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Pugs & Other Animals | What Pets Pugs Get Along With

June 29, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Are Pugs Good With Other Animals?

As a general rule of thumb, pugs are good with other animals. They love attention from their people so they might get jealous if they see a lot of attention being given to another pet. They might whine or try to push themselves between a person and the pet who is getting more attention or something like that. Generally, though, they will either become buddies or at least be very tolerable of other pets in the house.

Are Pugs Good With Cats?

Whether pugs will befriend cats will have a lot to do with whether or not they are socialized with cats while they are a puppy. Pugs who are around cats from a young age will often befriend them. Pugs who don’t have experience with cats until they’re older may be less likely to cuddle up to a cat, but they aren’t likely to fight with them or try to hunt them, either.

Younger pugs can be high energy, so it’s important to keep ‘safe places’ for your cat that your pug can’t access. Your cat should be able to get away from your pug and take a break if they want.

Pugs are very food-focused, so your pug will likely try to eat your cat’s food. Be sure to feed your cat in a place where your pug can’t reach their food dish.

With my two pugs, one would sometimes whine/cry when it saw cats, but would just ignore the cats other than that. My other pug would sometimes chase cats if the cats ran, but when the pug caught up with the cat, it would just stop. The pug wouldn’t try to harm the cat or even play with it once the cat stopped…she just wanted to chase it down. Still, the cat didn’t like being chased so we tried to keep her from being able to chase the cat. That same pug loved to chase other dogs who would run, so it was definitely just a “let’s play!” type of behavior not aggression.

Are Pugs Good With Kittens?

Generally the dog breeds that you need to be wary of having around kittens are dogs that have a high prey drive. Pugs don’t have a high prey drive so they aren’t likely to try to ‘go after’ or hunt a kitten. If a pug is introduced to kittens or cats while they are still a puppy, they should do well. Pugs shouldn’t b left alone with small kittens because they do have a size difference and could injure a kitten, accidentally or otherwise.

Are Pugs Good With Other Pugs?

Yes, pugs usually do well with other pugs. In fact, it’s often joked that nobody has just one pug! Of course, this isn’t strictly true, some people do have just one pug. It is very common for people to have two or three pugs in the same household though and they usually get along well. My two were very bonded!

Are Pugs Good With Hamsters?

As a general rule, dogs should be kept separate from hamsters because dogs (even as small as pugs) can easily injur a hamster.

Are Pugs Good With Mice?

Most likely, a pug would just ignore a mouse. However, there are stories out there about pugs hunting mice so if you have a pet mouse it’s best to keep them separate.

Are Pugs Good With Hedgehogs?

I used to have a pet hedgehog! My pugs were curious about the hedgehog and would try to sniff it, but if the hedgehog put his quills up, they’d back far away. We only let the pugs around the hedgehog while supervised, but overall the dogs and the hedgehog didn’t care about each other.

Are Pugs Good With Birds?

Pugs aren’t likely to try to hunt down a bird, but they may chase them. To be safe, keep them separate.

Are Pugs Good With Other Dogs?

Pugs are generally good with other dogs. My two pugs never tried to ‘go after’ any other dogs. However, one of my dogs would whine/cry in the presence of some dogs. A couple times over the years we encountered dogs that would try to attack my pug in response to his whining. I think his crying made some other dogs see him as prey.

In other cases, the same dog would eagerly play with other dogs. Anyway, we were always cautious around other dogs just in case…but my pugs never had any aggression towards other dogs.

Are Pugs Good With Big Dogs?

Pugs are generally good with larger dogs. We had a high energy neighbor dog that was bigger than my pugs, and my little female pug would play pretty rough with the bigger dog, even!

Are Pugs Good With Chickens?

Like other birds, pugs may chase chickens but won’t usually try to harm them. Pugs don’t stand much taller than most chickens so they may be intimidated by chickens and choose to keep their distance. Your pug isn’t likely to harm your chickens but supervise any interactions to be safe.

Are Pugs Good With Rabbits?

Pugs have a calm temperament so they’ll usually do well with smaller or mid-sized critters like rabbits. If a rabbit is too fast, pugs may chase them but aren’t likely to want to hurt them. Still, it’s always best ot be really cautious and observe closely if you’re going to allow your pug around a rabbit.

