Pugs are lovable and cute dogs. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, and they can be a fantastic addition to a family home. There is never a dull moment when there is a pug around.
When choosing a new puppy, it is so important to ensure that you are purchasing the right breed for you. This is important not just for you, but for the dog too because you need to be suited to their needs too.
While pugs are a fantastic and rewarding dog to own, you need to carry out the correct research before jumping straight in and purchasing the breed. There are many things you will want to take into consideration, such as health, temperament, training, and the amount of exercise needed.
To help you with your decision, this article will discuss in detail what pug puppies are like, and whether or not a pug is the right breed for you.
Pug Breed Background
Before we jump into the characteristics of a pug puppy, it is useful to have background knowledge of pugs as a breed.
Interestingly, pugs are a breed of dog that dates back to 400 BC. It is said that the breed originated in China, and was a dog that wealthy people owned.
There were three different breeds of dog used to create the pug breed we are familiar with today — Lo-sze, the Lion dog, and the Pekingese. They are a purebred dog that is still a popular choice among dog owners today.
What Are Pug Puppies Like?
When choosing a dog breed, it is important to evaluate what the breed is like both as a puppy and as an adult.
This is because dogs will mature and calm down as they grow older. In addition to this, you should be aware of how a breed will act as both an adult and a puppy, and the size they will grow to.
Here are some of the things that you will want to take into consideration before purchasing a pug.
Temperament
The temperament of a dog is so important. You will need to ensure that the dog is suitable for you, and your family, especially if you have young children. While some dogs love affection, children, and other pets, others do not.
What is great about pugs is that they are loving and friendly dogs. They are a fantastic breed for families because they enjoy being around other people. They love fusses, and being a lapdog.
In the vast majority of cases, pugs are friendly with other dogs, and pets in the home. They don’t have a natural instinct to chase animals such as cats, which makes them a good breed to consider.
They love to have the approval of their owners, and as a result they are loyal and affectionate.
While they tend to be fairly confident and comfortable around their families and owners, every dog within a breed is different. As a result, some may be more timid than others.
Pugs are not aggressive by nature, and they are a fantastic option for those looking for a loving and cuddly companion. However, at times pugs can be slightly stubborn, which can be frustrating for an owner.
Training
Training is such an important part of owning a dog, and before purchasing a pug puppy, you need to ensure that you are comfortable and happy with the training process. This allows the dog to learn what is correct and incorrect behavior.
What is great about pugs is that they are people pleasers. This means that they are fairly easy to train because they want their owners to be happy with their behavior. They are quick at learning new commands, and as a whole they are obedient.
They respond well to positive reinforcement and treats, which is helpful for the training process. When it comes to toilet training, persistence and patience is key. However, in general, pugs do learn this pretty quickly.
The only thing you will need to take into account when it comes to the training process is a pug’s stubborn nature. They are naturally fairly stubborn, which is something that needs to be addressed when they are a puppy.
If this is something you allow to continue, it can cause behavioral issues in the long run, when they are adults.
In addition to this, pugs are naturally quite excitable and energetic. As a result, they can become over excited during the training process initially. This is why it is important to exercise your puppy before beginning training.
Health
While pugs are fantastic pets to own, they come with a handful of different potential health issues that need to be taken into consideration.
Unfortunately they are prone to health issues, which can become costly, and this is something that a pug owner needs to be aware of. However, these health issues typically develop later in life, rather than when they are a puppy.
Breathing Issues
As you may already be aware of, pugs do have some breathing difficulties. This is due to the shape of their skull and mouths.
Some pugs struggle with their breathing more than others, and this is better known as Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. It is a serious condition that you need to be aware of.
It can cause breathing issues, excess snoring, snorting and grunting, and discomfort. This is why it is so important that you choose breeders carefully and ensure that the dogs that are bred have a good medical history.
The breathing issues can become more prevalent in the heat and summer months.
Extra care needs to be taken. In some cases, pugs may have to have operations to help improve their breathing, which is something you need to take into consideration.
Eye Problems
Another health issue that pugs commonly suffer from is eye problems. There are a range of different problems they can suffer from because they have shallow eye sockets due to their skull shape.
Some of these conditions include dry eye, cherry eye, infections, and ulcers.
Skin Problems
Pugs can be quite prone to sensitive skin. As a result, care needs to be taken when using pet products, and when it comes to diet. As they have folds on their skin, these need to be regularly cleaned to help ensure no infections occur.
This is just a handful of things you need to be aware of, and it is important to look out for these potential issues when your pug is a puppy. When it comes to health you will also need to be aware of the size of pugs, they are fairly small, but can put on weight fairly easily.
Exercise
Exercise is important for any dog, and it is particularly important for pug puppies.
While they are not a breed that needs the most exercise, they are very energetic and bouncy as a puppy. As a result of this, daily walks and exercise allows them to get rid of any pent-up energy they have.
A daily work of around 40 minus to an hour is the perfect amount of exercise needed. Any more than this could have a negative impact on the growth and development of the puppy.
In addition to daily walks, mental stimulation through toys and play is important too. This allows the dog to get rid of excess energy in the home too. While pugs are not as energetic in comparison to some other breeds, they do have short bursts of energy and the “zoomies”.
Some pug puppies are more energetic than others, which is important to keep in mind.
Grooming
When it comes to the grooming aspects, for a pug this is not too difficult. In general, pug puppies and adult dogs enjoy being groomed and brushed. While they do have short fur, they are known to shed a lot.
As a result, regular grooming and brushing is necessary.
By brushing the pug puppy’s fur regularly, this gets them used to being groomed, and it helps to keep their top coat shiny and healthy too. Rubber brushes and bristle brushes are the best option to use.
Pros Of Owning A Pug Puppy
There are many fantastic pros to owning a pug puppy, such as:
- They have a loving and kind nature
- Pugs enjoy being cuddled
- Their grooming needs are low maintenance
- They are easy to train
- Pugs get on well with family members, children and other adults
- They are not too large
Cons Of Owning A Pug Puppy
While owning a pug puppy is fantastic, there are a number of things you will need to take into consideration too, such as:
- Pugs are prone to health problems
- They can gain weight fairly easily
- Pugs can be stubborn at times, which can cause difficulty when training
- Breathing problems can lead to operations needed and difficulties breathing in warmer weather.
Is This The Right Breed For You?
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when considering whether or not a pug puppy is the right breed for you. While a pug puppy may be the perfect pet for your family, you will also need to consider whether your family is the perfect fit for the pug.
You should consider the care the pug needs and be willing to put the time and effort into training and teaching the puppy positive behavior. This does take patience and perseverance, which is not always easy when a pug puppy is being stubborn.
While their coat is fairly low maintenance, they still need to be brushed regularly to ensure that their skin and top coat are healthy. They will need to be walked daily and have access to good healthcare due to them being prone to health issues.
If you can provide a pug puppy with all of its necessary needs and you feel it would be the perfect fit for your home, then we recommend purchasing one. After all, they are fantastic pets to have.
You will just need to ensure you are choosing a trusted and reliable pug breeder.
