How To Care For Your Pug Puppy: Part 1 - Pug Comfort

Pug puppies, like babies of every kind, have only a few critical requirements - safe and comfortable shelter, a good diet, plenty of rest, and love - to grow up healthy, strong, and happy. Here begins a tutorial in five parts on "How To Care For Your Pug Puppy" along with some insider secrets to puppy care that I learned only through trial and error. Follow along as I attend to the care and feeding of my precious Pug baby, Arnie. Feel free to leave comments or ask questions. I read and respond to every post and would enjoy hearing from you.

Understand Your Puppy's Needs:

At 8 weeks of age, Arnie is fully weaned, eating solid food, and has become as mobile, active, and curious as any human toddler. And, just like human babies, Arnie's critical needs at this age are good nourishment, protection from the elements, frequent naps, and a diligent guardian to watch over his safety. Part 1 of this tutorial begins with...

Pug Comfort

All puppies need a clean, dry, and protected environment during the early months of their development. Pugs, however, require this sort of environment throughout their lifetime. It is a breed trait that Pugs have difficulty regulating their body temperature and cannot tolerate extreme heat or cold for very long. As a result, they should be considered primarily "indoor" pets at temperatures that you find comfortable for yourself. In fact, if you live in a very hot climate without the benefit of air conditioning, I would try to dissuade you from choosing a Pug as your pet.

For puppies in particular, outdoor exposure to hot summer sun or the chill winds of winter should be strictly limited - no more than is necessary for purposes of toileting or brief walks to introduce them to halter and leash. They should never be left alone in a car or allowed to hang their head out the window of a moving car. They can suffer life threatening heat exhaustion in a matter of minutes in a closed car and prolonged exposure to wind can damage their eyes.

Clean and dry bedding is also very important. Dirt and moisture can collect in all those adorable folds and wrinkles, particularly around the face, causing rashes and infections. Soiled or damp bedding can be a breeding ground for fleas and other parasites, as well. I've known several Pugs who were so allergic to flea bites, they developed a skin condition that looked similar to mange. Skin rashes are miserable for your puppy and will require a good deal of your time and expense to treat. Keeping your Pug's bedding and environment clean, dry, and parasite-free will pay off in a healthy, happy pup. I have 2 sets of bedding for Arnie (old towels and baby blankets I've purchased at second hand shops) so he can use one set while the other is in the laundry. Until he is fully housetrained, I expect to wash his bedding daily or every other day.

Most breeders and dog trainers recommend crate training your puppy. The "crate" refers to those large plastic carriers or something that looks like a wire cage. The purpose is to give your pup a quiet, safe place to be confined for sleeping or for times when he must be left alone. I know many people who absolutely swear by this arrangement and assert that their dogs are quite content with this sort of confinement throughout their lifetime. While I agree with the premise of confinement for safety's sake, I am not a fan of the crate. It carries a negative connotation of "caging" and it's not my style. Instead, Arnie has an open daybed that remains in the living room, which he uses while I am in the house and watchful. For night sleeping (or when I must leave him alone) I use a baby's playpen. These work beautifully for both puppies and adult Pugs. They are soft and comfortable, with sides that are high enough to prevent jumping out, and the collapsible design makes them so convenient to move. This little gem in the photo is a doll's playpen, which Arnie will soon outgrow and will be replaced by the larger toddler's playpen. For the first month or so, however, it's the perfect size. In the summertime, our family does a good deal of camping and these playpens work a charm for keeping our dog(s) confined and safe in the campsite. Two Pugs can fit comfortably in the standard size toddler playpen with room to move around. They're great, too, for visiting family and friends who may not want our dogs running loose in their homes. BONUS - you can pick these up at thrift shops and second-hand stores for pennies on the dollar.

In Part 2, we'll talk a little more about safety and the playpen plays a big part in that story.

Hurry back!

The Pug Breed: Is a Pug the perfect dog for you?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the Pug (a.k.a. Chinese Pug) this way:

The Pug is well described by the phrase "multum in parvo" which means "a lot of dog in a small space." He is small but requires no coddling and his roguish face soon wiggles its way into the hearts of men, women and especially children, for whom this dog seems to have a special affinity. His great reason for living is to be near his people and to please them. He is comfortable in a small apartment or country home alike, easily adaptable to all situations.

Pugs are confident little dogs that seldom fail to make people smile. They are the clowns of the dog world - comical in both appearance and behavior. Pugs are alert, good-natured, very sociable, and affectionate companion dogs. They make devoted family pets - lively and playful enough for children, quiet and calm enough for adults. Most are receptive and friendly toward strangers and seldom bark, which makes them a poor choice for a watchdog. Their quiet nature and smaller size, however, make them ideal for apartment dwellers and as travel companions. Most housebreak easily, but can be a challenge to obedience train. Pugs have been called “an acquired habit” - having once lived with a Pug, most people continue to choose that breed throughout their lifetime.

The Pug is stocky and muscular with a wide chest, blocky head, straight and strong front legs, and well-muscled hind legs. They have the flat, heavily wrinkled face common to many Asian dog and cat breeds. Their tails curl over their back similar to a pig and, like the pig, their tails will nearly straighten out and hang down as a signal that they are either sick or distressed. Common coloring is a tan body with a black facemask and black ears, but other colors include: solid black, apricot, silver, and fawn. They receive their name "Pug" from the Latin word that means "clenched fist". Their pugged faces cause them to make grunting nasal noises when active and they generally snore when sleeping. Pugs are prone to be overweight if overfed or spoiled with too many treats.

There are a few breed-specific health issues with Pugs you should be aware of. Foremost are breathing problems as a result of their flat face and pugged nose (no surprise there). Some may even require surgery to open the nasal passages. Their flat faces also make the eyes vulnerable to injury and Pugs will often lose their sight to cataracts in old age. Pugs have difficulty keeping cool, so they do not tolerate high temperatures or prolonged vigorous exercise. As with most pug-faced dogs, their teeth require regular cleaning to avoid gum disease and tooth loss. By and large, however, the Pug is a relatively hardy dog that can live well into it's fourteenth year and many suffer no serious health issues throughout their lifetime.

On a personal note, our family has had six Pugs over the past 30 years - 4 came to us as adults, 2 as puppies (Arnie is the newest member of our family). Every single one has been a true joy to share our home and our lives with. If you're looking for a loving and devoted family pet that's easy to care for and will make you laugh out loud, you can't go wrong with a Pug.