Pug Colors – All the Different Types of Pugs Can Be

COLOR OF PUGS

Do you have a pug that is not a fawn or black color, or are you looking for a pug of a rare color?

There are many different coat colors that a pug can be, with most pugs being fawn or black.

In this article, we will discover all the possible Pug colors and types that your dog can have.

Let’s get started.

What Are The Most Common Pug Colors & Types?

The most common colors and types of pugs are Fawn and Black. The AKC only recognizes two colors of pugs; this is black and fawn.

At the same time, there are many different variations of the fawn ranging from a more apricot to a light cream color.

Most people who have a more silver pug can register as a fawn color but they are not able to compete in AKC shows.

Other club’s breed standards are a little different. The FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) and KC (The Kennel Club of the UK) recognize four different coat colors of Pugs:  Fawn, black, silver, and apricot.

The CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) is a little stricter and only allows fawn, silver-fawn, and black pugs to register.


What Are The Different Colors of Pugs?

If you plan to welcome a Pug to your home, here are the different colors of Pugs that you can see today.

1. Fawn Pugs

Fawn Pugs

A fawn pug is the most popular. Actually, about 2/3rds of all pugs are fawn color.

The color of a fawn pug may vary somewhat.  They are seen from a light cream color to more of a dark cream with different shades of gold.  They may even have red, orange, or silver undertones.

Not only do these colors vary, but they can have different shadings, with some areas of the body being a different color than the next.

2. Black Pugs

black Pugs

Black pugs are the 2nd most common color and the other color that is most widely accepted in the show ring.

These dogs should be dark black on their whole body.  Some may have small white markings on their body or feet.

This is due to the gene and is actually considered a flaw in the show ring.

  • If your Pug only has pure black genes, they will look bluish-black in the sunlight. This will always produce a black puppy.
  • If your dog has one fawn gene and one black gene, they will look more rusty brown in the sunlight.

The Pugs can produce either fawn or black puppies, depending on what genes are contributed by the other parent.

3. Silver Fawn and Silver Pugs

Silver Pugs

source: Instagram

Silver and Silver-Fawn pugs have a beautiful grey color to their coat.

Just like with the fawn color pugs, there are light and dark variations to this coat color.

Of all the pugs, only about 3% are silver color. If you want to register your silver-fawn Pug, you can have them registered as a fawn pug.

4. Apricot and Apricot-Fawn Pugs

Apricot-Fawn Pugs

source: Instagram

Apricot pugs have a reddish undertone to their coat. Apricot pugs only account for about 4% of all pugs.

These pugs tend to have a lighter area on their body, usually above their face. This coat color can also be registered as a fawn pug.

5. Brindle Pugs

Brindle Pugs

source: Pinterest

Only about 1% of pugs are brindle in color. This rare color is a mixture of black and light color markings that create a stripe effect.

This is not an accepted color in most dog shows, and your Pug will be disqualified for being this color.

This may be a wanted color, especially among people who also love other brachycephalic dog breeds.


What Are The Rare Pug colors?

While fawn is the most common and most popular color of a pug, there are many rare coat colors.

Brindle would be the rarest color to occur in a pure-bred pug. Most of the other colors are usually a crossbred dog that closely resembles a pug.

White is another very rare color that is usually a result of crossbreeding. Some rare pug colors that you may see are:

  • Brindle
  • White
  • Blue or Blue-fawn
  • Chocolate
  • Merle or Blue-Merle
  • Black and Tan
  • Panda (black and white)
  • Pink
  • Pied
  • Chinchilla
  • Platinum

These coat colors are usually not a pure-bred coat color but a mix of a few other breeds. Most of these breeders are breeding from the pure pug line.

If you want a pure breed pug, keep in mind that these rare pug colors are usually not pure breeds.


Are There Any Special Markings on Pugs?

The short answer is YES. Let’s find out what these special markings on Pugs are.

  • Mask and Ears

pug eat and muzzle

Most fawn pugs have a black mask and ears. The mask will start under their chin and extend up over their eyes as well as covering their muzzle.

These are the most common looks of a pug.  The masks and black ears can be of different shades and varying amounts to give each Pug their unique look.

  • Smuttiness

Some pugs have what is called smuttiness. This is when your Pug has a lot of black hairs that are mixed with lighter colors in their coat.

If your fawn-colored Pug has a few black hairs here and there, this is not considered smuttiness.

Many times, a dog with smuttiness will have enough black hairs which looks like a mild haze to their color.

Smuttiness is a fault and will cause your Pug to getting deductions in the show ring but will not be disqualified.

  • The Trace

the trace

A trace is a dark line on their back. A trace will usually begin at the scruff of their neck, going all the way straight now their back to the base of their tail.

This line can be varying degrees of thickness and darkness.

Sometimes the trace may not be apparent when your Pug is young and will slowly start to show up as they get older.

The opposite is also true, your Pug may have a trace at birth, and this will slowly fade as your Pug starts to mature.

  • The Thumbprint

pugs

A thumbprint is the dark patch area that is on your Pug’s forehead. Also be called a diamond due to the irregular or diamond shape of the mark.

A thumbprint is present when your pug is born and puppies very rarely develop these as they get older.

It may get bigger or darker as your dog ages but rarely does it appear or disappear as your puppy grows.

These two traits are very highly wanted in pug breeds. In the AKC show ring, the darker black these spots, the better.

  • White Paws

While white paws are not common or wanted in a show ring. However, they can happen.

White paws are usually due to the gene or mixed breed pugs.  A pug with white paws will likely have white on their chest, body, or face too.


Will My Pug Change Color When They Get Older?

It is normal for a dog to change color some as they get older.

As previously mentioned, some of the black markings may fade or get darker as your Pug gets older.

A fawn color pug may also get lighter or darker as they get older.

Some of the apricot or silver colorings may not be present when your Pug is born but may start to show up as your puppy grows and develops.

The amount of smuttiness can go away or even get darker as your Pug gets older.

As your Pug reaches adulthood, the black mask and ears will usually become darker.

As your Pug enters their senior years, they will also start to develop gray on the face and muzzle.

Your Pug will not change from a fawn pug puppy to a black pug as an adult or from a black pug puppy to a fawn pug as an adult.

The changes will be lightening and darkening the color they were as a puppy.


FAQs

1. Will the color of my Pug affects their behavior?

Some people do think that black pugs are more energetic and more personable than fawn pugs.

There are no studies that show that personality is related to coat color.

Most of the time, these differences in personality are how the dog was raised.

Pugs can be very hard-headed, loving, and loyal dogs.  These dogs are great with kids and very easy to train.

Each dog will have its own personality based mostly on their lifestyle and training, giving you a wonderful companion for many years.

2. Does a fawn Pug shed more than a black Pug?

The color of your Pug’s coat will not affect their shedding. Shedding is based on the breed of the dog and not their coat color.

Most Pugs have a double coat and will shed a pretty good bit. However, some black pugs shed less than the double-coated ones because of their single coat.

The coat type has a much more effect on shedding than the color of their fur.

3. Does a pug’s coat color affect the color of their nails?

Most pugs have black nails, no matter their coat color.

Some pugs may have a few light-colored or brown-colored nails, which makes it easier to see quickly when trimming their nails.

Coat color has no effect on the color of your Pug’s nails.


Final Thoughts

I hope you find this article helpful about the different colors of Pugs. Check out this video below for the different Pug types you may want to know.

Image source: Instagram