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Deciding to make a Pug a part of your family is an exciting as
well as a highly important decision that will have long range
consequences for you and your family as well as for your Pug.
While Pugs make SUPERB companion pets that are very good with
other animals and people young and old, they crave human
attention and affection and will fare much better in homes that
have much of both to give.
Pugs are very people-oriented and tend to follow you closely
where ever you go. A pug is something of a clown and
enjoys being a bit stubborn in responding to your wishes, though
they relish pleasing you in the end. You see, Pugs like to
be taken seriously despite their relatively small size.
They are proud little dogs who do their best to make you
understand that they are not to be taken lightly.
If you want a dog that is loyal, whose friendly disposition
clearly outweighs any instincts to protect you against
intruders, you would enjoy having a Pug. That's not to say
that Pugs won't serve adequately as loyal "watch dogs,"
informing you when something is amiss, but they will tend
to befriend most strangers almost as quickly as they walk in the
door. They are not at all "nippy" toward strangers and really don't have a mean streak in their stout
little bodies, though they're not pushovers either and, if they
are forced to defend themselves, they will do so proudly.
Pugs are not long distance hikers or marathoners, though they
love to play and run and will attempt to keep up with you where
ever you go. Because of their short snouts, they are
particularly challenged by excess excitement and warm
temperatures and care MUST be taken that they do not
become overheated. They are simply not able to expel
heat from their bodies like people are or like dogs with longer
snouts. So, excessive heat builds in their bodies and they
are very susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Yes, Pugs are house dogs, needing it relatively cool in the
summer and warm in the winter. While care should be taken
to minimize overexposure to temperature extremes, Pugs love the
outdoors and jump at the opportunity to go for walks or for
rides in the car. While they like water, they tend to sink
when it's over their heads, so play around the pool requires
supervision. A doggie life-jacket is a good idea too.
HEALTH ISSUES? Pugs have relatively few serious health issues,
most common issues centering around their
short snouts, their
large protruding eyes and their skin wrinkles. For a more
detailed list of potential
Pug health problems and issues, check out
Pug Health,
Veterinary and Health Information.
Pugs' short snouts make snorting and snoring pretty much the
status quo, though some snort more and louder than others.
Pugs' protruding eyes make them more prone to eye injuries and
their facial wrinkles/folds can become irritated or infected if they
are allowed to collect dirt, sweat and grime. Be
prepared to set aside time to clean
their facial folds with a wet, warm, soft cloth as needed. Other than
that, Pugs require little regular grooming,
though periodic
brushing cuts down on their shedding.
Yes, Pugs do shed. Short hair notwithstanding,
Pugs have
soft, fine, cuddly hair that sticks to just about everything.
Pugs have become one of the most popular dogs around, and for
good reason. They are extremely adaptable
dogs, faring as
well in small apartments as they do in large homes. They
do well with single owners as well as
large families, with the
elderly as well as the young, as long as they receive regular
attention and love. The
American Kennel Club describes the Pug as, “an even-tempered
breed, exhibiting stability, playfulness,
great charm, dignity,
and an outgoing, loving disposition.”
If making a Pug part of your family is a decision you're ready
to make, proceed to
information on OUR ADOPTION PROCESS
at this time.
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