Buzz
Pugs are a widely popular dog breed, and it’s easy to see why. With their flat faces and large, round brown eyes, they’re simply irresistible. However, owning a pug comes with its own set of challenges. They are prone to health issues, particularly breathing problems. Pugs can also be quite stubborn, difficult to train, and full of energy. These factors should be carefully considered before deciding to adopt a pug.
Steps
Feeding Your Pug
Feed your pug the right kind of food. Opt for high-quality dog food. Check the labels carefully and choose foods with meat listed as the first ingredient. Avoid foods with a high content of grains or soy. These ingredients are not only of lower quality but can also ferment, causing bloating in pugs.
Limit the amount of snacks and food for your pug. Pugs have an insatiable appetite, and their big round eyes will try to convince you that they’re still hungry. They can easily become overweight if overfed, so it’s important to assess your dog’s body condition and carefully monitor any slight weight gain. By doing so, you can adjust their food intake and help them lose weight before it becomes a bigger problem.
- As mentioned, pugs love to eat everything, so consider offering them vegetables as rewards during training. This way, you can encourage them while also keeping them healthy.
- Store their food in a container with a lid and keep it out of their reach to prevent them from breaking into it and eating it all.
- Another crucial point is keeping your pug’s weight under control, as they have respiratory issues. Carrying extra weight requires more oxygen and can compress the lungs, airways, and throat, making breathing more difficult for them.
Be aware that pugs are prone to bloating. This is a common issue for this breed due to their respiratory problems. When they try to breathe, pugs often swallow air into their stomachs and intestines. This gas then travels through their digestive system and is released as flatulence.
- Consider using an air freshener in your home or keeping a room spray handy to eliminate the unpleasant odor when your pug passes gas.
Training Your Pug
Prepare yourself for challenges when training. This breed can be difficult to train. They aren’t stupid—they’re just stubborn. In fact, pugs are quite intelligent because they know what they want and are persistent in their desires, even if it goes against what their owner wants. This doesn’t mean you should give up on training; instead, stay patient and be ready to invest the time necessary.
- Learn effective training techniques, such as reward-based training. Show your pug the reward and encourage them to work towards earning it. This way, training will be much more effective in the long run.
Set and enforce house rules. If you decide that your pug is not allowed on the furniture, make sure everyone in the household sticks to this rule at all times, even on weekends. Inconsistent commands will confuse your pug, and they’ll start to choose what they prefer, which will make training more difficult.
Be patient when teaching your dog to potty in the right place. Pugs are known for taking more time to train compared to other breeds. Crate training along with positive reinforcement methods might help you teach your pug to potty in the right spot more effectively.
Basic Care
Provide your pug with gentle, consistent exercise. Pugs can have difficulty breathing, so it’s best to take them on long walks at a steady pace so they don’t become winded. They’re not suited for high-energy activities that require extended periods of exertion, such as chasing after other dogs without taking breaks to catch their breath.
- This doesn’t mean you can’t let your pug play fetch or similar games, but always be cautious and, if your pug starts to struggle with breathing, stop between throws to allow them to rest.
- Pugs are naturally curious and social dogs, so they love to explore and observe what’s happening around them.
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinary Doctor at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Veterinary Doctor at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Pippa Elliott, Veterinarian, advises: "Pugs are particularly uncomfortable in hot weather. Their adorable flat faces mean they need to breathe heavily to take in air. During hot weather, they struggle to cool their bodies down and are more prone to heatstroke."
Play with your Pug dog. You can run around your house, weaving through furniture and tight spaces while your dog chases you. Then, suddenly stop and turn around to chase the dog, mimicking the game of tag. Pugs enjoy this classic game of chase.
- Arrange playdates regularly to let your Pug interact with other dogs. It will help them remember that there are plenty of other dogs to play with, and it’s essential for them to socialize more.
Plan regular time apart for your Pug. Pugs are bred to be companions, which means they love staying by your side and often want to be with you all the time. They may cling to you like a shadow, so it’s important to pay close attention to their needs.
- If you have a puppy, it’s advisable to train them to stay in a crate, where they can learn to be happy and independent. When the dog is in the crate, you should stay in another room to help them accept that it’s not always possible to be by your side.
Take your dog to regular vet checkups. Regular veterinary visits are crucial for ensuring that your dog stays healthy and happy. Don’t forget to book regular health checks and vaccinations. Only a veterinarian can manage preventive measures for your dog, such as vaccinations and parasite control.
- Pugs are often targeted by dog thieves, so it’s a good idea to microchip your dog. This serves as a long-term identification method and helps prove ownership.
- You may also want to consider getting health insurance for your dog, as their respiratory issues might require emergency care or even surgery at times.
