Pug Behaviors Archives - Two Pug Tails

Pug Attitude

September 9, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Do Pugs Have A Bad Attitude?

This is a bit of a complex question because ‘attitude’ can be used to imply a lot of different things! Overall, I’d say pugs have a pretty good attitude but let’s break this question down into more detailed questions.

Are Pugs Stubborn?

Pugs can be stubborn, which some will interpret as having a bad attitude.

Are Pugs Antisocial or Aloof?

Pugs usually have loving temperaments and are pretty affectionate. They are usually friendly and social, they don’t come off as aloof.

Do Pugs Get Along With Others?

Most pugs get along pretty well with most other pets and with children. I did a whole blog post about what animals pugs get along well with if you want more details.

Are Pugs Lazy?

Pugs definitely can be lazy! If you’re looking for a dog that will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about going for a jog with you at 5am, you may see pugs as having a bad attitude.

Are Pugs Hard To Train?

Pugs can be hard to train. This isn’t based on their intelligence, but instead based on their stubbornness! At the same time, pugs like to please their owners and are usually highly motivated by food/treats as well. Those factors can make training them a bit easier than some other stubborn dogs.

Do Pugs Beg?

Pugs can be prone to begging unless you train them not to. Pugs are often obsessed with food and may beg for human food anytime they see or smell any. They may also beg for more dog food between their meals.

Are Pugs Scaredy Cats?

If you see being fearful or anxious as having a bad attitude, some pugs may strike you as having a bad attitude. Some pugs are fearful dogs who would rather sit inside on your lap rather than seek out adventure. One of my pugs was fearful of cats, and other dogs. Another of my pugs was afraid of thunder, and loud or just unexpected noises like a spatula falling off the counter onto the hard floor.

Are Pugs Funny?

Pugs definitely can have a funny attitude! They are a lot more expressive than some other dogs. Due to their flat faces, they ca make a variety of sounds that you may have never heard from other dogs. They often use their weird noises to express themselves. Mine would make short, choppy inhales when he was really happy and we called it his ‘purr’. Both of my pugs would sneeze on purpose to let you know they were annoyed. They also could sigh when frustrated or annoyed.

Pugs’ reactions to various things can be pretty funny, too. We often found ourselves laughing at our pugs. So, I’d definitely classify them as having funny attitudes.

Are Pugs Annoying?

That really depends on what things you personally find annoying. I wrote a whole blog post about this topic!

Are Pugs Aggressive?

No, pugs are not an aggressive dog breed.

Are Pugs Yappy?

Pugs generally do’ bark excessively, and when they do bark it’s a deeper bark than you might expect from such a small dog. So their bark doesn’t sound particularly yappy.

Are Pugs Dramatic?

Pugs can definitely be drama queens! One of mine was really laid back and chill as long as she wasn’t anxious, but the other was a drama queen. We mostly found this funny, but I can see how others could read it as having a bad attitude.

Do Pugs Have Bad Manners?

Pugs aren’t a particularly….classy…breed. They have audible farts and burps, they breathe loudly after exercise or when excited, and more. So, yes, you could say that pugs might come across as rude or having bad manners in that sense! As far as how they interact with people though, they’re usually a friendly, calm breed.

Are Pugs Sassy?

Whether or not you detect sass in a dog’s behavior is probably exceptionally subjective. Personally, I felt like my pugs were sassy a times, but not enough to where I’d say they are sassy as a general statement. My pug Frank, in particular, was strong willed or stubborn. There would be times where I knew he understood a command but would comply very slowly, or would comply and then sigh or sneeze. Those sorts of interactions felt like he was being sassy!

These ever really bothered me, and they weren’t super common. I suppose my assessment would be that Frank had a sassy streak, but wasn’t super sassy overall.

Pug Anxiety

August 25, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Are Pugs Prone To Anxiety?

Pugs are prone to separation anxiety, specifically. Outside of separation anxiety, they aren’t known to be more anxious than other dog breeds. Still, anxiety isn’t unusual in dogs in general so many pugs have anxiety about various things.

