anxiety Archives - Two Pug Tails

When Your Pug Hates Nail Trimming

May 5, 2023 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

If you are a proud Pug owner, you know how lovable and charming these dogs can be. However, there’s one aspect of pet care that often causes trouble for both Pugs and their owners – nail trimming. Many Pugs dislike having their nails trimmed and become quite anxious when it’s time for a trim. In this article, we’ll discuss how to train your Pug to tolerate nail clipping, which tool works best, and some tips and tricks to get the job done.

How To Train Your Pug To Tolerate Nail Clipping

Training your Pug to tolerate nail clipping is all about making the process comfortable and non-threatening. Start by introducing the clippers to your dog gradually. Let your Pug sniff and explore the nail clippers without using them. Reward your dog for being curious and calm.

Next, move on to touching your Pug’s paws gently, holding them for a few seconds, and then rewarding them with a treat. Gradually increase the length of time you hold their paw until they are comfortable with it. Finally, introduce the clippers to your dog, letting them sniff and inspect them before attempting to trim their nails.

Are traditional dog nail trimmers or dremel or other nail grinders better for nervous dogs?

Both traditional dog nail trimmers and nail grinders can work well for nervous Pugs. Traditional trimmers are straightforward to use and can be less intimidating than nail grinders. On the other hand, nail grinders can provide a smoother finish and are less likely to accidentally cut the quick of the nail, which can be painful for your Pug.

Ultimately, the best tool for your Pug depends on their individual preferences and your level of comfort with each type of tool. Whichever tool you choose, make sure to follow the training steps outlined above to help your Pug become more comfortable with the process.

Tips and Tricks For Getting Nails Trimmed Before Your Pug Is Ready

If your Pug is still uncomfortable with nail trimming but they really need their nails trimmed, here are some tips and tricks that can help make the process more manageable.

Try different professionals until you find one your dog tolerates best. Sometimes a change of environment or a different person can make all the difference.
Try when they are sleeping even if it means just trimming one or two nails at a time. You’ll need to be gentle and quiet, but this can be a good option for particularly anxious Pugs.
Try wrapping them in a towel to keep them from moving as you trim their nails. This method can help to keep your Pug calm and still during the trimming process.
Try distraction with a highly desired treat. Offer your Pug their favorite treat to keep them occupied and happy while you trim their nails.

The importance of regular nail trimming

Nail trimming is an essential part of your Pug’s grooming routine. Regular nail trims keep your pup’s nails at an appropriate length, preventing discomfort, pain, and other health issues. Pugs are prone to developing overgrown nails, so it’s especially crucial to keep up with their nail trimming needs.

If you neglect your Pug’s nails, they can grow too long, which may cause your pet to shift their weight in an unnatural way. Over time, this can lead to problems with their joints and mobility. Long nails can also make walking on hardwood floors or other smooth surfaces challenging for your Pug, leading to slips and falls.

Signs That Your Pug’s Nails Need Trimming

It’s not always easy to tell when your Pug’s nails need trimming, but some signs can give you a hint. If you hear clicking sounds when your Pug walks on a hard surface, it’s a sign that their nails are too long. If your Pug’s nails curl or bend, it’s another indication that they need trimming.

Another way to tell if your Pug’s nails need trimming is to check if they touch the ground when your pup is standing. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to get out the nail clippers or grinder and trim your Pug’s nails.

The Role of Fear and Anxiety in Nail Trimming

Some Pugs hate nail trimming, and it’s not hard to see why. The experience can be uncomfortable and scary for them, causing fear and anxiety. Pugs may associate the sound of the nail clippers or grinder with pain or discomfort, leading them to resist or become fearful during nail trimming sessions.

It’s essential to approach nail trimming with patience and care, especially if your Pug is nervous or anxious. Using positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, can help your Pug associate nail trimming with something positive and reduce their anxiety over time. If you’re struggling with your Pug’s fear of nail trimming, you may want to consider consulting with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist for help.

Different Techniques for Nail Trimming

There are several different techniques for nail trimming that you can try with your Pug. The traditional method involves using a nail clipper or grinder, while other methods include using a nail file or scissors. Each technique has its pros and cons, and what works best for your Pug will depend on their temperament and nail length.

It’s important to use the technique that you’re most comfortable with and that your Pug tolerates best. Always make sure that you’re using the tool correctly and safely, and be mindful of the quick, the pink area of the nail that contains nerves and blood vessels.

How to Care for Your Pug’s Nails Between Trims

Nail trimming is essential, but it’s not the only thing you can do to keep your Pug’s nails healthy. In between trims, you can file your Pug’s nails using a nail file to smooth out any rough edges. You can also keep your Pug’s paws clean and healthy by wiping them down regularly and checking for any signs of irritation or injury.

