Health considerations, however, are paramount in the Pug as in other breeds. The UK Kennel Club now has a clause in the Interim Standard for the Pug explicitly stating the importance of health issues in the Standard.

What is a “diamond” or a “thumb mark”? A “diamond” on the forehead of a Pug can be interpreted as the diamond-shaped pattern made on the forehead partly due to the convergence of the wrinkles, and usually more noticeable when the dog is alert and the muscles are taut. But it is also due to black pigmentation, which is a clear requirement of the Standard. Dogs B1/2, B3/4 and B5/6 all show a form of “diamond”. (In the sections of the CISPUG covering “Colour” and “Markings” we will be able to show contrast, or lack of it, more clearly because the drawings will be in colour). The wrinkle in B1 – B6 is clearly defined, harmonious and not excessive.

Note that in the Black versions of all these Wrinkle drawings, wrinkle definition is much less easy to see although, in a solid Black dog, much depends on the way in which light falls upon the head.

A “thumb mark” can be interpreted as a small black mark on the forehead created, as with the diamond, by the convergence of the head wrinkles and also by black pigmentation.

No version of the Breed Standard insists on these markings, nor is it stated exactly where they should be, although common sense suggests that both the “diamond” and the “thumb mark” will be in the centre of the forehead. B7/B8 does not display a “diamond”, by any stretch of the imagination, but he conceivably sports a “thumb mark”. B9/10 shows a distinct midline to the wrinkle, which harmonises well with the head, but you could not say there was either a diamond pattern there, nor a thumb mark.

Black Pugs, of course, cannot display either feature, nor the black “mole”.

B11/B12 show a dog with slightly odd looking wrinkle, and this is not surprising as it is in fact based on the wrinkle pattern of a Bloodhound head, which is very narrow. You would not often see this pattern of wrinkles on the head of a Pug, therefore, but if you did, it would not be incorrect according to the Breed Standard. Nor, in fact, does it detract appreciably from his expression There is even what might be called a “diamond” marking in the centre of his forehead.

B13/B14 have big wrinkles. B15/B16 have large wrinkles that are also deep. Big wrinkles tend to be rather loose. None of the dogs in this particular sequence have wrinkle that obscure either the eyes or the nostrils but big, loose wrinkle can easily become a health issue, and we have shown a Pug, in the sequence on Balance, where this does occur. We will be including other drawings, in the CISPUG, to illustrate the problems of excessive wrinkle, or wrinkle that is too big.

So far, we have shown Fawn Pugs which demonstrate clear contrast between the base fawn colour and the black markings. The last three drawings in this sequence show what are usually referred to as “smutty” Fawns, and which do not show this much desired contrast; rather, the black hairs in the coat mingle with the fawn and in some dogs there are actually solid areas of black to the head.

B19/B20 and B21/B22 are stark opposites. B19/B20 has excessive, heavy, deep, ugly wrinkle – and quite foreign to a good Pug head and expression. The wrinkle also extends down the cheeks in a manner that accentuates the roundness of the dog’s head but also adds to its untypical appearance.

This type of wrinkle is based on the head of a Shar-Pei. It represents everything to avoid, for good health and good type. In reality, a dog with such wrinkle would probably have a heavy and unhealthy overnose wrinkle, but we did not burden him with this as well.

B21 and B22, by contrast, have insufficient wrinkle for good type, and what wrinkles there are do not have very clear definition. Note that, for once, the Black version has the advantage here. Because it is harder to see wrinkle on a Black than on a Fawn Pug, (never more so than when the light is behind the dog), it is quite easy to miss the fact that this Pug does not have enough of it.

B23 shows a Black Pug with an attractive head but this cannot be seen very well because it is not well enough illuminated. Much of the wrinkle on the head disappears and little can be seen of the chin. B24 is more evenly lit, you can see a good deal of wrinkle on the forehead including, in fact, the shape of the “diamond”. But the chin still appears to recede because it is in shadow – although, as you can see from B25, in fact this template shows a Pug with a good chin and wide, square underjaw. B25 has been lit full on, as in facing into bright sunlight. You can see all the wrinkle, plus the round and well proportioned shape of the skull. But the colour looks washed out and the dog’s eyes will inevitably appear light.