The Pugs of Many Colors

One of the questions I get a lot is what the difference is between a black and fawn pug. I can tell from my two boys, there are big differences. Reuben is our first black pug, I had two fawns before, and Freddy is a fawn pug. Reuben, my black pug, is different than all other pugs I have owned. He is super energetic, athletic, a bit anxious, mischievous, and curious. Freddy is your typical pug, he loves to eat, he is a clown, requires massages on demand, and would prefer to snuggle on the couch than exercise. Another big difference is that Reuben sheds less than Freddy. People are always surprised by my answer.

Did you know there are several pug colors? From https://kookypugs.com/pug-colors/

Even though there is no scientific evidence that pug colors can dictate personality, many pug owners believe that color bring some specific traits. The standard pug colors recognized by the American Kennel Club are black and fawn. There are many other colors beyond the standard and each color has their own unique personality, traits, and health concerns. Let’s look at our pug rainbow of colors.

Fawn Pugs

When most people think of a pug, they picture a fawn pug. Fawn is the most common pug color. They have a tan coat with the classic black muzzle and brown eyes. Sometimes their coats are shaded differently, some may even appear to have a little black fur mixed in spots. Fawn pugs are the most seen in media, Doug the Pug, Frank from Men In Black, Mighty Mike, and every commercial seems to have a fawn pug. Fawns are your typical pug, with the personality such as clowning around, being love bugs, snorting, farting, and doing pretty much whatever they want: The puggiest of pugs!

Freddy in all his Fawn glory.

Black Pugs

Black pugs have the most dominant gene, despite seeing fawn pugs everywhere. The amount of shedding is the biggest difference. Most black pugs will have a single coat whereas fawns have a double coat. Pugs shed a lot since they have more hair packed per square inch on their body frame than any other breed. With the single coat, black pugs will shed less frequently. Some black pugs will have a white patch on their chest while others have a solid black coat. They seem to be more energetic than any other pug color. I stress this to anyone looking to be a first-time pug parent. If you are prone to allergies or do not like fur on everything, a black pug might be the best option for you. Nonetheless, they are sweethearts!

Reuben stretching. Notice his white patch on his chest.

White Pugs

White pugs are rare, but more seem to be popping up among pug owners. There is a little controversy about their breeding. White pugs have a form of albinism, so they do not actually have a white coat. Some breeders may breed a purebred pug with a white coat dog to get the white color but pass it off as a full-bred pug. If you are looking to adopt a white pug from a breeder, you need to ask the legitimacy of the dog unless it is a true albino pug. Albinism will bring its own set of health issues. White Pugs will not produce melanin; they will be sensitive to the sun and may have a higher risk for cancers. Like black pugs, they have a single coat, so shedding is less. Sometimes white pugs are bred with a leucistic gene which expresses light blue eyes! They have your typical pug characteristics and personality, they are goofy, friendly, and your overall lovebug. Personally, I am fascinated with white pugs, they are beautiful!

White Pug from Kooky Pugs

Brindle Pugs

Brindle is a rare pug color; they actually make up only about 1% of all pugs. They will have a light and dark coat which appears to look like stripes or a patterned coat. Like white pugs, you need to ask the breeder the legitimacy of the dog unless it is a true brindle pug. Both parents need to be a brindle pug to produce a brindle litter. Some breeders may breed a pug with a Boston Terrier to achieve this coloration. Brindle owners have told me that they are a little easier to train than other types of pugs. They have the same energy level as black pugs. Brindles don’t have any higher extended health concerns with their breeding but can have the same health issues that are common in the pug breed.

Brindle Pug from Dog Breeds FAQ

Silver Pugs

Silver pugs are an offshoot of fawn pugs. They have a lighter coat with gray sheen to it. Silver pugs are considered to be the lightest color a pug can be. They can be harder to find than black and fawn pugs, but the Silvers are growing in popularity. Silver is already a standard pug color in the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club will allow you to register a Silver Pug as a Fawn Pug, but there has been a push in the last few years to recognize silver as a standard pug color. Like White Pugs, they are stunning looking puggers!

A Silver Pug Puppy from Panini Pugs

Apricot Pugs

Think of a fawn pug that has a warm orange tinge to their coat. The orange coloration is a result of a recessive gene. The orange hue gives their coat a fluffier appearance. To me, they appear like a cuddly pug teddy bear. Apricots are another pug color you do not see often. Some have claimed that Apricot pugs are a little feistier than fawn pugs while others say they are relaxed or timid at times.

An Apricot Pug from Warren Photographic

Pink Pugs

Pink pugs are considered trendy, exotic, or designer pugs. Like White pugs, pink pugs are bred with albinism causing them to appear pink. Pink pugs have a blonde fur coat with a pink nose and paws. They will also have blue eyes. With albinism, they have health issues such as skin and eye irritations, sensitive to sunlight, higher risk for cancer, and prone to severe arthritis. They are very rare, there are only a hundred or so worldwide. They also run smaller than any other pug colors. If you are looking to own a pink pug, take into consideration the health needs and expenses you will need for them.

Milkshake the Pug is a rare pink pug and pug celebrity!

Panda Pugs

Another exotic pug color is panda pugs. These pugs are just like a coloring of a panda, they have a white coat with black markings around their eyes, ears, and feet. Many panda pugs will have a white muzzle instead of the iconic black muzzle and have blue or brown eyes. A plus of a panda pug is that they do not shed as much as the other type of pugs. Some pandas have vitiligo, a disorder that causes the skin to lose its pigmentation, which is not curable, but can be treated with medicine. I have met one panda pug in my travels and the little guy was a sweet as any pug can be and very playful.

Nacho the Panda Pug.

Chocolate Pugs

Chocolate pugs are a diluted black color. These pugs will have a brown mask instead of the iconic black muzzle. Their coat is like a fawn or apricot but will have a warm brown chocolatey color. Breeders will achieve the chocolate coat by mating black pug parents with a recessive liver dilution gene that affects the pigment in the coat and skin. Due to the breeding and rarity, chocolate pugs are considered exotic, trendy or designer and with any pug like this, there is always a higher risk of health issues.

Albert the Chocolate Pug

Merle Pugs

A merle coat has varying dark patches of color on top of the coat, and some will have blue eyes. Like white pugs, breeding a pug with merle coat is controversial. Even though merle pugs are beautiful, reputable breeders will not breed a merle pug and are banned in several kennel clubs. To achieve the merle coat, some will breed a pug and Chihuahua or an English Bulldog mix. Merle pugs have a higher risk of deafness, ocular disorders, heart, and bone issues. If you are presented with adopting a merle pug, ask a lot of health-related questions and check with your vet on what type of health plan and budgeting to execute.

A Merle Pug from the UK

Black and Tan Pugs

Another rare pug color, Black and Tan Pugs have a black coat with tan markings on the chest, tail, legs, ears, and head, similar markings to a Rottweiler. Like other rare pug colors, they are a result of crossbreeding a black pug with a Frenchie. Like all the latter pug colors, there is a higher risk of health issues with the Black and Tans.

A black and tan pug from Pinterest

If you are looking to own a pug of a different color, do a lot of research about the type of pug and the breeder or rescue the pug is coming from. Ask questions about their health history and temperament.

If it is a breeder, you should always meet the parents. What health tests have the parents and puppies had? Does the breeder do genetic testing for health indicators? If you are rescuing, it might be a little harder getting a full health background. It would be worth talking to your vet about genetic or DNA testing. Remember if the coloring is different than black or fawn, always do your homework and ask questions so you can accommodate your pug’s needs.