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Pug

Pug
Photo: Xidrep / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

31 Pugs in the atlas. Every number on this page has a source.

Population-genetic snapshot of Pugs in the Sniff Atlas, source-graded Mendelian carrier frequencies from Donner 2023, and nutrition guidance tied to the genetic findings above.

Also known as Carlin, Chinese pug, Dutch bulldog, and Dutch mastiff.

See in the atlas → From CanVAS
The plain version

Pugs have a somewhat limited gene pool, meaning they’re a bit more closely related within their breed compared to some others. They’re small dogs, usually weighing around 15 pounds, and typically live about 11 and a half years. Their appearance is quite distinctive, with a compact body and a charming flat face. Some health issues related to their genetics include certain spine and nerve conditions, so it’s a good idea to talk with your vet or consider genetic testing to keep your pug as healthy as possible.

What the atlas says about Pug

In the atlas, the Pug clusters consistently as Pug (100% of the 31 dogs here). At the trait loci, MSRB3 runs lower than average (2% here vs 80%); SMAD2 runs lower than average (0% here vs 74%). Dogs here sit in a relatively sparse region of the atlas, fewer close neighbors than typical.

Ranks 16 of 107 on the bottleneck severity scale, well into the upper quartile of population contraction.

Median lifespan is 11.5 years, slightly shorter than expected for the breed size (7.25 kg).

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Pug

Computed from the 18,477 research dogs in the Atlas.

Dogs in the Atlas
31Founders
18 from Hayward2016, 10 from Spatola, 3 from JenkinsWGS
Genetic diversity
0.25Tight
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 16th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
What does genetic diversity mean?

How varied a breed's gene pool is — the share of gene spots where a typical dog of the breed carries two different versions rather than two identical ones.

How to read it: Higher = more diverse. Among well-sampled breeds it ranges roughly 0.22 (least diverse) to 0.33 (most diverse).

Diversity is a strength, not a verdict on any individual dog. Lower diversity means it's worth paying attention to recessive-risk testing — not that a dog is doomed.

Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 22.54 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
What does within-breed variation mean?

How much individual dogs within the breed differ from each other genetically.

How to read it: Higher = more internal variety among individuals of the breed.

Sensitive to how many dogs of the breed we've sampled.

Related breeds
Built from
Gave rise to
Close cousins
In the Toy group
Explore the full lineage map →
VBO foundation stock (breeding records) · AKC breed group
Relatedness is documented lineage + kennel family. Genetic-ancestry distance measures diversity, not kinship, so it isn't used here.
How long they live
11.6years (life expectancy)
95% CI 11.4–11.8 · VetCompass, McMillan 2024, n=10,026. source
What does typical lifespan mean?

The median age dogs of the breed tend to reach.

How to read it: Higher = longer-lived. Compare to longevity-for-size to see whether it's just a size effect.

Drawn from population lifespan records; individual dogs vary widely with care, genetics, and luck.

Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP.

Body size
IGF1100%
HMGA20%
SMAD20%
LCORL100%
STC2100%
ADAMTS1719%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA18100%
FGF4·CFA12100%
Coat
RSPO258%
FGF5100%
KRT7156%
MC1R21%
Ear set
MSRB32%
Skull shape
BMP3100%
SMOC2100%
n = 31 dogs · moderate confidence · CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Sniff Atlas
Names & origins

Other names

The Pug is also recorded as Carlin, Chinese pug, Dutch bulldog, Dutch mastiff, Mini mastiff, and Mops.

Identified as Pug (VBO:0201089) in the Vertebrate Breed Ontology (Mullen et al. 2025, CC-BY 4.0) · registry IDs FCI 253 · iDog 196 · VeNom 14599.

Temperament

What Pugs tend toward

Tendencies from owner surveys of purebred Pugs — a leaning across the breed, not a prediction for any one dog. A bar’s strength shows how much of that behavior breed actually explains: for most it’s faint, because the rest is your dog, their training, and the life you give them.

