Pugmatian

The Pugmatian is still quite a rare breed so it is necessary to look at the backgrounds of the parent breeds, the Dalmatian and Pug. The Dalmatian was bred from a Pointer and a Great Dane in the 16^th century but little is known about their exact history. It is believed that in 1771, a man named Thomas Pennant from Dalmatia in the Mediterranean named them Dalmatians after the town. These dogs were seen in art found from the 16^th century and documents and other chronicles from a Croatian church in the 1700s. However, they were called Canis Dalmaticus at the time. Others claim these spotted dogs were seen in art pieces from Europe, Asia, and Egypt many centuries ago when they would run alongside carriages and horses. They are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and stamina and were called coach dogs but were also used for hunting rats and other vermin. In addition, the Dalmatian was found to be an excellent companion pet if they were given enough exercise. They were also known as firehouse dogs due to their ability to run in front of the engines and clear a path to guide the horses and firefighters to the fire. The Dalmatian was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 and became increasingly popular after the children's movie “101 Dalmatians” came out in 1961. The Pug originated in China around 200 B.C., which was during the Han Dynasty. These little dogs were seen as royalty and had their own guards to prevent them from being stolen. They were known by many different names over the years and some of these names include the Mopshond, Carlin, Doguillo, and Mops. The Pug made it to England in 1861 when the Palace was taken over by the British and they became popular on many artifacts of the Victorian Era. The American Kennel Club accepted the breed in 1885 where they are the 32^nd most popular dog breed.