Pug's Life...
Pugs are..
If you want a dog..
A Pug may be right for you.
If you don't want to deal with..
A Pug may not be right for you.
If I were considering a Pug...
My major concerns would be:
3. Constant heavy shedding. It's been said that Pugs shed only once a year -- for 365 days. In other words, they shed constantly. Their short hairs cling tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life
4. Housebreaking. Pugs tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training before you see results
5. Gassiness (flatulence) that can send you running for cover. Fortunately, Pugs who are fed a natural diet of real meat and other fresh foods have much less trouble with gassiness.
7. Serious health problems. The biggest problem with Pugs is health. This breed is grossly deformed. The unnaturally short face and upturned nose means breathing difficulties and the potential for heatstroke in hot humid weather. Their compromised respiratory system makes it risky to anesthetize them. Most of these dogs can't even whelp their puppies without veterinary intervention.
The large shallow-set eyes are extremely vulnerable to injury and infection. Pugs are also prone to a serious brain disease, joint problems, and skin and allergy problems.
In my opinion, what has been done to this breed's structure in order to create an "amusing" appearance and to win in the show ring is a travesty.
When it comes to a Pugs’ health, like any other dog, things can go wrong. In fact, based on statistics, you can pretty much expect at least one major health crisis in your Pug, usually two. There’s nothing you can do about these things. You just can’t change fate. But there are things, some obvious and others not so obvious, that you can do to give your Pug its greatest chance at a long, healthy life.
Keep
Your Pug Slim and Trim: Many people figure
that a Pug is supposed to be fat, but that’s not true. Pugs are muscular and
solid dogs, with round features. Stand above your Pug while it is standing up,
and look down at his figure. If your Pug looks like a battery, it should drop a
pound or two. What should they look like in “aerial view”? Narrow at the
neck, broad at the shoulders, narrowing down from the shoulders with a slight
broadening by the rump. It’s like an inverted hour glass shape. Follow these
easier said than done food tips, and your Pug will be well on her way to being
slim and trim: Don’t feed your Pug people food, use dry chow instead of
canned, limit the treats and consult your veterinarian regarding how much your
Pug should eat.
Fence
Your Pug In: All
dogs, (assuming you live in a house) should have a fenced in yard or run. There
are many reasons why so I won’t get into all of them. But I will mention the
most serious ones. Pugs and cars don’t mix. Pugs and larger dogs and other
loose animals don’t mix. Pugs and strangers do mix, but that isn’t always
good for the Pug. Pugs get lost, Pugs get kidnapped, and Pugs get excited when
they see a stranger and lose sight of potential threats.
Leash
Your Pug: When you’re out of your house
or fenced in yard, your Pug should be on a leash. Even if you’re carrying your
Pug, that leash should be rolled up and wrapped around your hand, thumb in loop.
Why? Because your holding your Pug is no guarantee he won’t get away from you.
Care For Your Pugs Teeth: How does their teeth fit into having a longer, healthier life? A Pug with healthy teeth will digest her food better than one that gums her food, thus reducing the chances of intestinal blockages and stomach related illness. Rotting and unhealthy teeth lead to abscesses, which can cause an array of secondary infections, some of which can be serious. Often overlooked regarding teeth care is the fact that Pugs don’t react well to anesthesia, which is exactly what they’ll need if teeth need to be removed. So how do you care for their teeth? Make your treats of choice Milk Bones, or some other hard, mildly abrasive product. No, I’m not plugging Milk Bones per say. But I am suggesting that a Milk Bone or similar product is hard and mildly abrasive compared to something like Snausages. The Milk Bone type product reduces plaque and tartar, the meaty and moist Snausage like treats make fertile breeding grounds for plaque and tarter. On top of this, brush your Pugs’ teeth from time to time. It’s not that hard once you learn how and by all means ask your vet for advice on how to do this. Some helpful hints? Get liver flavored toothpaste from your nearest well-stocked pet supply shop. Wrap your Pug in a towel to prevent squirming, get someone in your house to help you keep your Pugs mouth open, and brush away quickly.
Take
Your Pug on Some Special Trips: A happy
Pug is a healthy Pug. Pugs love cars and you love being with your Pug, so why
not take your Pug for a nice long drive once in a while? Do you know the two
most common destinations for a Pug in a car? The vet and the nail clipper!
Whether your Pug likes the vet or not (some do, but we all know none of them
like getting their nails clipped), imagine the joy on your Pugs face when she
gets out of the car and sees something other than the vets office. It’s good
for their psyche and probably good for your mood too so come on, take your Pug
for a nice ride!