Signs of Anxiety In Pugs

Pacing.

Drooling.

Panting despite not being hot or active.

Destructive behavior such as chewing on things they shouldn’t.

Being jumpy or having dramatic reactions.

Whining, whimpering, or crying.

Avoidance. Sometimes pugs will run away from what they are afraid of. Other times they might just try to hide or seek solitude to calm themselves.

Shaking or shivering when not cold.

Tucking their nail low or between their legs.

Excessive self-licking or other self-soothing behaviors.

Common Causes Of Anxiety For Pugs

Separation from their owner or family. Pugs were bred to be companions so they are truly lap dogs to the bone! Due to this, separation from their people is particularly difficult for them. Some pugs may have separation anxiety if separated from other pets in the household that they have bonded with.

Thunder. Thunderstorms are a common cause of anxiety in dogs in general, and pugs are no exception.

Fireworks are another common fear for dogs in general.

Vacuum cleaner sounds. What is this noisy contraption moving around the living room??

Having their nails trimmed. For some this can be due to having felt pain if their nails were ever cut too short. For many dogs, they’ve never been hurt while having their nails cut but it still is just a confusing and perhaps physically awkward experience for them.

Going to the vet. Some dogs remember being injured a the vet, or hearing loud noises while at the vet that scared them. For others, they may sense that their ower is worried about them when at the vet, or they may dislike being put on the exam table. For various reasons, lots of dogs experience nerves while at the vet.

How To Help A Pug With Anxiety

Desensitize them slowly but surely. This can be especially helpful for things that your dog needs to experience sometimes, such as vet visits or nail trims. Allowing them to get a little nervous without letting them get to a full-out panic can desensitize them over time. We did this with nail trimming with my pug. We’d start with trying to trim one nail and would continue if he was uncomfortable but not freaking out. If he started to get ‘too’ worked up, we’d stop and try again a few hours later or the next day rather than forcing him through all of his nails at once.

Avoidance. In some cases, just letting your dog avoid their anxiety trigger can work. Of course, this is only if the source of their anxiety is something they don’t need to have in their lives.

Drown out the noise. If your dog dislikes certain sounds like fireworks, thunderstorms or the vacuum, sometimes playing other sounds for them can help. If you put on loud music while vacuuming, the vacuum may bother them less.

Compression wraps. Some dogs find compression soothing. Thundershirs are a popular brad of compression shirts, but there are many offbrands as well.

Leave them your scent. If you have to leave your pug home alone and they struggle with separation anxiety, leaving them with a t-shirt you’ve worn (or something similar) may be soothing to them.

Positive associations. Try to combine a positive experience with your dogs anxiety trigger. For example, if they are afraid of your neighbor’s dog, you can try giving them their favorite dog treat when they see the neighbors dog. Over time, they can grow to associate the neighbors dog with getting a treat which can help them to have a more positive association with that dog.

Using a kennel or reducing your pug’s access within the home. For some dogs, having free reign of the home while home alone is anxiety inducing. For those dogs, beig left in a kennel or limited to just one area while home alone may be more comforting. You could try using a baby gate or pet gate to keep your dog blocked in one room.

Kongs with frozen peanut butter or other interactive toys can give your pug something to do to keep their mind off their worries.

Leaving sound on when you leave the house. Some feel that their days stay calmer if they have a radio or TV on when home alone. If your home usually has sound happening and then it’s totally silent when your pug is home alone, this may make it feel more unusual for your dog. Keeping some sound in the home may make them less aware of people not being home.

Get them tired before they face their anxiety trigger. For example, if your dog dislikes being left home alone, you may take them on a good walk before you leave. This can give them less energy o focus on their anxiety and may increase the odds that they’ll just nap when you’re gone. I used to find it helpful to tire my pugs out a bit before we went to the vet, too.

Medication. When needed, vets can provide anxiety medication for pets.

Are Pugs Annoying?

August 19, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Are Pugs Annoying?

What you consider annoying can be really subjective. Some people find pugs annoying, while others won’t find them annoying at all.