Environmental Engagementbreed ~9%
high engagementlow engagement
Biddabilitybreed ~18%
biddableindependent
Agonistic Thresholdbreed ~9%
assertivediffident
n = 27 dogs · Morrill et al. 2022, Science, Darwin's Ark (CC0)
Owner-reported purebreds; each factor n ≥ 25. "Breed ~%" is the share of this behavior explained by breed.
What you see when you look at a Pug

What does the genome say about how a Pug looks?

Pugs look the way they do because of a small set of fixed and near-fixed morphology genes that, taken together, define the visible breed. Each translation below pairs the gene with the trait an owner actually sees, the breed's allele frequency at that locus, and a one-clause causal phrase.

Where the breed-defining genes act, mapped on a generic dog-body key — and how fixed each marker is in the Pug. The figure is the most-settled marker we read in that region; the full per-locus panel is below. (The silhouette is a shared anatomical guide, not this breed's outline.)

Body sizeIGF1 · 100%Skull shapeBMP3 · 100%EarsMSRB3 · 2%Leg lengthFGF4 CFA18 · 100%Coat & colorFGF5 · 100%
CanVAS trait-locus panel (Brundage 2026)
15 morphology markers read across 5 regions. Allele frequency = how fixed a marker is in this breed, not whether your dog carries it.

Size and build

IGF1 is near-fixed at 100% for the small-body allele, which keeps the breed compact relative to its working-line ancestors.

IGF1what this gene does

IGF1 is a gene that plays a key role in determining a dog's body size. It influences how much a dog grows, affecting overall stature.

For your dog: Knowing about IGF1 gives you insight into your dog's size traits, but it’s just one part of the bigger picture when it comes to their health and care.

Full IGF1 gene page →

HMGA2 is at 0%, leaving most of the size signal to other loci in the panel.

HMGA2what this gene does

HMGA2 is a gene that influences body size in dogs, helping determine how big or small a dog grows.

For your dog: Knowing about HMGA2 helps you appreciate the genetic factors behind your dog's size, but it doesn't signal any health issues.

Full HMGA2 gene page →

SMAD2 is at 0%, leaving the height signal mostly to other size genes.

SMAD2what this gene does

SMAD2 is a gene involved in regulating body size by influencing how cells grow and develop.

For your dog: Knowing about SMAD2 helps understand your dog's size traits but isn't linked to health issues; no immediate action needed.

Full SMAD2 gene page →

LCORL is near-fixed at 100%, the NCAPG/LCORL height locus that is one of the strongest single contributors to canine body size.

LCORLwhat this gene does

LCORL is a gene that influences body size in dogs. It helps determine how big or small a dog might grow.

For your dog: Knowing about LCORL helps you appreciate the genetic factors behind your dog's size, but it’s just one piece of the bigger picture when it comes to health and care.

Full LCORL gene page →

STC2 is near-fixed at 100%, modulating growth-axis signaling toward the breed's body-size set point.

ADAMTS17 is at 19%, the lower-frequency allele in this breed.

ADAMTS17what this gene does

ADAMTS17 is a gene that influences body size and also plays a role in certain eye conditions. It affects the structure of tissues in the eye and elsewhere in the body.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry ADAMTS17 variants, it’s worth discussing genetic testing and eye exams with your vet to stay ahead of potential issues.

Full ADAMTS17 gene page →

Leg length

The FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 18 is near-fixed in this breed at 100%. This is the leg-length variant. The breed is fully committed to the long-legged form rather than the short-legged Corgi-and-Dachshund body plan.

The FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 12 is near-fixed at 100%, the chondrodystrophic variant associated with intervertebral disc disease risk in breeds that carry it.

Coat type, length, and color

RSPO2 sits at 58% for the furnishings variant. Furnishings (the eyebrow-and-mustache pattern seen in Schnauzers and Wheaten Terriers) vary across the population at this intermediate frequency, and visible expression depends on the specific allele combination each dog carries.

RSPO2what this gene does

RSPO2 influences the texture and appearance of a dog's coat, particularly the presence of 'furnishings' like mustaches and eyebrows. It helps determine whether a dog has that distinctive wiry or textured look.

