A rare PINK pug named Milkshake who counts 55,000 followers on Instagram lives a life of luxury

A rare pink pug, believed to be one of less than 100 worldwide, has shot to social media fame thanks to his unique look.

Milkshake, who lives with his owner in Canary Wharf, London, has dazzled the internet with his stunning baby blue eyes, pink nose, ears and toes and translucent coat that gives his body a rosy hue.

Having racked up 55,100 Instagram followers in 16 months, the 17-month-old pup is now so ‘Insta-famous’ that that he leaves passersby ‘starstruck’ in the street and is inundated with gifts. 

Milkshake, who was the only pink pug in his litter, immediately caught the eye of owner Maria London, 33, who knew she ‘had to have him’.

Since bringing Milkshake home when he was ten-weeks-old, marketing manager Maria has doted on her gorgeous pug to ensure he is always living his best life.

The pampered pooch is treated to weekly visits to a dog spa, regular outings for brunch with Maria, and often gets dolled up in cute outfits for photo shoots.

Sharing her pug’s luxury lifestyle on Instagram has seen Milkshake become a ‘pet influencer’ with tens of thousands of followers who recognise him wherever he goes.

And his proud owner gets flooded with daily messages from people telling her how much Milkshake’s antics have made them smile that day.

Maria said: ‘Milkshake is the most famous pink pug on social media.

‘His Instagram started just as a bit fun, but straight away he got such a positive response.

‘A lot of people messaged me saying they’d had a bad day and seeing Milkshake really cheered them up, which encouraged me to post more.

‘His following just kept getting bigger and bigger.

‘He gets recognised all the time, everywhere we go – not just in London but in different cities too.

‘Sometimes people come up and say, “There’s a pug just like him on Instagram called Milkshake” and I’m like, “This is Milkshake”.

‘People get a little star struck, it’s quite funny. Milkshake loves all the attention.

‘We get people messaging every single day asking if they can send him stuff. At Christmas he gets more gifts than I could ever dream of getting.

‘He enjoys getting dressed up and posing for all his photo shoots because he knows he’s guaranteed to get some chicken after.

‘When I do a shoot with him when we’re out and about, people will come over and take their own pictures and give him a cuddle. He loves it.

‘He’s a very pampered pug. He loves going to the dog spa for a wash, blow dry and pedicure every week.

‘Because pugs can have problems with the folds of skin on their face, I wash his face every morning and then put a special powder on. It’s like he gets a daily facial. He has a better beauty regime than me.’

Milkshake’s blush pink fur and skin is caused by a lack of pigmentation inherited from an albino pug in his lineage.

Albinism is a genetic disorder that often comes with health problems such as sunlight sensitivity and blindness.

But Maria is quick to reassure people with concerns about her pooch’s health that Milkshake is thankfully free from any of these complications because he only inherited albino colouring.

As well as spa breaks and brunches, Milkshake also takes part in national dog shows and regularly brushes shoulders with fashion influencers for events and photo and video shoots.

The pug also has his own dog sitter and dog trainer who is currently training him so he can feature in adverts and films in the future.

But when he’s not immersed in the glitz, glamour and fame, Milkshake is doing his most important job as a loving and trusty companion to Maria.

Maria said: ‘I had never even heard of pink pugs before but when I went to the breeder and spotted Milkshake I thought he was adorable and knew I had to have him.

‘They’re very rare. At the time, I think Milkshake was one of 30 in the world but there have been a few litters. There’s no more than 100 worldwide.

‘He’s not actually albino, he just has the colouring so he doesn’t suffer from any sight loss or hearing loss. He’s a happy healthy boy.

‘He’s very quirky. He sleeps on my head at night and he’s a very loud snorer. Luckily it doesn’t bother me because I’m a heavy sleeper.

‘Pugs are known as Velcro dogs because they always have to be near you and Milkshake is the same. He has no boundaries or idea of personal space.

‘He’s a happy go lucky dog and he’s very friendly. He gets himself in trouble sometimes at the park because he tries to approach every person and every dog and give them a lick.

‘He’s very affectionate and playful and he loves children. He needs someone with him all the time, he’s like a baby.

‘But I freelance and work from home lots so he’s very spoiled. If I do have to go to meetings, I make sure they’re at a dog-friendly cafe and take Milkshake with me.

‘He’s so chilled out, I’ve even been thinking of training him as a therapy dog. It’s quite amazing the effect he has on people.

‘I think he’s just brilliant, he’s so lovely. He’s my first dog and he is the best companion.’