The pug is an incredibly charming small dog breed known to spread joy and happiness to those lucky enough to have them. I’ve yet to meet a pug owner that wasn’t 100% devoted to spending as much time as possible in the company of their pet pug. The pug is one of those breeds that is said to “own the owner” more than the “owner owns the pug”.
Their playful nature, happy go lucky demeanor and sense of humor is hard to resist. They are eager to please and only ask for their owner’s love and attention in return. The Pug’s heritage can be traced back to China before 400 B.C., where they were often the prize possession of the Chinese emperors. Eventually, european traders brought the pug to europe where they quickly gained popularity. Once again, the pug became a popular choice among royalty and aristocracy including King William II of England and Josephine Napoleon.
What it’s like to be a pug dog owner
A Pug will not hunt, guard, or retrieve. Pugs were designed to be companions, and that is precisely what they excel at. The Pug yearns for affection — and your lap — and gets irritated if his devotion isn’t returned. He’s a sedentary dog that like to sit in your lap as you read a book or watch a movie. This does not imply that the Pug is a slacker. On the contrary. He is a lively, funny dog that loves to have fun and charms his owner with his crazy antics. A variety of variables influence temperament, including inheritance, training, and socialization.
From a pug owners perspective
Be prepared to offer your pug your undivided attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will go to any length to gain your attention and please you. Furthermore, they are quite clingy dogs. You’d always find them sitting near your feet, under your bed, under the table, and they’d follow you throughout the home all the time, each time, every time. There’s a reason they’re called “shadows.” While some individuals find it sweet and endearing, others may find it rather irritating. Remember the Indian Vodafone commercial? The pug would follow the young girl everywhere she went, perfectly complementing the background/theme music, “You and I, in this lovely world.”
What does he consume now?
Pugs are finicky eaters that are always hungry. My pug receives only carefully picked food, which is a mix of commercial dog food and home-cooked meals. By the way, dog food does not necessarily imply Pedigree! Pedigree does not make for excellent food. It may cause your dog to get itchy and ill over time. My pug’s homecooked meals usually consisted of rice combined with egg, milk, and yogurt. Snacks include dog biscuits and fruits such as bananas and apples. Make sure the fruits are sliced into pieces. The apple seeds, once again, are not good for the dog.
Is he a barker?
Without a doubt! My pug barks only when necessary. When he sees visitors or strange/unfamiliar items in or around the house, he gets nervous.
Is he a biter?
Yes, my pug has bitten and turned numerous people into zombies.
Kidding! He’s never bitten.
Will he ever get any bigger?
My pug is pure bred, however he is a little larger/taller than the normal pure bred pug. The average height is around 30 cm.
Is he safe in the presence of children? Yes, absolutely! If pugs aren’t safe with children, then no dog on the planet is!
What is more important to understand is that housetraining and obedience training take time with pugs. My pug understands just a few basic instructions, such as come, sit, get back or come back, and no. Perhaps I could have taught him a few more things. He was totally housetrained at around 8 months. Because they have small bladders, you will need to take them out at least three times every day to avoid accidents in the home.
This breed does not require much activity and may sleep for up to 14 hours each day! Yes, even more than you. So make sure you don’t physically tire your pug. Furthermore, your pug will not catch your Frisbee or fetch your bell. It will most likely take the object in its mouth and chew on it, or it may run away with it believing it is your responsibility to remove the object from its mouth. Isn’t it amusing?
Prepare for a lot of vet appointments. Pugs are prone to health issues such as obesity, dermatitis, and so forth. They are brachycephalic dogs, which means they have a small snout and a flat face, which leads them to have respiratory issues (which is why you should not exhaust this breed). They lost a lot of weight. To reduce the amount of fur in the house, you will need to brush them everyday. Otherwise, you’ll discover it on your clothing, closet, carpet, automobile, and so on. It makes no difference whether or not your pug has been in the automobile. The fur will just be there. After it has finished eating, you will need to clean its face. Food particles become lodged in the wrinkled skin creases. Over time, the mix of food particles, moisture, and air creates an ideal breeding environment for bacteria and fungus. If you don’t clean the skin creases, your pug will develop itchy skin, smell bad, and become ill. Remember that your pug will be completely reliant on you for grooming. If you believe this is too much for you, do not acquire a pug. You should think about getting another low-maintenance dog.
Pugs are sensitive, perceptive, and obstinate, crazy, and food-driven. They cherish you more than they cherish themselves. You must be patient and tolerant towards them. They are highly lively and fearless, making them excellent companion dogs. They’re amusing and have a great personality. I can’t fathom living without my pug. When my pug is around, I can’t stay stressed. When I’m sad about anything, I don’t need to turn to alcohol or drugs to feel better. I simply focus my entire concentration on my dog. He’s such a joker, and his sense of humour is out of this world. He would cry in his sleep as if someone was following him to devour him alive and he needed to be rescued, but in fact, I believe he was chasing birds or people or begging for that extra scoop of ice cream. He’d bark at his own farts and make me giggle. I want him to be with me for the rest of my life. It’s a shame that this lovely species only lives for 10 to 12 years. The love of a pug lasts forever!
Choosing and rasing a Pug dog puppy
Puppies with good temperaments are interested and lively, eager to approach and be held by people. Choose the puppy in the midst of the pack, not the one that is tearing up his littermates or cowering in the corner. Always meet at least one of the parents — typically the mother is accessible — to check that they have pleasant personalities with whom you are comfortable. Meeting the parents’ siblings or other relatives is also beneficial in determining what a puppy will be like as he grows up. Pugs, like other dogs, require early socialization — being exposed to a variety of people, sights, noises, and experiences — while they are young. Socialization ensures that your Pug puppy develops into a well-rounded dog. Enrolling him in puppy kindergarten is a fantastic place to start. Inviting guests over on a regular basis, as well as taking him to busy parks, stores that accept dogs, and on leisurely strolls to meet neighbors, can help him improve his social abilities.
How to take care of a pug dog
As much as your pug loves you, they might love to eat even more. So be diligent in helping manage their intake-limit their treats and don’t feed them table scraps no matter how cute and pleading their stare may be-because their small stature makes them likely to gain weight quickly. You should also encourage exercise, although they don’t need much in a day. They find creative ways to burn off energy on their own. Bathing (about once monthly) and regular brushing (with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt, or a hound glove) help manage significant pug shedding. And those sweet facial wrinkles need extra attention because they are a breeding ground for infection if they are damp and dirty. Dry your pug’s wrinkles thoroughly after bathing and wipe them out in between baths-a dry cotton ball will do the trick. Pugs also need their nails trimmed regularly, as they don’t naturally wear by spending lots of time outdoors. Regular teeth brushing is a must as pugs are susceptible to gum disease. Training can be a challenge, some experts says. These kids are harder to train and not super interested in your opinion. Their feelings can be easily hurt so avoid harsh training methods. Remember their ultimate goal is simply to spend time with you.
The pug was accepted for AKC registration in the United States as long ago as 1885. It is unsure exactly where the name “Pug” came from but it is believed it’s origins may come from the marmoset monkeys who were popular pets in the 1700’s and who were sometimes nicknamed “pugs”. The “dog” was added to distinguish them from the monkeys, hence “Pug Dogs”. As wonderful as pugs are, however, they are not for everyone. Bred to be companion animals they do not do well when left alone without company. They also do best as inside dogs as their physical characteristics do not make them good at exercise or allow them to do well in extreme heat or cold. They are also known to shed, snort and snore excessively. The pugs bulging eyes also make them more vulnerable to injury than most and their wrinkles will need cleaning too.