Give Your Pug Daily Attention: What do I mean? How could I possibly suggest there is a Pug owner on this planet who doesn’t give his Pug daily attention?! I’ll answer both questions at the same time: We’re people and because of that we tend to get overwhelmed by life every once in a while. Work problems, family crises, kids acting out, not enough time in a 24 hour day to do what we need to do. When you’re overwhelmed, and even when you’re not, remember you’ve got a little furry Pug just waiting to cheer you up, or make you happier than you already are. Not only will you cheer up by going to your Pug when you’re down, but your Pug will cheer up too. No matter what your mood, and no matter how busy you are, make sure you pay attention to your Pug every single day. Pet your Pug, play with your Pug, sit with your Pug and most often overlooked, talk to your Pug. They love your voice almost as much as they love food. Pugs need attention to be truly happy dogs, and a happy dog lives longer. It’s that simple.
"Housetraining a Pug is like trying to get my fourteen year old son to clean up his room"---Judy Baines, a PugVillage reader
This about sums it up...Pugs are not easily housetrained. Come to think of it, they're not easily trained at all. Whether it's housetraining, or training them to come, stay or sit, training a Pug just isn't easy. Why? Because Pugs are stubborn, independent and small...And they're also cute.
You're probably asking yourself "how does cute have anything to do with it"? The answer is simple really...Pug owners often think Pugs are cute even when they're not doing what they're supposed to do. For example, you're trying to teach your Pug to 'come', and he just sits there and tilts his head when you give the command. What does the typical Pug owner do then? He, or she says "awwe, look how cute Pugsley looks when he tilts his head". What will you train your Pug to do if this keeps happening? You'll train your Pug to tilt his head when you say 'come'. Hmmm.
The truth is that training a Pug to do anything depends as much upon you as the owner, as it does your Pug. And that is what this section of PugVillage.com is all about...
...Understanding not only your Pug, but also yourself as you enter into the wonderful world of Pug training. It's a Yin, Yang thing. You and your Pug. Your Pug and you. Together.
We've started this section of the site with articles focused specifically on housetraining, and you can find links to those on the left side of this page. However there will be more articles on a wide variety of training subjects coming very soon!
One of the
things everyone should know about when deciding on getting a dog are the health
issues specific to the breed of dog they’re considering buying. Pugs, like
most other breeds, have their share of breed specific health issues, and this
article, though not complete, should serve as a primer to understanding what
those more common issues are.
Luxating
Patella: Commonly
referred to as “trick knees”, Luxating Patella is fairly common in Pugs, and
other breeds of small dogs. In simple terms, it is the dislocation of the small
movable bone in the knee called the Patella, from the femur where it is normally
held in place by ligaments.
Mild
and severe cases are differentiated by the Patella falling back into place on
it’s own in mild cases. Whereas in severe cases, the Patella will fall out of
place frequently, even after being popped back in by a veterinarian. Severe
cases cases normally require surgery, not only to correct the problem and
relieve pain, but also to prevent the onset of arthritic conditions associated
with Luxating Patella. The surgery is delicate and expensive, though frequently
successful.
General
symptoms of Luxating Patella can be seen in the dog favoring the affected leg
when he runs or walks, placing it down only after several steps. In addition,
Pugs affected by it may also have difficulty sitting down and getting up, and
run in a bunny hop style, lifting both legs up at the same time, and jetting
them outward.
It is
important to note that while Luxating Patella is a genetic issue found often in
Pugs, it can also be brought to the forefront by excess weight. As Pugs often
battle weight problems, it’s also common to see Luxating Patella aggravated in
overweight Pugs. Keep in mind as well that a Pug diagnosed with Luxating Patella
may or may never have a problem requiring surgery. Some Pugs can and do live
their entire lives with Luxating Patella trouble free, others require surgery.
Only time can tell.
Progressive
Retinal Atrophy: Essentially, PRA is the degeneration
of the vessels around the retina. It usually begins with night blindness in
younger dogs, and their vision deteriorates progressively leading to blindness.
Pigmentary
Keratitis: The deposit of pigment on the white surface
of the eyes, PK is the result of many factors that either irritate or inflame
the cornea. If the factor causing the inflammation or irritation can be
identified, PK can be corrected with surgery.
Elongated
Soft Palate: Common in short muzzled breeds, ESP is
the obstruction of the dogs’ airways. The standard snoring of a Pug is a
degree of ESP in action, though more severe cases can be heard through sounds
such as honking, gasping for air and the blocking of the dogs’ vocal box. ESP
can be corrected through surgery.
Stenotic
Nares: Is a birth defect found in breeds with short
noses including the Pug and is essentially overly soft nasal tissue. When a dog
with overly soft nasal tissues breathes, their nostrils collapse, leaving them
to breathe through their mouths to get the necessary oxygen. You can identify a
dog with SN by noting a foamy discharge when they breathe or excessive breathing
through their mouths when they get excited. SN can be corrected through surgery.
Pug
Dog Encephalitis: Commonly called PDE, Pug Dog
Encephalitis is as the name implies, unique to Pugs. Little, if anything is
known of the causes of PDE, which is essentially an inflammation of the brain.
PDE tends to affect young to middle aged Pugs and feature seizure as it’s
primary symptom. Lethargy or listlessness and loss of muscle coordination can
precede the seizures. Accompanying seizures are several symptoms ranging from
aggression to pacing in circles to pressing their heads against objects such as
walls and people.
