Pug

All you need to Know about the Pug

The Pug! If there is one dog breed that is unmistakable. That raises a smile every time you see it. And that makes people happy, then it is this breed.

This is a small dog, packing with wonderful features, both physical and personal. But at the same time, this breed is not suited to every person, in every situation, and requires a higher level of care.

Are you in love with that Pug face and thinking about looking for a Pug puppy for sale? Then read on and dig a little deeper into the facts about this little pup.

Fast Facts

Group - Toy Group

Height - 10-13 Inches

Weight - 14-18 Pounds

Hair Length - Short

Shedding - Heavy 

Lifespan - 12-14 Years

Unmistakable Physical Characteristics of the Pug

With its bulging eyes, black face, and wrinkles, this is a breed that is easily recognized by most people!

It is certainly a beauty, especially those cute baby Pugs, with those big, soft eyes that beg for attention.

But while this breed may look and act soft but they are actually powerfully built!

Their head is big, strong and round, and of course, covered in wrinkles. The black nose and muzzle is flat and short and produces their famous snores! They also have a slight underbite, which contributes to their famous look.

Most noticeable of all is the eyes! The very big, prominent, bold eyes are round and bulbous in shape. But if they protrude, like with many do, this is considered a fault by the clubs!

Their small ears can even stand a little or fold, but the preferred look is for them to be semi-erect.

Soft but solid defines the rest of their body. They have a wide chest, thick, short legs, and should have well-sloped shoulders. 

And to cap it off, the cutest feature of all, a tail that is short, thin, and very closely curled up. Like a little pig!

Any Pug that is much shorter than 10-12 inches or weighs a fair bit less than 14-18 pounds would be considered a teacup or miniature Pug. These are proving very popular, but they are not officially recognized. 

Most Pugs have a short coat, with two layers, an undercoat and an overcoat. Very occasionally, you will see a long-haired Pug.

This double coat means double the shedding… Buy a powerful hoover and keep it handy!

Now you know what a Pug should look like, and can confidently tell the difference between a Pug and a Rottweiler! But we still need to find out about their colors.

What colors does a Pug come in?

Well, the easy answer is there are just four colors accepted for this breed. So if you want to show your Pug puppy, only get one with the following color…

• Black
• Apricot
• Fawn
• Silver

You may have seen a few white Pugs around. So why isn’t that in the list you may ask?

While popular, the white color isn’t accepted by clubs, but that doesn’t stop a white Pug puppy from being a cutie. Don't worry if the Pug puppy you fall in love with isn’t one of the 4 colors above. If it is for a family home and not for showing, then it will still be a perfect pup.

There is also a very rare Hairless Pug, but they are not considered an official variety of this breed.

All about the Pug personality

The Pug may have one of the most famous temperaments around. 

Words like funny, playful, calm, crazy, silly, lazy, and friendly are all appropriate for this breed. And yes, some do contradict each other.

In fact, it can be said that Pugs often fall into two categories.

Easy Going & Bright and Bubbly.

An easy-going Pug can be very relaxed, bordering on lazy. And has a warm, snuggly, people-oriented nature.

A bright and bubbly Pug will be funny, cheeky, playful, and love to run around. And they are still happy to be around people.

So whichever type you chose, you will be choosing a true canine companion. Your dog will love to be right by your side. 

They also make great family dogs, as they love kids. And unlike some toy breeds, they are not so delicate, so they can really enjoy good playtime with children. 

Most maintain their playfulness well into adulthood and their warm natures. Grumpy Pugs are rarer than you think, and an angry Pug is extremely uncommon. Docileness is their doctrine! 

Does your Pug puppy bark at other people, in the home and outside? Well, sometimes they can be a little wary of strangers. Part of this is their innate nature to guard. But generally, if you accept the stranger, then so should they.

Pugs are animated and quite entertaining! You will be amused at the snuffles, snorts, grunts, and other interesting noises your dog may make at times.

One personality streak that people may not be aware of is their intelligence. This is a surprisingly smart breed but in their own way. And be warned this way can lead to stubbornness, as training will tell you...

Is a Pug easy to train?

If you have any experience with Pug puppies, you will know there is one certain fact.

This is not an easy breed to train!

And this makes them a less suitable breed for a first-time dog owner. Unless you are particularly determined!!

As we mentioned they are smart, but seriously stubborn, and this makes training tricky. So be aware of this before you go looking for a Pug puppy for sale. 

They get bored, are often distracted, and are not always willing to listen!

But is training impossible? No, it can be done!

As with all breeds, but especially with this one, persistence, patience, and praise are the three P’s to successful training! And with the Pug, you also much make sure you are the alpha, as they are more willing to listen to their master. Right from day 1, it is key to show your puppy that you are in charge. And treat based training is a must, to really make sure they learn. 