Are Pugs Good With Horses?

Pugs may bark at large animals like horses, or be intimidated by them and prefer to keep their distance. They aren’t likely to befriend a horse or try to attack them, though.

Are Pugs Good With Sheep?

Pugs may bark at sheep, or they might ignore them, or they might be scared and try to keep their distance. A pug shouldn’t cause problems for a sheep though.

How to introduce a pug to another animal

Give them something with the other animals’ scent on it in advance sot hey can check out the smell.

2. If the other animal is a dog or an animal that is safe to be let outside, have your pug mee the animal outside. Some animals can be territorial of their homes, so if you can safely introduce animals in a neutral space that can be best. Keep the dog leashed while the introduction happens to ensure the safety of all animals.

3. Give the dog treats if they are behaving well while seeing the cat or other animal. The goal is to make it an extra-positive experience for your pug so they create a positive association with the other animal.

4. If either pet shows signs of stress or anxiety, pause the introduction and try again another day. It may require several mini introductions before the two animals can comfortably spend time around each other. It’s best not to go slowly and let both animals warm up to each other rather than forcing them to coexist.

5. Cats or other animals that sometimes like to hide should be given free access to spaces to hide from the dog if they wish.

How To Help Your Pug Lose Weight

June 22, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Unfortunately, obesity is the most common health problem that pugs have. Pugs aren’t alone in this, either. According to VCAhospitals.com, 20-30% of all dogs are overweight, but 40-45% of dogs over the age of 5 are overweight. The good news is, pet obesity is a problem that owners can fix!

How Do I Know If My Pug Is Overweight?

With obesity being common in dogs (and in pugs, specifically) it can skew our idea of what a healthy weight looks like. If you think your pug would look pretty ‘average’ if they were surrounded by other pugs, they may still be overweight. If you think your pug would look like a chunky one in a group of pugs, they’re almost certainly obese.

However, it’s best to not rely on assumptions. Talk to your vet about your pug’s weight to see if they think they are overweight. Some vets will talk to pet owners anytime they see an overweight animal, but others don’t. So, if you’ve been to the vet and their weight hasn’t been addressed, that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t overweight. However, if you ask your vet about your pug’s weight and whether it’s too high or not, they should be happy to give you a good answer.

According to the AKC, ideal pugs weigh between 14 and 17lbs. However, this doesn’t always mean that your pug is overweight if they are over 17lbs. Pugs can vary in height and length, and pugs with bigger frames should weigh more than pugs with more petite frames. This is where body condition score comes into play. Here is a body condition score chart made just for pugs, which I find super helpful seems how pugs are a short, stout breed, their ideal body condition looks different from some other breeds.

Source: Universiy Of Cambridge.

As you can see from the chart, you can determine if your pug is overweight by looking at how visible their waist is, any feeling their rib area. A body condition score of 5 or 6 is where you want your pug to stay. If your pug has a body condition score of 7 or higher, they would benefit from losing weight.

How To Help Your Pug Lose Weight

How many calories your pug is consuming is by far the largest factor in their weight. Like people, pugs will gain weight if they eat more calories than they burn. While increasing activity can increase how many calories are burned, if too many calories are consumed, it is extremely difficult to exercise those extra calories away.

One study showed that if a 20lb dog walks at a pace of 4 miles per hour, they will only burn 8 calories after a 1 hour walk. In other words – if you’re overfeeding your pug, they have no hope of losing weight by exercising more. You must feed them less.

Really, the solution to helping your pug lose weight all comes down to making sure you’re feeding them the right amount. Pugs are not a breed that does well with being “free fed”. Meaning, you shouldn’t leave food out for them all the time – most pugs will become severely obese if they have access to as much dog food as they can eat.

Instead, you should feed them 1-3 times per day, and measure the amount. How much they should eat will depend on the food that you are feeding. Look up how many calories are in a cup of the brand and type of dog food that you purchase, then calculate how much food to give them based on the calorie content.