If you’re considering a dog, it can be helpful to think about what traits you do and don’t like in dogs, and then look at common traits of different breeds. If you think you might find pugs annoying, I’ll go over some of the traits that some people may friend annoying about pugs.

Ways Pugs Are Annoying

They breath heavily. Getting a pug from a breeder who breeds to extend the nose can reduce this, but many pugs have a difficult time breathing unless they have surgery to expand their nasal passages. I remember a scene in a movie where a pug was breathing really loudly while people are trying to talk. Someone asked if the dog always breathes that way and they said yes. That’s always stuck with me so I do like to tell people that breathing loudly 24/7 is not normal for pugs.

It is common for them to breathe heavily after exercise, or while excited or nervous. My pugs would get excited by simple things like when I stood out of bed for the day and when I headed to bed at night. They’d pant for a few minutes afterward, every single day. They’d also get excited or nervous (or both) when new people would visit so I’m sure guests might think our dogs breathed worse than they really did, as they only saw them while they were amped up. Same thing with our vet! My dogs breathed so loudly while at the vet. Anyway, while it’s not constant, they do breathe harder than other dog breeds which can be annoying to some people.

They snore. How much varies from one pug to the other. This isnt’ always a direct correlation to how well hey breathe while awake, oddly enough. I had one pug who breathed heavily when excited or nervous, and she never snored. My other pug would only breathe heavily if he got really overheated, but he snored more frequently. In general though, pugs are more likely to snore than some other dog breeds.

They are stubborn. Pugs can be a little challenging to train, but it’s not that they are stupid – they’re just stubborn. They can be a bit willful. At the same time, they really love their person so they do really like to make you happy. They’re also food driven dogs which can make training with treats really effective. Anyhow, if you want a dog that is highly obedient, you may find pugs annoying.

They are food obsessed. They may beg for food anytime they see a person eating unless you don’t train them not to. They may also whine/cry like they’re starving between their meals. They’re likely to get way too excited for their meals, too.

They hate having their nails trimmed. If you get a pug as a puppy and work on this, they may not be so bad…but many pugs absolutely have having their nails trimmed. If you’ve seen the videos of the pugs screaming like maniacs while getting their nails trimmed….that isn’t super rare. My male pug would scream like that if we had his nails trimmed at the vet. Thankfully, he grew to tolerate us trimming his nails at home without screaming.

They may scream. Yes, some pugs can bark in a way that sounds like screaming. Only one of my pugs did this, and he only did it while getting his nails trimmed. While rare, it was very loud.

They’re messy with water. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to own a bull dog or other dog with really big jowls, because my pugs didn’t have big jowls but they could get water all over the place! They weren’t trying to make a mess or anything, but just drinking out of the water dish and then walking away would leave a rail of water all over the kitchen.

They want your attention all the time. I have a whole blog post on how pugs want your attention all the time. They were bred to be lap dogs, so they really exist just to keep you company. With that in mind, it isn’t surprising that they don’t really know what to do with themselves if they don’t get a lot of human interaction on a regular basis. Most pug owners find this endearing, but it’s understandable to me that not everyone wants that type of a pet. If you want a dog that is more independent, a pug will probably annoy you.

They want to be close to you. Similar to watching your attention but more specifically they want to be able to physically touch you. They’d love to be in your lap 24/7, and if they can’t sit with you they want to still be as close to you as possible. Mine would often literally sit on my feet while I was cooking or washing dishes.

Separation anxiety. Again, pugs were bred to be companions. They exist to be with you, so if left alone they often will suffer from separation anxiety. This can be frustrating for some people, especially if they act out while anxious. It’s common for dogs to “misbehave” while anxious. They might chew on things they shouldn’t or get in the garbage, among other things.

They may need to go to the vet often. If you’re looking for a dog with minimal medical needs, a pug isn’t a good breed to go with. It’s not that pugs are constantly at the vet their whole lives…but they do have more medical issues than some other breeds, especially as they age. My pugs got through many years with only one wellness visit, but once they hit age 14 or so, both were at the vet at least every 3 months or so.

