How to Raise a Pug

The pug is a very popular breed of dog. This is not surprising because looking at their innocent flat faces and big brown eyes, everyone will want to give them a hug. However, if you want to raise a pug, you will face certain problems. They are very susceptible to health problems, especially breathing difficulties. Pugs are also very stubborn, hard to train and a lot of energy. You should consider these things before adopting a pug.

Table of Contents

Feed the pug

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Feed the pug the right food. You should feed your dog good quality food. Read labels carefully and look for foods with meat listed at the top of the ingredients list. Avoid foods with a high grain or soy content. Not only are they low quality, but these ingredients can also ferment and make the pug prone to gas.

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Limit the amount of junk food and pug dog food. Pugs are greedy and their big round eyes will try to convince you that they are still hungry. Pugs can easily become overweight if fed too much, so you need to learn how to assess your dog’s body condition, closely monitor slight weight gain to reduce the diet and help them lose weight. before weight becomes a big deal.

With that said, pug dogs love to eat everything, so rewarding them with vegetables during training can be both encouraging and healthy.
You should keep dog food in a container with a lid and keep it out of their reach, in case they will pry open the food box and clean cups.
It is also especially important that you keep the pug’s weight in moderation because they have breathing problems. Carrying extra weight will cause the body to need more oxygen, in addition, the excess fat will compress the lungs, airways and throat, making it more difficult for the dog to breathe. ^{[1] X Small Animal Surgery Research Source . Fossum. Mosby.}

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Know that pug dogs are prone to bloating. This is a common problem in this breed due to breathing problems. When trying to breathe, pug dogs often inhale air into the stomach and intestines. This gas will then pass through the digestive tract and exit by farting. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Leave a room scent machine in the house or have a room spray bottle ready to eliminate unpleasant odors when your dog farts.

Pug dog training

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Be prepared for the challenge of coaching. This breed is quite difficult to train. The reason is that they are very stubborn, not stupid. In fact, it can be said that they are very intelligent because they know what they want and are consistent with that desire without following the wishes of the owner. This doesn’t mean you should give up on training them, but rather be more persistent and willing to invest time in it. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Dig deep into highly regarded coaching techniques, such as reward coaching. Show him rewards and encourage him to try to achieve them, so the training will eventually work.

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Set and follow house rules. If you have a rule that dogs can’t be on furniture, make sure all family members follow this rule at all times including on weekends. If the commands given are inconsistent, the dog will choose what he prefers and this will make training more difficult.

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Be patient when teaching your dog to potty train in the right place. The pug is known as a breed that takes longer to train than other breeds. Cage training and positive reinforcement can help you teach your dog to potty train in the right place faster.

Basic care

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Give your dog gentle, regular exercise. Pugs have a hard time breathing, so you should take them hiking at a steady pace so they don’t run out of breath. They are not suitable for activities that require a lot of energy over a long period of time, such as chasing other dogs without being able to stop for breath.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t let your dog play a game of toss and catch with balls or other objects, but be careful and if your dog is having trouble breathing, pause briefly between throws to let him catch his breath.
The Pug is also an extroverted dog that needs to go around, so they are very curious and like to find out what is going on with someone.

Pippa Elliott, MRVCS

Veterinarian at Royal Cplege of Veterinary Surgeons

Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Then, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian in a clinic for over a decade.

Pippa Elliott, MRVCS
Veterinarian at Royal Cplege of Veterinary Surgeons

Pippa Elliott, veterinarian, advises: “The pug is especially uncomfortable in hot weather. Having a lovely flat face means he has to breathe quickly to catch his breath. When the weather is hot, he It is very difficult to cool the body and is easy to get heatstroke.”

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Play with the Pug. You can run around the house while wriggling through furniture and nooks and crannies for the dog to chase. Then stop abruptly and chase it around like it just chased you. Pugs love to play this classic catch.

Regularly organize play days for the pug to play with other dogs. They will forget that besides you, there are many other players out there and need more interaction.