You’ll want to give your pug the amount of calories for their ideal weight, not their current weight. Most dogs need to eat 25-30 calories per 1lb of body weight. If your pug has a goal weight of 17lb dog would need to eat 425 to 510 calories a day. Younger dogs and more active dogs can eat towards the higher end of the spectrum, while older and/or lower activity dogs should sick towards the lower end of the calorie spectrum. Most pugs are not super active, so in most cases, it’s best to stick with the lower-calorie range for their ideal weight.

I made the table below using information from AmericanMedicalCenterOfChicago. Pugs are an obese-prone breed, so I used the obese-prone status for dogs weighing 14-22lbs as pugs should have an ideal weight between 14lbs and 25lbs.

How many calories pugs should eat per day based on ideal weight

Ideal Weight	Calories/day
14 lbs	392
15 lbs	413
16 lbs	434
17 lbs	454
18 lbs	475
19 lbs	494
20 lbs	512
25 lbs	606

Keep in mind that this is their total calories, including any snacks or treats. If you give your dog any snacks or treats, then their meal calorie total should be less than that shown above.

Also, metabolism can vary, and usually lowers with age. If you find that feeding your pug a set calorie amount per day keeps them too heavy, this likely means that they have a slower metabolism and should be fed a bit less. Part of why older dogs are more likely to become obese is because pet owners sometimes continue to feed their dog the same amount even after their dog’s metabolism slows down. Monitor how much you’re feeding your dog and how it impacts their weight. If they are gaining weight, they’re eating too much. Or if your goal is to have them lose weight and they are maintaining weight instead, you need to restrict their calories a bit more.

I have a whole blog post on how much to feed pugs if you want to learn more.

Factors That Contribute To Obesity in Dogs

Some breeds are more prone to it, and pugs are one of those breeds.

2. Age. Older dogs have slower metabolism which means they will weigh more if they eat the same amount as a younger dog.

3. Spay/neuter status. Spaying and neutering your pets is important and recommended, but it does have the downside of increasing the risk of obesity.

3. Activity level. While pugs are small and don’t burn a lot of calories while moving around, it is somewhat of a factor in their weight.

4. Personally. Dogs who are in love with food are more likely to become obese. These dogs will be more likely to find table scraps or dig food out of the garbage if left unattended, and are more likely to beg for food from people. On the other hand, dogs who aren’t excited about food or picky eaters will often have a easier time maintaining a healhy weight. Most pugs are lovers of food!

5. Medical conditions. Some medical conditions such as thyroid problems or diabetes can be a factor in a dog’s weight.

Why Pug Obesity Matters

It’s easy to think that chubby dogs are cute! Sometimes people feel that it really isn’t a big deal. Here’s why obesity does matter in pugs.

Shortens life span. While each dog is unique and there are always exceptions to the rule, statistically, obese dogs don’t live as long as dogs that maintain a healhy weight. We all want our pugs to be with us as long as possible, so keeping their weight down can help.

2. Can make it harder for pugs to breathe. Pugs are prone to breathing problems due to their facial structure. When a pug is overweight, this adds stress to their chest and neck which can worsen their breathing struggles.

3. Can worsen joint problems. Pugs are prone to arthritis and other joint problems. If a pug has excess weight on them, this adds unenccesary pressure to their joints which worsens joint problems and can increase pain.

4. Heat intolerance. Due to pugs’ flat faces, they aren’t very tolerant of heat at any weight. However, when a pug is overweight this exacerbates their heat intolerace.

How To Get Your Pug More Active

Be active yourself! Pugs love their people so if you are out and about more, they’ll join you.

Take time to play every day. Try out a wide range of types of dog toys if you need to find something your dog likes. Playing is often the best way o get pugs moving! My pugs liked small plush dog toys, so we’d use them for tug-o-war and would throw them for them to fetch.

Let them tag along! Going for a walk to the neighbors, or doing yard work? Open the door and let your pug outside with you.

Go to the dog park or dog-friendly parks. Dogs often get a lot of exercises while playing with oher dogs, so trips to the dog park can help. If you don’ have a dog park, going to a park that is dog-friendly may result in meeting up with another dog to play. Or if you have friends or family member’s with dogs you could plan meet-ups with their dogs.