Potty training can be the biggest issue with a Pug, and crate training is a recommended way to solve this. But please be prepared for encountering pees and poops in your home at first. Just give it some time.

There are lots of guides out there. And for the Pug, it is highly recommended to be fully aware and prepared BEFORE you choose your puppy!

Thankfully socialization is a great deal easier. If you introduce your dog to people, places, and other pups when they are young, they tend to love everyone they meet and won’t be afraid or timid. The key is to make sure they don’t get too excited!

So training is a bit tricky, let us hope that grooming is a bit less of a drama.

How much Grooming does a Pug need?

We mentioned it earlier, and yes, it is worth mentioning again… Pugs shed a lot! You will need to brush your dog frequently to remove loose hair and keep your furniture free of hair. They are in fact, one of the biggest shedders in the dog world! So be prepared for that hoover to pick up some serious hair.

If you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog, this is sadly not the one for you!

Bathing is not recommended more than once per month, as it can be drying and irritating to their sensitive skin. However, if your pet gets excessively dirty from playing in the mud, it's fine to offer it a bath. Use mild shampoo and conditioner to help keep the skin moisturized, and avoid bathing the top of the head. When water gets into the ears, it can cause an infection.

What about all of those wrinkles and folds? This is an important part of ensuring your Pug’s health. Clean your pet's facial folds with cotton gauze, a moist washcloth, or a baby-wipe that is not scented. Clean these areas often, and dry thoroughly after cleaning to avoid fungus or other infections.

Also, check your dog's ears regularly for infection. And trim the nails when they begin to "click" on your tile or hardwood floors. 

But there is a bit more to learn about the health of a Pug than this, and you will need to take the next part quite seriously.

The Health and Fitness of the Pug

It has to be said that yes, sadly, the Pug can suffer from a number of health issues.

Why Do Pugs Have So Many Health Issues?  

It mostly has to do with them being a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed. Their flat faces and wrinkles make them more prone to a number of medical concerns that don't affect non-brachycephalic dogs. This leads to several conditions that can affect breathing.

Other conditions include Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE), which is a disease that affects the brain and hip dysplasia (CHD) a joint disorder that is more common with overweight dogs. This breed often faces skin issues, such as lip-fold pyoderma, which is caused by bacterial build up in their skin folds. As we mentioned earlier, keeping the folds clean and dry is key. And there are eye issues too, such as ulcers and entropion, both of which are treatable, thankfully. 

Making sure you properly exercise your dog is also very important. They are prone to weight gain, leading to health issues, so don’t overfeed. And they are very sensitive to extreme temperature, especially heat, so exercise early and late in the day, especially in the height of summer.

We don’t want you to be completely scared off! Not every Pug suffers from these issues. Though they cannot be completely avoided, you can reduce the chance of health issues by choosing your Pug puppy from a responsible breeder.

Where does the Pug come from?

This is one VERY ancient breed.

It is believed that they originated around 400 B.C, in China!  That makes them nearly 2,500 years old!

Over the centuries, they became quite exclusive. They were often found amongst royalty in China, Japan, and Tibet. 

It is believed they are also an ancestor of the Pekingese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and English Bulldog.

In the 16th century, the Pug traveled West; when the Dutch East India Company brought it to Europe. First popular in Spain and Italy, the Pug traveled on to France and Britain. There Queen Victoria was involved in Pug breeding herself. For Queen Victoria, she was very much amused with the Pug!

Pugs entered the United States during the 19th century and were soon making their way into homes across the nation. The AKC recognized the breed in 1885 as part of its Toy Group, and in 1931 the Pug Dog Club of America was founded. Today this popular dog ranks within the top echelon of all dog breeds.

Pug Mixes you would like to know about*

Dog crossbreeds or mixes are sometimes called designer dogs. The name fits since you are “designing” a new dog by mating two purebred dogs. It has become popular in recent times, and more and more breeds have several noteworthy crosses we could write about.

The thing with mixed puppies is that it is hard to know which characteristics they will inherit from their parents. You should research as much info as possible on the parent breeds to understand what you can expect. This way, you will find a mix that has all of the characteristics you want and love.

Read on to see the most popular Pug mixes:

• Box-a-Pug  - Boxer & Pug mix
• Porgi - Corgi & Pug mix
• Pug-a-Pom - Pomeranian & Pug mix
• Daug - Dachshund & Pug mix
• Bullpug - Bulldog & Pug mix
• Frug - French Bulldog & Pug mix
• Pugapoo - Poodle & Pug mix
• Chug - Chihuahua & Pug mix
• Puggle - Beagle & Pug mix
• Bugg - Boston Terrier & Pug mix
• Hug - Husky & Pug mix

*Not all breed mixes are equal in quality! Pets4you.com neither condones nor endorses any example of unethical and unhealthy crossbreeding. We encourage everyone to research in detail before they choose to get a crossbreed.