For your dog: If your dog has those wiry eyebrows or a mustache, RSPO2 is part of the reason—no health worries, just a coat feature worth knowing about.

Full RSPO2 gene page →

FGF5 is at 100% for the long-coat variant, which is why the breed's coat sits where it does on the long end of the dog coat-length spectrum.

FGF5what this gene does

FGF5 is a gene that influences the length of a dog's coat. It acts like a natural switch, telling hair follicles when to stop growing longer fur.

For your dog: If your dog has a notably long or short coat, FGF5 is likely part of the reason—no action needed, but it’s a neat genetic detail to know.

Full FGF5 gene page →

KRT71 sits at 56% for the wavy/curly variant. Coat curl varies across individuals at this intermediate frequency, and visible expression is also influenced by modifier loci.

KRT71what this gene does

KRT71 is a gene that influences the curliness of a dog's coat. It helps determine whether a dog's fur is straight or has a distinctive curl.

For your dog: If your dog has a curly coat, KRT71 is likely part of the reason; it’s a natural variation, not a health concern.

Full KRT71 gene page →

MC1R is at 21% at the representative SNP, leaving the breed in the black-to-brown coat range under the dominant E allele.

MC1Rwhat this gene does

MC1R is a gene that influences coat color in dogs, affecting how pigments are produced in the fur.

For your dog: Knowing about MC1R gives insight into your dog's coat color but doesn't relate to health issues.

Full MC1R gene page →

Ears

MSRB3 is at 2% for the drop-ear allele, keeping the breed's ears upright and prick.

MSRB3what this gene does

MSRB3 is a gene involved in the development of ear shape and structure in dogs.

For your dog: Understanding MSRB3 helps explain why your dog's ears look the way they do, but it isn't linked to any health issues.

Full MSRB3 gene page →

Skull shape

BMP3 is at 100%, contributing to the breed's brachycephalic skull shape.

BMP3what this gene does

BMP3 is a gene that influences the shape of a dog's skull, particularly contributing to a shorter, broader head shape known as brachycephaly.

For your dog: If your dog has a broad, short skull, it's worth discussing with your vet how this might impact their health, even though BMP3 isn't directly tied to illness.

Full BMP3 gene page →

SMOC2 is at 100%, the major locus contributing to the breed's brachycephalic face shape.

SMOC2what this gene does

SMOC2 influences the shape of a dog's skull, particularly affecting how flat or short the face appears.

For your dog: If your dog has a short nose, it's worth discussing with your vet how this trait might impact their health over time.

Full SMOC2 gene page →
Mendelian-disease genetics

What genetic diseases do Pugs carry?

From a panel of 250 Mendelian-disease variants screened in 1,054,293 dogs (Donner et al. 2023), Pugs carry 25 of them at observable frequency. Carrier frequency is not clinical risk. Most recessive variants require two copies for disease expression; many dominant variants show incomplete penetrance. Read this as a population fingerprint of what's in the gene pool, not a per-dog prediction.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
high 26.0%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000263-9615 · omia.org →
SOD1what this gene does

SOD1 is a gene that helps protect cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier of SOD1 variants, it's worth discussing with your vet, but remember carrier status doesn't mean your dog will get the disease.

Chondrodystrophy and Intervertebral Disc Disease Risk (CDDY)
Autosomal dominant
moderate 1.5%
n = 5,136 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000157-9615 · omia.org →
FGF4what this gene does

FGF4 influences leg length by affecting bone growth, leading to shorter legs in certain breeds.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry this gene, it's worth discussing spinal health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t guarantee problems.

Von Willebrand's Disease, Type 1 (vWD 1)
Autosomal recessive
low 2.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001057-9615 · omia.org →
Cone-Rod Dystrophy (cord1-PRA/crd4)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low 0.27%
n = 5,145 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001432-9615 · omia.org →
RPGRIP1what this gene does

RPGRIP1 is a gene involved in the function of photoreceptor cells in the eye, which help dogs see in different light conditions.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry RPGRIP1 mutations, it’s worth discussing with your vet to understand the risks and monitor eye health.