Daily walks. Whether you live in a city or a rural area, find a way to take a daily walk. It could be on the sidewalk, through the woods behind your house or in a public nature trail. My pugs loved to explore, and they loved routines. Anytime they knew what we were doing next, they’d get excited! So if your pugs are lke mine, once they begin to understand the routine of their daily walk time, they’ll look forward to it!

How To Reduce Your Pug’s Food

If your dog has been severely overeating (such as being free fed), you may try cutting back slowly rather than making a really dramatic reduction, for the sake of letting your pug emotionally and mentally adjust to getting less food.

2. Try more meals but smaller ones. For example, if you’ve calculaed that your dog should eat 3/4 of a cup of dog food per day, you may give three 1/4 cup meals a day rather than one meal that is 3/4 of a cup all at once. For some dogs this makes them more emotionally/mentally satisfied.

3. If you give them snacks or treats, use VERY low calorie and healthy options. You don’t to spend most of their daily calories on snacks. Carrots or other dog-safe veggies can make great snacks or treats.

4. If your dog likes ‘volume’, consider a weight control dog food. Like people, some dogs will feel more satisfied if they eat a lot of a low-calorie food vs if they eat a small amount of a calorie dense food. Weight control dog foods are usually just lower-calorie versions, but if yur dog likes to eat a lot of volume they may help.

5. Keep your pug busy and mentally enertained so they aren’t wanting to eat out of boredom.

6. Use a kibble dispenser, hide kibble in a snuffle mat or other toy that will make your pug “work for their meal” and make it last longer.

How I Helped My Pugs Lose Weight

My pugs were free-fed by their previous owner. When I got them, they were 31 and 33lbs! Severely obese.

I kept them on the type of dog food that their previous owner had them on, and left food out for them 24/7 for the first couple of weeks. While I knew this wasn’t healthy, I knew that being rehomed was really emotional for them. I didn’t want to force unneccesary changes on them in the beginning. So, I let them get a bit settled in first.

When I felt they could tolerate the change, we changed them to a higher quality dog food (they were on Walmart brand previously) and to a weight-control dog food. This way, I could divide up their daily food into several small meals easily due to it having more volume. Early on, they would beg for food constantly so I would give them 4 meals per day (1/4 a cup each time) to try to appease them.

After a while they seemed to grow to accept their new “diet”, and quit begging for food between meals. That’s when I realized we could feed them fewer times per day. I measured out 1/2 of a cup twice per day after that, and that is the feeding schedule that we stuck with for the rest of their lives. We bought store-brand dog treats that were really soft. We reduced their treat calories by tearing dog treats into very small sizes, so although we would give them a treat each time they went potty (it was clear to us when we got them that they expected treats after going potty!) they only ate about 1 dog treat per day because each time we gave them a treat it would be a small peice broken off, rather than a full one. We also gave them bully sticks occasionally, mostly as an anxiety tool.

I am sure that I could have switched to a non-weight control dog food if I wanted to, but it was working fine so I figured why fix what isn’t broken?

Frank went from 33lbs down to 24lbs. Beans went from 31lbs down to 23 pounds. They both were still slighly overweight. While Beans weighed less, she was more overweight because she had a smaller frame than Frank had. I (wrongly) struggled with feeling bad about reducing their food more than that, so I allowed them to stay a bit overweight. Not great, but it’s the truth! Still, I think their story shows that getting your pug to lose weight is very possible.

All About Pug Wrinkles

June 13, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Where Do Pugs Have Wrinkles?

Most pugs have some wrinkles in their forehead area and between their eyes, as well as below their eyes and above their nose. Some pugs may also have wrinkles or creases along their neck/shoulder area if they have enough excess skin for it to fold.

Do Pug Puppies Have Wrinkles?

Newborn pug puppies are usually born without wrinkles at all, and by 8 weeks old some pugs have significant wrinkles while others are still wrinkle-free. Exactly when the wrinkles appear can vary, but the wrinkles will get more pronounced as they get closer to full grown.

