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Be sure that everyone in your family reads and understands how to take care of a Pug before bringing
him into your home. The better you care for your Pug, the longer, happier and healthier he will live.
* Training: At first, this may not seem like a care issue, but an untrained dog presents a great hazard
to itself and to others. If your dog is not trained to come or stay by your side, he may run into the road
and get killed; or at an extreme, cause someone to swerve and hit another car resulting in the deaths of
two families. We recommend starting a training routine at home with basic commands and then going
to a basic obedience training class when your pup reaches 4 months of age. If your trainer makes use of
choke collars, don't be fooled by the myth that they are cruel. While the word choke is in the name, you
will never choke your dog with them. A good trainer will probably make use of them and teach you
how to properly use them. We do not, however, advocate the use of shock collars for training
(underground fences, however - not portable - are a great means of containment). Visiting your local
library is a great and free way to explore the various training methods available.
* Heat Exhaustion: The most important special care consideration for a Pug is their susceptibility
to heat exhaustion. Because of the short muzzle, the soft palate (the soft part of the roof of the mouth)
can obstruct breathing, that combined with a shorter tongue makes it more difficult for them to rid
themselves of excess heat. A few hours outside on a overly hot day can kill a Pug. When taking your
Pug for a walk on a hot day, be sure to take a container of water with an ice cube or two. Each Pug is
different in their tolerance of heat, so start out slowly, keep an eye on your buddy and learn his limits
without exceeding them. Also keep in mind that his limits will probably change with age. Signs of heat
exhaustion are staring, weakness, protruding eyes and holding the head high as if trying to get more air.
In extreme circumstances, he may lose consciousness and stop breathing. If you suspect heat exhaustion,
give your dog a nice drink of water, pour some on his head and feet, and allow him to rest in the shade
or carry him back to the car and let him enjoy the AC. Its best to walk during the cooler hours.
* Exercise: Like any dog, Pugs require exercise. We made use of local parks, and the school football
fields. We try to take our dogs for a walk several times per week, but as with everything, there are
times when the weather or other considerations get in the way. On a mild day, your pug will be willing
to walk a couple of miles and still have energy, but on hotter days, you'll want to reduce the time out
and keep it to the morning or evening. As with humans, more exercise will result in a healthier, happier,
and more well behaved dog. Just be sure to keep them in a travel kennel when driving them to a park;
an excited pug in a car can be a serious driving hazard : ) As a side note, exercise as a puppy is
important in having a nicely curled adult tail. The adult will still need exercise to keep the tail tightly
curled, but the greatest benefit is drawn from the puppy stage.
* Brushing: Pugs do shed quite a bit and need to be brushed every week. It is also wise to brush your
dog prior to taking a warm weather walk to make sure that there isn't excess hair keeping in extra heat.
Of all the brushes we've tried, we found the rubber zoom groom one to be the most effective.
* Eyes: The eyes of a Pug are generally at greater risk of injury than other breeds because they lack the
protection of a long nose. Any change in the color of the eye should be examined. This can be due to
injury, allergy or infection. Pugs are susceptible to allergies which can be treated with medicated eye
drops prescribed by your vet. Other signs of infection are redness of the inner part of the eyelid or mucus
discharge. Anything unusual should be looked at by your vet.
* Nose Roll: The smooshed nature of the Pug's face creates a wrinkle above the nose that needs
special attention. Pugs are always sticking their noses into things when exploring. This pushes dirt and
grime into the wrinkle which, if not properly cleaned out, can lead to an infection. The nose wrinkle
should be cleaned at least once each week and whenever obviously dirty. The wrinkle is cleaned using a
damp, soft cloth, cotton ball or baby wipes (don't use q-tips as pugs generally squirm when getting
cleaned creating a risk of eye puncture).. After cleaning, it is important to thoroughly dry the wrinkle to
prevent infection. Also, apply a very small amount of petroleum jelly to the nose when dry.
* Ears: The ears should be cleaned every week or two to prevent wax build up. Your vet can
recommend a medicated solvent such as Nova Cleanse which is dripped into the ear and then shaken
out by the dog. After that, massage the ears and wipe with a cotton ball or towel. Again, do not use
q-tips because of the high risk of ear puncture.
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