Cystinuria Type I-A (SLC3A1 p.I192V)
Autosomal recessive
low 0.17%
n = 5,154 dogs · 3 variants tested · OMIA:000256-9615 · omia.org →
SLC3A1what this gene does

SLC3A1 is a gene that helps transport certain amino acids in the kidneys. It plays a key role in preventing the buildup of cystine, which can form stones.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry SLC3A1 variants, it’s worth discussing cystinuria risks with your vet, especially if urinary issues arise.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (Discovered in the Giant Schnauzer; NECAP1-related)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002198-9615 · omia.org →
Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (prcd-PRA)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,146 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001298-9615 · omia.org →
PRCDwhat this gene does

PRCD is a gene involved in the health of a dog's retina, the part of the eye that detects light and helps with vision.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry PRCD changes, it's worth discussing eye health and potential genetic testing with your vet.

Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1 (Discovered in Mastiff-related breeds; CMR1)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001444-9615 · omia.org →
BEST1what this gene does

BEST1 is a gene that helps maintain the health of the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It plays a role in keeping the cells in the retina functioning properly.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry BEST1 variants, it’s worth discussing retinal health with your vet, especially if you notice any vision changes.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy risk factor (Discovered in the Doberman Pinscher; PDK4-related)
Autosomal dominant (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:000162-9615 · omia.org →
PDK4what this gene does

PDK4 helps regulate how cells use energy, especially in the heart muscle.

For your dog: If your dog is one of the breeds known to carry this gene, it’s worth discussing heart health with your vet, but being a carrier doesn’t mean your dog will develop disease.

Cystinuria Type I-B (SLC7A9 p.A217T)
Autosomal recessive (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:001880-9615 · omia.org →
SLC7A9what this gene does

SLC7A9 is a gene that helps transport certain amino acids in the kidneys. It plays a role in how the body handles cystine, an amino acid that can form crystals.

For your dog: If your dog is a carrier, it’s worth discussing with your vet to monitor urinary health and catch any issues early.

Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:000588-9615 · omia.org →
ADAMTS17what this gene does

ADAMTS17 is a gene that influences body size and also plays a role in certain eye conditions. It affects the structure of tissues in the eye and elsewhere in the body.

For your dog: If your dog belongs to a breed known to carry ADAMTS17 variants, it’s worth discussing genetic testing and eye exams with your vet to stay ahead of potential issues.

Full ADAMTS17 gene page →
Craniomandibular Osteopathy (Discovered in the Cairn, Scottish and West Highland White Terrier)
Autosomal dominant (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:002244-9615 · omia.org →
SLC37A2what this gene does

SLC37A2 is a gene involved in how cells manage certain sugar molecules, which can affect bone development.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry this gene variant, it's worth discussing with your vet, especially if you notice jaw discomfort or eating issues.

Hypocatalasia
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001138-9615 · omia.org →
CATwhat this gene does

CAT is a gene that helps produce an enzyme called catalase, which breaks down hydrogen peroxide in the body to prevent cell damage.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed that can carry this gene, it’s worth asking your vet about testing—being a carrier doesn’t mean your dog is affected, but it can inform health decisions.

Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (Discovered in Poodles)
Autosomal dominant
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000247-9615 · omia.org →
Shar-Pei Autoinflammatory Disease (SPAID)
Autosomal dominant (Incomplete penetrance)
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001561-9615 · omia.org →
MTBPwhat this gene does

MTBP is a gene involved in regulating inflammation in the body. It helps control how the immune system responds to triggers.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry MTBP variants, it's worth discussing with your vet whether genetic testing or monitoring for inflammation-related issues makes sense.

Factor VII Deficiency
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,153 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000361-9615 · omia.org →
F7what this gene does

The F7 gene helps produce a protein important for blood clotting, which stops bleeding when dogs get injured.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry F7 variants, it's worth mentioning to your vet before any surgery or if you notice unusual bleeding.

Fanconi Syndrome
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,153 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:000366-9615 · omia.org →
Amelogenesis Imperfecta (Discovered in the Parson Russell Terrier; AI)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:001805-9615 · omia.org →
ENAMwhat this gene does

ENAM is a gene that helps form enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth. It plays a key role in making sure teeth develop strong and smooth.

