Have you heard about the White Pug? This rare and unusual color combination will steal your heart the moment you see them. They have all of the adorable traits of a regular Pug. The only difference is the strikingly beautiful white coat that makes them stand out.
But what are White Pugs? They can either be a very pale fawn, albino or crossed with another breed with a white coat.
How they’ll behave as pets will depend upon which of these they are. Thus, it’s important to learn more about them and which type you’re looking at.
What Is A White Pug?
Basically, a White Pug is in most cases just that — a Pug with a white coat.
It’s not a usually recognized coat color for Pugs. The more known Pug colors on the AKC breed standard are fawn or black.
Some breeders have pursued purebred Pug puppies so they can get closer to white by breeding from the palest fawn dogs over many generations.
By doing this, breeders create dogs with a reliably Pug-like personality. But breeding within a small gene pool to create the lightest possible coloring can have adverse effects on their health over time.
If you didn’t know, very occasionally albino Pugs are born with a white coat. These Pugs can also have perfect pedigrees. But the genetic mutation which causes albinism can cause health issues of its own.
And finally, Pug dog crosses can also have some Pug-like traits, combined with a white coat inherited from another breed. So, their temperament and health depend on their ancestry.
White Pug Genetics
There are a small handful of special genetic recipes which can cause dogs to have beautiful and lovely white coats.
One of them is a white spotting series of genes. The white spotting genes cause patches of white – which can be small, or so large they cover the entire body.
None of the white spotting genes naturally occur in the Pug breed. So, the only way that they can be introduced is by outcrossing with other breeds.
Another gene that causes white fur is the recessive gene for albinism as we mentioned previously. But, you should be aware that dogs with albinism don’t make pigment at all anywhere in their skin, coat, eyes or nails.
White Pug Temperament
The temperament of a white coated Pug will depend upon how they came to be white. Basically meaning if they are a crossbreed, albino or something other.
The ‘classic’ Pug personality is known as endearing, cheeky, and affectionate.
A purebred Pug with a very pale fawn coat is likely to be the closest match to these qualities.
But, breeding for color can have pitfalls. Prioritising color over temperament means that character flaws might be passed on, as a trade off for achieving a paler coat. That, on the other hand, can cause health problems and can affect his behaviour in general.
Following relevant statistics, a purebred albino Pug should, in theory, also have a very typically Pug-like personality mentioned above.
Health and Life expectancy
Health wise Pugs aren’t generally a healthy breed. The same goes for white pugs too. They are brachycephalic, which means that breathing problems are common. Also, there is an increased risk of eye prolapse.
Other health problems Pugs might have:
- Cheyletiella Dermatitis (Walking Dandruff)
- Pug Dog Encephalitis
- Epilepsy
- Nerve Degeneration
- Corneal Ulcers
- Dry Eye
- Eye Problems
- Allergies
- Demodectic Mange
- Hip Dysplasia
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The life expectancy of a White Pug is between 12 and 15 years. Now, because of their white coat, these dogs are prone to other, serious health issues too. There is a connection between fur color and health in dogs. So, for example, dogs with a white coat or white patches on their ears or eyes, tend to have hearing and sight problems. In some cases, they can even be completely blind and deaf.
Conclusion – White pug
In conclusion, the white Pug is a beautiful dog, But they come with many health issues too. Pugs are amazing dogs, but they aren’t very healthy breeds. And with the white Pug it’s even worse because of their coat color.
And lastly, if you do decide to buy a white Pug puppy, make sure you’re prepared to pay the right price. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. White Pugs can cost up to 2000 dollars! So, if a breeder is offering you a white Pug puppy for a thousand bucks, don’t walk away, run away!
While you’re here read our other articles on Pugs and Pug mixes: