 2019 • 61
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