If you notice any issues with your Pug’s nails, such as redness, swelling, or discharge, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian. They can determine if your Pug has an infection or other health issue that needs treatment.

In conclusion, nail trimming is a necessary part of your Pug’s grooming routine. By understanding the signs that your Pug’s nails need trimming and using the techniques that work best for your pup, you can keep their nails healthy and comfortable. Remember to approach nail trimming with patience and care, and always consult with a professional if you’re struggling with your

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.

Understanding Pug Body Language

July 19, 2022 by emilyreviews Leave a Comment

Pug Body Language Explained

Tail wagging is usually happiness, but not always! Tail wagging shows heightened emotions in a dog, and most dogs will have high emotions when they’re excited to see you, or excited to go for a walk or things like that. However, if you see your dog wagging it’s tail extremely quickly and in short motons this is a sign of VERY heightened emotions and may be a sign of major distress or aggression. The angle of their tail can give you a clue on how happy they are, or not. Happy tail wags are done with their tail really high.

Tail tucking (meaning they have lowered their tail really far down or even between their legs) is fear. If you have a pug who has started to consistently leave their tail down, this can be a sign of pain or pug myelopathy.

Showing their belly is trust…usually. Sometimes it’s a fear response where they are trying to show submission.

Showing their front teeth in a growl/snarl is a warning. They may feel unsafe or protective over their space or belongings. However, this is very different from when a pug’s lip gets stuck and this causes them to show teeth. Most pugs have underbies so it’s easy for their lower teeth to show by accident. When this happens, it is a neutral expression.

Here’s an example of when Frank’s teeth were showing just due to his lip getting stuck – there was no aggression here!

Lots of face-licking. If your dog keeps licking its own face, it can be a sign of nervousness. It could also just be itchy or trying to clean itself. Pug wrinkles require special care, and if not kept up with their faces can get itchy or even infected. Check out my pug wrinkles blog post to learn more. But if there is no physical cause, it’s usually anxiety.

Yawning is often a sign of stress. If your dog is yawning around other dogs or people, make sure they have space to hide or get away from the interaction as they may want to get away.

A relaxed body position (such as laying around) is a sign of a content to happy pug.

A stiff body suggests anxiety, upset or aggression.

Licking your face is a sign of affection.

Raised hackles is a sign of high emotions. Hackles are the strip of hair that run down your dogs spine. If your dog’s fur on that strip are raised, this tells you that they are having heightened emotions, but it could be positive or negative.

Following you around means you are their person! Pugs are bred to be lap dogs so if a pug is following you around 24/7 this means they’ve decided you are their primary person and their job is to sit on your lap and make you happy.

Whining or whimpering. This can be a sign of fear, but is often a way that pugs communicate longing. My pug Frank would whine while sitting next to his food dish when he wanted food. He’d whine when sitting near the exterior door to let us know that he wanted to go outside. He’d look at us and whine if we were sitting on the couch or a chair and he wanted in our laps. If you have a lot of crying happening with your pug, you might want to read my post titled pug crying.

Bottoms up. If your pug puts their front legs down and sticks their rear-end in the air, this is a sign that they want to play.

Prancing or walking quickly in a small area, such as doing little laps is a sign of excitement or happiness. My pugs both would prance around in a circle when they were excited to see someone.

Exaggerated sneeze. Pugs can sort of fake-sneeze when they are irritated or annoyed. Frank would do an exaggerated sneeze if we were ignoring him while he wanted in our laps. It was sort of his way of saying “heck you!”

Partially closed eyes or slightly squinting eyes is happiness or calmness.

Frank is awake but his eyes are so squinted they’re almost closed because he was really enjoying this cuddle and being pet.

Staring. When dogs stare with wide-eyes for a long time this is a sign of aggression.

Ears back is a sign of anxiety or submission.

Beans ears were up and slightly back, here. She did this more as she got older and blind, when she heard or smelled something. She didn’t seem truly afraid, but she would be on guard or cautious more often after losing her sight.

Ears pushed far forward is aggressive.

Ears up is curiosity or interest.

Beans and this puppy both had their ears up as they were checking each other out – both were curious and occasionally cautious, but friendly.

Wiggling ears is often a sign of curiosity or interest. My pugs would wiggle their ears a bit when sniffing something new.

Tilting their head may be a sign that your dog is listening closely! (Source: SmithsonianMag.com)

How pug body language is different from other dogs

Forehead wrinkles are said to be a sign of aggression in most dogs, but pugs have forehead wrinkles all the time.

A tail that is ‘up’ is said to be excitement or aggression, but pugs have upturned tails so their tails’ default or neutral position is up.

Source: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-read-dog-body-language/