Brush your Pug’s fur daily. Though Pugs have short fur, they still require regular brushing to remove dead hair. Since they shed quite a bit, brushing them daily will help keep fur from accumulating on the floor and furniture. Invest in a good quality brush and make grooming a daily habit to manage their shedding.
- Consider getting a lint roller, a high-quality vacuum cleaner, leather or faux-leather furniture, hardwood floors or linoleum, clothing in light or dark colors (depending on the dog’s coat color), a drain screen for the bathtub, and a dog brush to control shedding.
Clean the folds and wrinkles on your dog’s body. Do you know how to clean the folds and wrinkles of a baby’s skin using a soft cloth and cotton swab? You should do the same to clean the folds on your Pug’s body, particularly the folds on their face.
Managing Respiratory Issues
It is important to note that Pugs are prone to respiratory issues. They often struggle to breathe due to having a narrower trachea compared to other breeds. Their small nostrils and elongated soft palates take up a significant amount of space in the back of their throat. In fact, Pugs tend to snore and breathe loudly because of the excess soft tissue in their throats. Each time they breathe, these tissues vibrate, producing a sound.
- If the snoring disturbs you, you can wear earplugs at night to block out the noise or train your dog to sleep in a crate.
Learn how to recognize signs of respiratory distress. Even with light exercise, many Pugs may pant to meet their body’s oxygen demands. If you continue to exercise your dog while it’s showing signs of heavy panting, it may collapse. While the noisy breathing of Pugs isn’t usually a cause for concern, it is essential to be aware of the signs of respiratory distress in case your dog faces health issues. These signs include:
- Loud breathing and a frightened expression
- Blue-tinged gums or tongue
- Thick, sticky drool
- Reluctance to move
- Excessive chest and belly movement
- Restlessness and discomfort
- Fainting
Take immediate action when your dog shows signs of respiratory distress. You should cool your dog down and stop all physical activities. If the condition does not improve within a few minutes, contact a veterinarian for emergency treatment.
- Stay calm because if your dog senses your panic, it may become more anxious.
- If your dog frequently struggles to breathe, consider consulting a vet about potential surgery. The vet may perform a procedure to remove excess tissue from the back of the throat and widen the nostrils, making it easier for your dog to breathe.
Help your dog avoid hot weather. Since dogs cannot sweat, they rely on panting to regulate their body temperature. On hot days, Pugs face an even greater challenge because they can have trouble breathing while also needing to cool down their bodies, making them highly susceptible to heatstroke.
- To avoid this, do not allow your dog to exercise during hot weather. Keep them in the shade or in a cool room.
- If your dog begins to pant excessively, you can wet their fur to help cool them down and moisten their tongue, as it dries out quickly.
- Place your dog in front of a fan on a low setting, and make sure they have access to fresh water at all times.
Maintain your dog's weight at a healthy level. This is incredibly important because this breed has respiratory issues. Carrying extra weight increases the dog's demand for oxygen, and the excess fat can compress the lungs, trachea, and throat, making it even harder for the dog to breathe.
- If you believe your dog is overweight, consult with a veterinarian to create a healthy weight loss diet plan for your dog.
Consider the special needs of a pug.
Provide additional steps for your dog to climb up and down high places. You can either buy dog stairs or find another way to help your dog easily get onto beds and other elevated areas. These steps will save you a lot of money in potential future veterinary visits since jumping up and down too much can weaken your dog's joints and hips.
Understand that pugs are a very courageous breed. Always use a leash when they are around pit bulls, rottweilers, cows, horses, or bulls. They truly don't recognize their size and will protect you at all costs.
Invest in toys that squeak and chew toys for your dog. Rotate the toys regularly to make them think they have 'new' toys, keeping them excited. Be sure to supervise and ensure your dog doesn't chew toys into small pieces and swallow them.
Appreciate the love of dogs and express your affection towards them. Allow your dog to lick you whenever they wish. It's truly one of the few ways they show affection. The love a pug has for you is much greater than you can imagine.
- Speak gently and often whisper to them. They will love you even more.
- Pugs are incredibly humorous, and they will make you smile even when you're feeling down. The best way to live with a pug is to love them with all your heart. They love you - and you should love them back the same way.
- Every pug loves getting scratches behind their ears and belly rubs! They are wonderful dogs who deserve love every single day.
Warning
- Raising a pet can be an expensive hobby. Make sure you have the financial means to provide your dog with everything it needs to live healthily and happily, including food, bedding, grooming, veterinary care, and toys.
- Choosing to adopt a pet is a long-term commitment. Don't adopt a pet unless you are ready to care for them for their entire lifetime, which could range from 10 to 20 years.
