How to: Take Care of a Pet Pug Dog

Pugs are special dogs. They are one of the most kind, loving dogs you can own. They love more than just about any other dog there is. They are great with kids and will put up with just about any punishment a child can hand out. If you want a dog to love on you and sit on your lap all day long, then the Pug is the dog for you.

The Pug has been around for a long time – since around 400 B.C. Since the beginning, Pugs have been people dogs. Their main job from the beginning of Pug time has been to be a companion dog. Pugs suffer greatly if they cannot be around their humans.

Pugs are fun-loving animals, but are not the kind of dog to have if you want a dog to run or do other exercises with you. They tire easily. They are easy to train, if the training starts early, otherwise they can become stubborn. They love playing fetch and sitting up and showing off their tricks, but will give up when they tire.

• Feed a high quality food for small dogs.
• Provide clean water daily.
• Bathe weekly.
• Clean ears with a clean cloth after baths to prevent ear infections.
• Clean folds in face and body after baths.
• Clip toenails often - or have them professionally done.
• Exercise frequently - but for short periods.
• Take to a vet at least once a year.
• Let them be a part of your family.
• Love them!

Pugs are fairly easy to care for. They have short hair, but must be groomed often. Otherwise you will have Pug hair all over everything. They shed a lot! If you decide not to brush them daily, you will probably need to vacuum daily instead. I suppose it’s your choice.

Pugs need to be bathed at least weekly. Care must be given to their ears and the folds in their skin, especially their faces. You must use a clean, dry towel or washcloth to wipe the ears dry after the bath, making sure to get as deep in the ear as you can. Do not use ear swabs because you can damage the ear canal. You can also use hydrogen peroxide on the cloth to clean the debris from the ears. If you do not do this, your Pug can develop an ear infection that can become a chronic infection that will not go away – even with medication. If this happens, there will also be a smell that is horrible and will not go away! You also need to take a clean, dry cloth to the folds of the Pugs skin, carefully wiping all the debris from the folds. Make sure that these folds are dry after the bath, because infection can set in otherwise.

After the bath, make sure you trim your Pugs toenails. The toenails of a Pug grow fairly quickly. You may want to take your Pug to a professional to have this done, because it is often difficult to tell how far to trim. Because many Pugs have dark nails, it is difficult to tell wear the “quick” of the nail is. If you cut into the quick, it can lead to bleeding. If this happens to you, you can use a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding. I usually use a cloth soaked in peroxide that I hold on the affected nail.

Your Pug will need exercise, but not a lot of exercise. Usually a short walk so he can do his business will suffice. Because of the nature of the Pugs face – it’s short, pushed in nose – it is difficult for them to breathe heavily. They will need to rest often and have frequent water breaks if you decide to walk them too far.

Pugs don’t eat much. You must feed them quality food that is meant for small dogs to keep them healthy. Make sure they always have plenty of water available. They are healthy dogs if you take care of them correctly. I have heard of Pugs living up to twenty years, although their average life span is about twelve years.

Pugs are great pets, great for families with young children and are easy to care for. If you are looking for a great pet for the family, look for a Pug!