They may need expensive food. Not all, but some pugs will have allergies or sensitivities. Some pugs will have skin or digestive issues unless they’re on a really high-quality diet which can be expensive. If you’re looking for a dog that can get by on cheap food, a pug may not be able to and you may find that annoying.

Pug Biting & How To Stop It

July 25, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Are Pugs Bad About Biting?

Most pugs aren’t prone to biting. Pugs are a docile breed. It is common for puppies to nip while playing, though. They need to be trained from a young age that nipping people isn’t okay, or they’ll continue the behavior as they get older.

When Do Pug Puppies Stop Nipping?

You have to train your pug to stop nipping. Often nipping is related to teething, and most pugs stop teething by around 8 months of age. They’ll stop mouthing items they should’t around that age, typically. Still, if you don’t train them to stop nipping, or if you have accidentally encouraged their nipping by making it into a form of play, it will likely continue until you train them differently.

Is it Biting or Nipping or Mouthing?

People often refer to nipping as biting, but they are different. There is also mouthing which is different yet!

Biting is when a dog bites down hard on something. This will usually break the skin, and is usually done out of fear or protection. True biting is a much more serious problem than nipping, but it’s quite rare in pugs. A pug that is truly biting likely feels unsafe or mistreated.

Nipping is a quick shut of the jaw, without locking down on something. This will hurt, but it won’t break the skin. This is commonly done as a form of play in puppies. While the intent isn’t “bad”, it’s painful and may cause mild injuries to young children so it’s best to train out.

Mouthing is when a dog puts their mouth on something but doesn’t bite down at all. You may feel their teeth but there won’t be pressure and no pain at all. This behavior is similar to human babies who put toys in their mouth. It’s a way of exploring an object. For most dogs this behavior will stop when they are done teething.

How to stop your pug from biting

Dog trainers often recommend a bite inhibition method. This basically means squeel when they bite you. Puppies like to play-bite other dogs, and when the other dog squeels in response to a bite, that’s how the dog learns it went too far. If left with other puppies, dogs will learn bite inhibition by about 18 weeks old. However, in many cases today puppies are rehomed by about 8 weeks. This leaves them without enough experience in learning bite inhibition from their litermates and their humans need to take over this training.

You can mimic the experience that puppies would get from their littermates squealing when your dog nips you. This can teach your dog that they went too far, even if the nip wasn’t painful. The goal is to squeel anytime they nip at all, to teach them that nipping people is not acceptable.

Try to get everyone in your household to squeel if your pug nips them, and to be consistent with it. This will increase the odds that your pug will learn to stop biting sooner.

Alternatively, you can firmly say ‘no’ or ‘stop’ each time they nip. If your puppy seeks reassurance or pets afterwards, it’s best to ignore them. This can feel mean, but this is how you make it clear to them that their behavior was unacceptable. This is really effective for pugs because pugs love attention from their owners. They were bred to be companions, so they are often really hurt by being ignored. While it won’t feel good for you or them, it will effectively teach them.

Don’t hit your dog for biting. Dogs don’t understand physical punishment, and it may even make them so fearful that they will bite more in response.

Don’t play with them if they nip. This can be hard because pug puppies are trying to play when they nip you. When we understand that they’re playing, it can make us want to play back. However, this can encourage the behavior. Keep in mind that as your pug gets older their teeth will get bigger and their small bits will become more painful. For this reason, it’s best to discourage their small biting before they get bigger.

Direct them to chewing toys. It’s natural for dogs to want to bite, but it’s important that they learn what is fair-game for biting and what isn’t. You don’t want them to learn that your hands or any other part of your body can be bitten. Offer them chew toys instead.

Give your pug time around other dogs. Dogs like to rough plan with other dogs and this can help them get out their desire to bite in a safe way.

Keep them entertained. Sometimes nipping will happen because they are bored and seeking attention. Keeping your puppy entertained can reduce the frequency of their nipping.