PDE appears to come in two varieties: Slow Progressive and Rapidly Progressing. The Slow Progressive form features seizures that recur in a matter of days, or weeks, where the Pug will, after the seizures, return to normal. Rapidly Progressing PDE features seizures, often more frequently, and disorientation in between seizures. While Phenobarbital can be used to control the seizures, and Corticosteroids can reduce inflammation, there is no cure for PDE and the result is generally the same as PDE progresses. It is important to note however that seizures are not necessarily a sign that your Pug has PDE. Pugs can, like many dogs, have epileptic seizures that can be treated with Phenobarbital and have absolutely nothing to do with PDE.
Pugs
are a wonderful breed of dog, however they’re not for everyone. As Pug
advocates it’s our responsibility to provide the negative aspects of Pug
ownership. PugVillage.com takes this approach because we want Pugs to be in
appropriate homes, for their benefit as well as your own.
When selecting a dog, it’s vitally important to match breed with owner, so
that the experience for all involved is a positive one. There are many things
you should consider before you even begin your search, and what follows is a
compilation of the most commonly mentioned downsides to Pugs. This article is
designed to focus on the people side of Pug ownership, to help you decide
whether your personality and lifestyle fits with the nature and characteristics
of the Pug breed. We urge you to consider these downsides carefully and
seriously before deciding on buying a Pug:
Health
Issues:
The bottom line regarding Pugs and health is that Pugs are prone to a myriad of
genetic health issues, and require more veterinary care than the average breed
of dog. If you get a Pug, be prepared to make a lot of trips to the vet. Not
every Pug will require frequent vet visits, but many do, so it’s in your best
interest to plan on spending a lot of time, and money at the vets office. If you
don’t have the time, money or willingness to commit the next 12 years to a dog
that may have frequent and significant health problems, don’t get a Pug.
Shedding:
As mentioned in our Pug FAQ’s section, Pugs shed a lot. In fact, they shed
more than a lot. They shed tons. If you read or hear anything to the contrary,
you’re either getting misinformation, or the input of someone whose Pug is a
rare exception to the norm. If you get a Pug, you’ll have fur all over the
place. On every piece of furniture, on all your clothes and in your car. You
don’t even have to put your Pug in the car, the fur will just be there…and
everywhere else. If this is at all a concern to you, don’t get a Pug.
Housetraining:
Pugs are not the easiest dogs in the world to housetrain. They’re small, which
makes them inherently more difficult to housetrain than large dogs, which have a
greater capacity to “hold”. Their size may not be the biggest obstacle to
housetraining however, as Pugs tend to have a stubborn streak which makes them
less than cooperative students. Skilled and experienced dog owners usually
manage to housetrain their Pugs within 3 months of bringing their dog home. The
majority of Pug owners however, often find housetraining a task that takes a
year or even longer. If the idea of a years worth of poops and pee on the carpet
isn’t tolerable to you, don’t get a Pug.
A Pug is Your Shadow:
Pugs are clingy dogs, because they’re people dogs which thrive on human
companionship. This shouldn’t come as any surprise, because they were bred to
be companion dogs. If you get a Pug, expect it to be at your feet and under your
feet all the time. Not once in a while, or during meal time…all the time. A
Pug will follow you, everywhere. Some people find this endearing, other people
find it maddening or at least occasionally annoying. Think long and hard about
this one, because you may not realize it bothers you until it happens. If this
clingy nature is something that you think might bother you, don’t get a Pug.
Pugs
Don’t Catch Frisbees: Pugs are low
activity dogs. This means that they sleep a lot, as much as fourteen hours a
day. It also means that Pugs have short bursts of energy, so you won’t see a
Pug run very long or very far before it slows down and retreats for a nap. A Pug
isn’t going to jog along side you on the sidewalk. It won’t even consider
trying to catch a Frisbee. Most Pugs won’t even fetch a ball or a stick. If
you’re an outdoor person seeking to share your active outdoor lifestyle with a
dog, don’t get a Pug.
Pugs
are Indoor Dogs: Stated quite simply,
Pugs cannot tolerate high temperatures and humidity. This type of weather is
unhealthy for Pugs, and over exposure to this type of weather can cause
immediate or long-term health problems ranging from heat stroke to organ damage.
If you live in a warm weather climate, and you don’t have air conditioning,
don’t get a Pug.
Pug Maintenance: Pugs require a fair amount of grooming and general care. They have to be brushed frequently due to minimize shedding. Pugs have facial folds which need to be cleaned, every other day, every week or every month depending on the dog. Their nails grow fast, very fast, and need to be trimmed often. Pugs are also prone to having their anal sacs fill, and these sacs in turn, must be drained from time to time…not a pleasant, or easy task if you chose to do it yourself. If you won’t do it, then you’ll need to take your Pug to the vet to have it done, sometimes several times per year. If you’re looking for a low maintenance dog which requires minimal grooming, don’t get a Pug.