The pug wrinkle above their nose

The wrinkle above a pug’s nose is usually the one that needs the most care. This wrinkle may be really tight and deep in some pugs, while others may be more spacious. My pug Frank had a slightly longer nose than some other pugs, and this resulted in the wrinkle above his nose not being as ‘tight’ as my other pug’s was. This made it a lot easier for his to stay clean and dry. All pugs need to have their wrinkles kept clean, but if you have a pug with a tight nose wrinkle you’ll need to be extra diligent about keeping it clean and dry.

How To Clean A Pug’s Face Wrinkles

Take a cloth or dog-safe wet wipe over one of your fingers and go along your pug’s wrinkle crease. This will help free any shed hairs, dirt or other debris that has collected in their fold. Repeat this process again until the cloth shows that no more dirt or hair is coming out. Once done, use a clean and dry cloth to dry the crease.

If your pug has tight wrinkles, you should do this daily. If your pug has looser or shallower wrinkles, you may only need to do it every couple of days. If you aren’t sure, it’s always better to err on the side of more frequent.

Why you have to clean a pug’s wrinkles

Pug wrinkles need special care because they can trap bacteria or begin to grow yeast! Some people complain of noticing that their pug’s face wrinkles smell. That is a sign that it is getting infected due to not being clean. The wrinkles have creases which can allow shed hair, sweat, water (frequently happens from missy drinking), food, dirt and other things to collect in the crease. If anything gets trapped in the crease and isn’t cleaned out it can get irritated and even infected over time.

The best wrinkle wipes for pugs

I recommend PetPost bulldog wrinkle wipes. Of course, pugs are not bulldogs but they have similar needs. These wrinkle wipes are specifically formulated for dogs. Baby wipes and other types of wipes can include alcohol or other ingredients that can be harsh or drying to pug’s face, or could be irritating to their face.

Signs of an infected nose wrinkle

If your pug’s nose wrinkle is red, losing hair, swollen, itchy, wet (oozing), or has an odor those are all signs that it may be infected. If you see any signs of infection, head to the vet! They will be able to give you medication or ointment to clear it up.

Pug Wrinkle creams or balms

If you really struggle with keeping your dog’s face wrinkles clean and dry, you may consider a cream or a wrinkle balm. I don’t have personal experience with trying these, but they should be used after cleaning your dog’s wrinkles and after they’ve dried. The goal of the balms is to keep moisture off the skin to protect from infection.

How To Get Your Pug To Accept Face Cleaning

“But my pug won’t let me clean their wrinkles!” you say? You aren’t alone in having a pug who doesn’t like their face touched. Pugs have big eyes that stick out which makes their eyes vulnerable to injury. As a result of that, it’s very common for pugs to be even more hesitant than other dog breeds to let people near their face.

However, it’s really important to keep their wrinkles clean to avoid infection. You can train your pug to tolerate face cleaning by making it a positive experience. Most pugs are highly food motivated, so using treats to reward them while they have their face cleaned is a good way to make them more tolerant of it.

Be calm but firm when cleaning your pug’s face. You want them to feel safe, yet to also know that you are in control.

Can you clean pug wrinkles with baby wipes?

Most popular baby wipes have alcohol which can be drying to a pug’s facial skin. However, I understand that the wipes specifically designed for cleaning a dog’s face are a bit pricy. If your dog’s skin is irritated or sensitive, I’d recommend sticking with the dog wrinkle wipes. However, if your dog’s skin is in good shape and doesn’t seem overly sensitive, you can try one of the more natural brands of baby wipes. Look for one that is free from alcohol. I’d recommend Water Wipes, as those are 99.9% water, and the remaining ingredient is a fruit extract which has naturally antimicrobial properties.

Why do pugs have wrinkles?

Pugs were originally bred in China, and the people breeding pugs wanted them to have wrinkled faces! They wanted the wrinkles on a pug’s face to resemble the character that means “prince.” Wrinkles are genetic for pugs, so you can get a rough idea of how deep (or severe?) of wrinkles a pug puppy might develop as they mature if you look a the wrinkles of their parents.

Pug Barking

June 2, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Do pugs bark a lot?