For your dog: If your dog is from one of these breeds, it’s worth asking your vet about ENAM and dental health, especially if you notice unusual wear or discoloration on their teeth.

Early-Onset Progressive Polyneuropathy (Discovered in the Greyhound)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 2 variants tested · OMIA:002120-9615 · omia.org →
NDRG1what this gene does

NDRG1 is a gene involved in nerve cell function and maintenance, helping keep the nervous system working properly.

For your dog: If your dog is from a breed known to carry NDRG1 variants, it’s worth discussing with your vet, especially if you notice any mobility issues.

Episodic Falling (EF)
Autosomal recessive
low <0.1%
n = 5,154 dogs · 1 variant tested · OMIA:001592-9615 · omia.org →
Plus 5 more at lower frequency. Full table available via the API when shipped.
Source: Donner J et al. 2023. Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651 · Evidence: Limited (DTC ascertainment, tag-SNP proxy) · Confounding MEDIUM · License CC-BY-4.0 · Phene IDs from OMIA (Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).
Sample size in this breed: 5,154 dogs from the Donner 2023 cohort.

Which Mendelian variants matter most for Pugs?

The Mendelian-disease table above lists 25 variants at observable carrier frequency, from 194 variants screened in 5,154 Pugs (Donner 2023). Two matter most by carrier frequency and clinical impact.

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Degenerative myelopathy in Pugs is an autosomal-recessive-with-incomplete-penetrance spinal-cord degeneration. Affected dogs lose hind-limb coordination and muscle control over months to years. It is progressive and incurable. 26.0% of Pugs in the Donner cohort carry the variant (n=5,154). That is one in four.

The incomplete penetrance matters: not every dog with two copies becomes symptomatic. The Donner 2023 dataset does not report a confirmed penetrance figure for DM in Pugs specifically; penetrance data for this breed remains unpublished. Testing is available through standard panels. The Pug Dog Club recommends DM carrier screening for breeding stock.

Chondrodystrophy and Intervertebral Disc Disease Risk (CDDY)

Chondrodystrophy and intervertebral disc disease risk in Pugs is an autosomal-dominant variant in the FGF4 retrogene. Pugs carry this variant at 100% frequency in both copies (both the CFA18 and CFA12 retrogenes are fixed in the breed). The classical chondrodystrophic phenotype is fixed in Pugs, but the breed standard emphasizes a compact, cobby body rather than the dramatically shortened limbs seen in Dachshunds or Basset Hounds. The CDDY variant is nonetheless associated with IVDD risk regardless of visible limb proportion.

The CDDY variant carries consistent intervertebral disc disease risk across all carriers. Pugs with their signature flat face and compact body are therefore at high baseline IVDD risk as part of the breed type itself. This is not a rare allele; it is the breed. 1.5% of Pugs in the Donner cohort carry a detectable heterozygous or homozygous CDDY variant at the panel locus (n=5,136, Donner 2023). Testing identifies dogs with elevated risk beyond the breed’s typical baseline.

Von Willebrand’s Disease, Type 1 (vWD 1)

Von Willebrand’s disease Type 1 in Pugs is an autosomal-recessive bleeding disorder caused by low levels of von Willebrand factor. Affected dogs have prolonged bleeding after trauma or surgery. 2.1% of Pugs carry the variant (n=5,154). The penetrance is low: Donner S4 confirmed phenotype in only 6/33 at-risk dogs (maximum 18% penetrance).

Testing is available. Affected dogs are managed through surgical precautions and transfusion support if needed.

How should I test my Pug?

A breed-specific panel from a CLIA-accredited lab is the high-yield path. The minimum useful set for Pugs is degenerative myelopathy (DM), CDDY (chondrodystrophy/IVDD), von Willebrand’s disease Type 1, and cone-rod dystrophy (crd4). These four cover the highest-frequency and highest-impact variants in the breed.

What should I feed a Pug?

