What Is a Group of Pugs Called? It's Honestly Cartoonish

The most widely accepted collective noun for a group of pugs is "grumble."

The term fits the breed well. Pugs make distinctive sounds, including snorts and low vocalizations, and a group of pugs can sound like they are constantly commenting on the world around them.

Dogs as a whole usually fall under general terms like "a pack" or "a group" of dogs. Those words work for all types and breeds.

Grumble is more specific. It joins a long list of creative collective noun choices people use when talking about animals, especially species and breeds with strong personalities.

Not all dogs receive unique group names. Many other dog breeds share the same basic labels without variation.

Pugs earned their own term because of how people experience them. Their sounds, expressions and behavior make a group feel busy and opinionated, which makes "grumble" feel right.

You will often see "grumble" used in social posts, comments and apps where users share photos or videos of pugs.

Not everyone agrees on using the term, and that is fine. Plenty of people stick with "group" or "pack," especially in everyday conversation.

A couple of pugs together feel different from a group of larger dogs. Pups tumble, snort, and crowd into a small space, which changes how the group looks and sounds.

That contrast explains why collective nouns vary. The way animals behave shapes the words people choose over time.

Whether you call them a grumble, a pack, or just a group of pugs, the word you choose shapes how others view the scene. That is why these terms continue to show up across the world, day after day.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.