Pugs are not a breed that is known for excessive barking. In fact, most pugs are rahter quiet! Of course, every dog is different so there are some pugs who bark a lot. As a general rule, pugs aren’t noisy dogs.

Are pugs yappy dogs?

Pugs are not yappy dogs. They don’t usually bark a lot, and their bark is not high-pitched. Pugs usually have a bigger/deeper sounding bark than you would expect for a small dog breed. They can have a loud, intense bark though.

My personal experience

Neither of my pugs barked much. If they saw a stranger approaching our house, they wouldn’t usually bark. When hey did bark at people, it was usually because they were startled. For example, if they were sleeping and then woke up to see the mailman standing just outside of our sliding glass door, they would sometimes bark. Where if they were awake and saw him pull in, they wouldn’t bark.

One of my dogs would sometimes bark at cats, squirrels, rabbits, etc. The other didn’t bark at other animals, but would sometimes whine/cry/whimper when he saw other dogs.

After Beans went blind, she would bark after we left the house, which was frustrating as we didn’t want her to disrupt our neighbors, but we couldn’t really keep her quiet while we weren’t home! Occasionally she would start barking if she lost track of me, but if I said her name or gently touched her to let her know I was there, she’d stop.

Anyway, for the most part, as long as someone was home with them, they’d only bark if surprised by a stranger or another animal, and it was easy to get them to settle down by just telling them to stop.

Reasons why pugs bark

To warn of predators (strangers, other animals)

2. They want attention. Barking is a way to get people’s attention and attempt to communicate. If they want your attention and feel they can’t get it otherwise, they might bark to get you to look and listen.

3. To be territorial or protective. We’ve probably all seen a dog bark when a person or another animal gets “too close” while they are eating or enjoying their favorite toy or even just enjoying their dog bed. This is a way of communicating that they will protect what they have.

4. Excitement or playfulness. It’s common for dogs to playfully bark at each other when they are playing together. Some dogs may bark when playing with people, too.

5. Deafness. Some dogs start to bark if they go deaf because they can’t hear themselves.

What age do pug puppies start to bark?

Pug puppies can start to vocalize around 2 to 3 weeks old.

Why Your Pug Barks At Night?

Pugs love being with their people, so it’s common for pugs to bark if they are kenneled at night or otherwise kept away from people.

If you have an older pug who has started barking at night despite being near you, this can be a sign of cognitive decline or dog dementia, essentially.

My pug Beans would have phases where she would walk around the house barking at night. She’d do this for just a couple of nights in a row, with several weeks in between these episodes. It seemed like they usually occurred around the same time that we noticed her vision had declined further. This was 100% my own theory, but it seemed like as her vision got worse, she would be bothered by the darkness at night util she adjusted to life with less vision. If this may be the case for your pug, keeping lights on at night may help.

How to reduce or stop pug barking

Don’t yell at them for barking. Yelling often makes barking worse.
Reduce their triggers or desensitize them. If they often bark when the cat enters the room, praise them and give them attention when the cat enters the room. If they often bark at strangers, give them positive reinforcement as soon as a stranger comes into view. It won’t happen overnight, but in time they’ll begin to see their trigger as a more positive thing, rather than something to bark at.
If your dog barks when left alone, leaving on a radio, tv or white noise machine may help.
Train ‘quiet’. When your dog in barking, firmly say ‘quiet’ but don’t yell. Wait until they stop barking and then give them a treat.
If your pug barks to be protective, teach them a cue like “it’s okay”. Try to say it in a matter-of-fact way, rather than an overly-soft or harsh tone. You want to reassure your dog without letting them think you are afraid or intimidated as that may make them even more protective.
If your dog barks when bored, be sure to keep them busy with enrichment activities. Two daily walks can help, but in many cases pugs need mental enrichment as much or more than physical exercise.
If your pug barks when they are excted to see someone, ignoring them until they calm down can teach them that barking won’t get them what they want, but being calm will!
Make sure they’re getting enough atention. Pugs were bred to be companions, so they are needy dogs who really want attention from their owners. If they aren’t getting enough of your attention, they may resort to barking to try to get your attention. Try to carve out some time everyday to pet them and give them play time and affection.