Feeding a Pug well means feeding around the breed’s brachycephalic anatomy and high baseline intervertebral disc disease risk. Pugs cannot pant efficiently, which means heat-of-the-day exercise is dangerous and meal timing matters more than it does for most breeds. Add to that the breed’s near-universal CDDY variant carriage and high degenerative myelopathy carrier frequency (26.0%, n=5,154), and spinal health becomes a primary nutritional priority.

Heat management drives meal timing. Pugs overheat faster than longer-muzzled breeds because they cannot cool themselves through evaporative panting. Feed the main meal in the cool morning or evening, not midday. Small, frequent meals are safer than one large meal, which increases abdominal pressure and disc stress.

Joint and spinal support matters because intervertebral disc disease risk is breed-typical. All Pugs carry the FGF4 retrogene that predisposes to IVDD; the variant is fixed in the breed. An adult formulation with glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids is evidence-based support. A large body of peer-reviewed literature (including ACVIM guidelines on joint disease) supports these supplements in breeds at risk for degenerative joint disease and disc herniation. Maintain lean body condition aggressively: a Pug at ideal weight has better spinal support than an overweight one, and excess weight accelerates disc degeneration.

Protein adequacy and taurine sufficiency prevent secondary problems. Pugs with degenerative myelopathy (26% carrier frequency) benefit from adequate dietary protein and muscle-sparing during the symptomatic phase. A minimum of 18% crude protein in adult food is the NRC 2006 standard for adult maintenance; for Pugs with DM risk or progression, 22-25% is appropriate. Taurine supplementation is not contraindicated in Pugs. Cardiac support is a reasonable goal in a small-breed dog, though breed-specific mitral valve disease prevalence data for Pugs is not established in the Donner 2023 dataset. Standard commercial foods designed for toy breeds typically meet these targets, but verify the label.

What we don’t know

The honest summary is that we do not know which Pugs in the 26% degenerative myelopathy carrier pool become symptomatic and which do not. Donner 2023 does not publish a penetrance fraction for DM in Pugs specifically. The gap between the 26% carrier frequency and observed symptomatic cases suggests incomplete penetrance, but the degree is not yet quantified for this breed. That gap means environmental and polygenic modifiers are at work, but they are not yet mapped. Age of onset also varies widely in published case reports; symptomatic dogs in the literature present anywhere from middle age to late life.

The relationship between heat stress and IVDD symptom progression in Pugs specifically has not been formally studied. Brachycephalic overheating is well-documented (Packer et al. 2012, BMC Veterinary Research). Anecdotal owner reports link heat exposure to acute disc herniation in Pugs. We do not yet have prospective data isolating that causal link in this breed.

Frequently asked questions about Pugs

What is the most common genetic disease in Pugs? Degenerative myelopathy. 26.0% of Pugs carry the variant (Donner 2023, n=5,154), though not all carriers become symptomatic due to incomplete penetrance.

Are Pugs prone to back problems? Yes. All Pugs carry the FGF4 retrogene that predisposes to intervertebral disc disease. The breed’s compact, chondrodystrophic body type is inseparable from that risk. Avoid jumping, sustained running, and rapid weight gain. Lean body condition and spinal support (glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3) are the owner’s primary levers.

How long do Pugs typically live? The atlas-derived median lifespan for Pugs is 11.5 years. Some individual Pugs exceed the median, though published lifespan data beyond the atlas figure is limited.

Should I do a DNA test on my Pug? For breeding stock, yes. For pet Pugs, testing helps you identify degenerative myelopathy and von Willebrand’s disease carriers so you can plan preventive care and manage breeding decisions if you ever choose to breed.

Can Pugs handle heat and exercise? Pugs are brachycephalic and overheat easily. Exercise should be short, low-intensity, and in cool parts of the day. Avoid strenuous play in warm weather. Their anatomy does not permit the thermoregulation that longer-muzzled breeds have.

What do I feed a Pug with degenerative myelopathy? There is no cure, but nutrition supports quality of life. Maintain lean body condition to reduce spinal load. Use a diet with adequate protein (22-25% crude protein), glucosamine, and omega-3 fatty acids. Consult your veterinarian about pharmaceutical support as symptoms progress.

