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Pug Advantages & Disadvantages

September 16, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

the pros and cons of pugs

Advantages Of Choosing A Pug

Snuggly. They’re great cuddlers.

It’s All About You. They really live for their people. You won’t doubt that they care for you.

Compact. They are small, yet sturdy. They’re small enough to fly with on many airlines, and apartments that have a weight limit for allowed pets are usually high enough to accommodate pugs.

They make good apartment dogs or city-dwelling pets. They don’t need much space. If you have an efficient apartment or are just renting a room, your pug can make that work as long as you can take them for a daily walk. I have a blog post that goes into more detail about pugs in apartments.

pugs are low maintenance dogs

They’re easy. They’re fairly low-maintenance dogs. No trips to the groomers required. You can bathe them at home. They do require having their wrinkles cleaned but this can be done in a minute or two per day.

Quiet. Most of them don’t bark much. Pugs can scream, though.

Friendly. They’re usually good with people, kids and other pets. I have a blog post on pugs & other pets that covers specific types of pets and which ones pugs get along with.

Mild chewers. They aren’t destructive. That’s not to say that your pug puppy will never chew on something of yours that they shouldn’t…but they’re generally not a destructive breed. They will usually stick to chew toys as long as they are made available to them.

They’re not aggressive. Any dog has the potential to bite if they feel threatened, but pugs are generally known for being very loving, gentle dogs.

Disadvantages Of Choosing A Pug

Health issues. They are prone to some health problems. You may spend more at the vet with a pug than you would other dog breeds. However, I will also add that I’ve heard people say they’ve heard that pugs are really sickly dogs. That is generally untrue. I shared some stats in my common pug health problems blog post which may surprise you!

Nasal Surgery. When getting a pug puppy, it’s a good idea to expect to pay for surgery to expand their airways. I’d also strongly suggest that you pick your breeder very carefully. Go with one who breeds for healthy pugs and who has health problems ruled out via testing before breeding pugs.

Cost. Pug puppies aren’t cheap. They aren’t as expensive as some other purebred breeds either, though. Unlike some other dog breeds, if you wan to adopt an older pug, you’re likely to still have to pay for them.

Not summer dogs. Not very tolerant of high heat or humidity. Expect to use an air conditioner for them before you’ll need to turn it on for yourself.

Not winter dogs. Not very tolerant of cold weather. If you want a dog who will hang out with you as you cut wood in the snow, a pug isn’t that dog. I live in Michigan and my pugs would quickly go potty and wanted right back inside during the winter. They would start shivering before they had finished going potty.

Separation anxiety. They are prone to separation anxiety. Some will have other types of anxiety, too. Check out my post on pug anxiety to learn more.

Low exercise needs. If you aren’t particularly athletic, that’s okay. Pugs do well with one to two walks per day.

Prone to allergies. They may require medications to help with allergies, and may not do well on cheap dog foods.

Shedding. Most pugs (fawn ones) shed year-round, and shed quite a bit as they have double coats. Black pugs have a single coat so they may be a better choice if you want a pug that sheds less.

Shed in multiple colors. Most pugs are fawn which means most of their body is a light tan color, but their ears and face are black. This means you’ll end up visible light fur on your dark clothes, and dark fur on your white clothes.

Weight. They are prone to obesity and most are food obsessed. To keep them at healthy weight you (as the owner) will need to be disciplined with limiting their food access and intake.

They’re expressive. Pugs can make a lot of noises compared to other dogs, and they use these to express their emotions. I was really surprised when I first got my pugs how much they could communicate to me through their body language.

Stubborn. They can be stubborn. Pugs are sometimes mistaken as dull, but they aren’t low in intelligence. They can be stubborn, though which can result in them being challenging to train. The difficulty with training pugs isn’t usually getting them to understand the request, but convincing them that they want to comply with it!

pugs have a lot of emotional needs

Emotionally needy. Pugs are not high maintenance – but needy. They want to be with you as often as possible. If you don’t want a lap dog, don’t go with a pug.

Heartbreak. They’ll absolutely break your heart when they pass. They really capture your heart. The heartache you’ll feel when they pass is worse than losing other dogs, in my opinion. With pugs they love you so much that it makes you love them more deeply. That loss really hurts.

Pug Attitude

September 9, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

What kind of attitude do pugs have?

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.

Pug stuck in the couch

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. 

Pug anxiety causes and how to help them cope

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.

Clingy pug laying on owner

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.

Pug sleeping

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.

Can pugs be protective? Can pugs be guard dogs?

July 11, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Are Pugs Protective?

Pugs can be somewhat protective. Pugs really live to love their owners. While they are primarily lap dogs, they are very loyal and committed to their people. If they feel that their owner is in danger, they are likely to act protective. That might mean barking at someone who they think is trying to hurt their person, or even biting if they feel it’s necessary.

Can Pugs Be Guard Dogs?

Guards dogs not only warn of danger, but also defend people or property by attacking when needed. Pugs are not good guard dogs.

pug guard dog

Frank would make this wrinkled-nose face whe we were playing with him. It was sort of his response to knowing we were going to “get” him. I always thought it was funny how it was clearly playful if you saw it in person – but in a picture it looks like a growl! 

Why Pugs Aren’t Good Guard Dogs

Guard dogs need to be able to attack if warranted. Pugs have exceptionally small mouths because of their flat faces. Most pugs can’t even get a regular-sized tennis ball in their mouth. A pug would struggle to get their mouth around the average adult person’s arm or ankle, because their mouths are just pretty small. If they could get their mouth around your arm or leg, they would have their mouth really wide open which wouldn’t give them much leverage to bite down hard.

They’re small, and easy for people to defend themselves against. I hate to say it, but if pug were attacking a “bad guy” who was willing to harm the pug, they could easily “win” the fight.

Pugs don’t have a lot of stamina, so most pugs couldn’t chase a “bad guy” very far.

Pugs aren’t usually naturally possessive. Most guard dogs are very conscious of ‘their space’ and are aware of outsiders coming into their home and so on. Pugs aren’t usually bothered by visitors coming into their home as they just aren’t naturally possessive of their space.

Many pugs are very social. Some are so social that they’ll excitedly run-up to the mailman to say hello rather than barking.

My two pugs would only bark when people visited or pulled in our driveway if the person surprised them. If they were sleeping and suddenly heard a loud knock a the door, they’d bark. If they were awake and someone pulled in the driveway, they wouldn’t bark and may or may not even get up to go investigate!

Can Pugs Be Watch Dogs?

Watch dogs just alert people to danger, they don’t have to defend or attack. With that in mind, some pugs can be guard dogs.

Pugs have a deeper bark than you might expect for such a small dog. They don’t have a yappy sound. If someone were to try to break into your house and heard your pug barking but couldn’t see them, they probably won’t mistake them for a really big dog, but they might think they were more of a mid-sized dog…which may be enough to make them hesitate.

Some pugs are really observant and will bark to alert owners if anyone shows up. There’s even a famous story about a pug watch dog! The Spanish attempted to assassinate the first prince William of Orange. William’s pug named Pompey saved him by barking at the attempted assassins. The pug was named the official dog of house orange in honor of Pompey!  (Source: AKC.com. )

Other pugs are just super friendly and don’t see anyone/anything as a threat! So it really depends on the pug.

It can also depend on training. If you want your pug to be a guard dog, you can use training to teach them to bark when people come to your home.

 

 

 

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Welcome to Two Pug Tails! This is a blog all about pugs! I am Emily, I just adore the pug breed. My goal here is to share helpful information about pugs, while also sharing some of my experiences with my pugs Frank and Beans. You can learn more about me and my pugs on my about page if you wish.



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