Is Von Willebrand’s disease a serious problem in Pugs? It can be. The variant is autosomal recessive with low penetrance (confirmed in only 18% of at-risk dogs), so many carriers are asymptomatic. Affected dogs have prolonged bleeding after injury or surgery. Inform your veterinarian if your Pug is a carrier before any procedure.

Do Pugs need special nutrition as puppies? Toy-breed puppy formulations are appropriate. Transition to an adult toy-breed formulation by around one year of age, following the food manufacturer’s or your veterinarian’s guidance. Avoid overfeeding: excess weight in puppyhood increases joint and spinal stress later.

A gift to human medicine

Pugs are a natural model for human disease

Because the same genes cause the same conditions across species, the inherited conditions documented in Pugs help researchers understand, and work toward treating, the human diseases they model. This is the dog advancing human medicine. The breed models the human disease; it does not have it, and this is not a prediction for your dog.

Human equivalents via OMIA → Mondo / OMIM. Model-of, not identity.
Documented in OMIA

Every condition recorded in the Pug

Beyond the testable carriers above, OMIA's literature catalogue records 13 genetic conditions in the Pug, 9 of which have a known human equivalent. This is the documented landscape across all Pugs ever studied, not a prediction for any one dog.

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA); Nicholas, Tammen & Sydney Informatics Hub, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70
Documented in the breed's literature is not carrier status and not a forecast for an individual dog. Human equivalents are mapped via Mondo/OMIM. Carrier frequencies (above) are the separately-measured testable subset (Donner 2023).
The data behind this page

Where every number on this page came from.

This page draws on three primary data sources. Carrier frequencies for the Mendelian section come from Donner et al. 2023 (CC-BY-4.0). We grade these data at evidence Limited because the cohort is a direct-to-consumer ascertainment, which biases toward owners who chose to test their dogs. The panel also uses tag-SNP proxies for some variants rather than direct causal-variant assays. Limited is a study-design grade, not a quality grade: the Donner cohort is the largest open canine-genotype dataset in existence and we are grateful for it. We rate the confounding MEDIUM.

Population-genetic dimensions (heterozygosity, intra-breed PCA distance, nearest neighbors, trait-locus frequencies) come from CanVAS (Brundage 2026), harmonized through the Sniff Atlas. The exact release date and verification commit are pinned at the bottom of the page so a researcher can trace a number back to a specific snapshot. The disease-gene-variant graph comes from OMIA (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals; Nicholas, Tammen, and the Sydney Informatics Hub at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney; retrieved April 2026, DOI 10.25910/2AMR-PV70).

What this page does not yet have. Inheritance modes and per-disease penetrance evidence from Donner 2023 are now in the structured data for every variant the panel covers. Mondo, OMIM, Ensembl, and HGNC cross-references on gene pages remain pending, they arrive in December 2026 alongside the imputed 9.67M-variant CanVAS dataset via the OMIA SQL dump absorption. Until then, gene IDs carry NCBI Gene and OMIA phene URLs only; the wider human-homolog and disease-ontology cross-reference set fills in with that release.

How to cite this page. The computed dimensions on this page are derived from the open Sniff Atlas v1.0.1 (Gehring 2026, doi:10.5281/zenodo.20566358, CC-BY 4.0). Full citation formats including BibTeX, RIS, and CITATION.cff at sniff.world/cite.

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References
  1. Donner J, Freyer J, Davison S, Anderson H, Blades M, Honkanen L, et al. (2023). Genetic prevalence and clinical relevance of canine Mendelian disease variants in over one million dogs. PLOS Genetics 19(2):e1010651. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010651
  2. Brundage J, et al. (2026). CanVAS: a harmonized canine variant atlas. bioRxiv. doi:10.64898/2026.04.13.718238
  3. Nicholas, F.W., Tammen, I., & Sydney Informatics Hub. (2026). Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) [dataset]. The University of Sydney. https://omia.org. doi:10.25910/2AMR-PV70 (retrieved April 2026).
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Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · Donner 2023 · OMIA