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Plan into plenty of pug time. Pugs are made for companionship, which means they love to be with you and want to be with you all the time. They will probably stick to you like a shadow, so try to give them a lot of attention.

If you have a pug puppy, you should train it to stay in a crate where it can happily be alone. When you keep it in the cage, stay in another room so that from a young age the dog accepts that it can’t always see you.

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Take your dog to the vet regularly. Regular checkups will help ensure your dog is healthy and happy. Do not forget to register and take your dog for regular health checkups. Only a veterinarian can control preventive measures for dogs, such as vaccinations and parasite control.

Pugs are also targets that dog thieves often target, so you should attach an electronic chip to your dog. It is a permanent means of identification and helps to prove the owner’s ownership..
You might also consider purchasing dog health insurance. Because they have breathing problems, they may sometimes require an emergency or even surgery.

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Brush your pug every day. Pugs are short-haired but they still need regular grooming to remove dead hair. The pug dog sheds a lot, you need to brush it every day to prevent it from falling on the floor and furniture. Invest in a good bristle brush and make brushing your dog a daily routine to control their shedding. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Invest in a dust roller, a good vacuum cleaner, use leather or faux leather furniture, hardwood or linpeum floors, light or dark clothing (depending on the color of your dog’s coat), a litter net Shower that fits the drain hole and the dog bristle brush.

Coping with breathing problems

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Note that pug dogs are very prone to breathing problems. They often have difficulty breathing because they have narrower trachea than other breeds. They also have small nostrils and long soft antlers that take up a lot of space in the back of the throat. In fact, pug dogs snore and breathe very loudly due to the amount of soft tissue in the back of the throat. Every time the dog breathes, these tissues vibrate and make a sound. ^{[5] X Research Source Fossum, T, (2007), <i>Small Animal Surgery</i>, ISBN 978-0323044394}

If your dog’s snoring bothers you, you can wear earplugs at night to block out the noise or train your dog to sleep in a crate.

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Learn to spot signs of respiratory distress. During light exercise, many pug dogs will pant to meet the body’s need for oxygen. If you continue to get your dog to exercise when he is already showing signs of shortness of breath, it is likely that he will faint. You do not need to worry too much about the pug’s noisy breathing, but you need to learn to recognize signs of respiratory failure in case the dog has health problems. These signs include: ^{[6] X Fossum Research Source , T, (2007), <i>Small Animal Surgery</i>, ISBN 978-0323044394}

Breathe loudly and make a scared face
Blue gums or tongue
Sticky and thick drool
Afraid to move
Excessive movement of chest and abdomen
Uncomfortable restlessness
Faint

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Treat quickly when the dog shows signs of respiratory failure. You need to cool the dog down and stop all activities. If the condition does not improve after a few minutes, contact your veterinarian for emergency treatment.

Stay calm because if your dog realizes you’re panicking, he’ll panic too.
If your dog is often having trouble breathing, you should consult your veterinarian for surgery. Your doctor may perform surgery to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat and widen the nostrils to make it easier for your dog to breathe.

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Help your dog avoid hot weather. Dogs can’t sweat so they have to breathe quickly to cool down. When the weather is hot, pug dogs have to struggle twice because they can always have trouble breathing, plus the need to cool down their body, so they are very susceptible to heatstroke. ^{[7] X Small Animal Surgery Research Source . Fossum. Mosby.}

To avoid this situation, you should not let your dog exercise on hot days. Please keep it in the shade or cool room.
If your dog starts breathing too fast, you can wet their coat with water to cool down and wet their tongue to make them more comfortable because the dog’s tongue will dry very quickly.
Have the dog sit in front of the fan and turn it on low, and make sure the dog always has enough water to drink.

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Keep your dog’s weight at a healthy level. This is extremely important as this breed has inherent breathing problems. Carrying the extra weight causes the dog’s body to require more oxygen, and the extra fat compresses the lungs, trachea, and throat, making it even more difficult for the dog to breathe. ^{[8] X Research Source Fossum, T, (2007), <i>Small Animal Surgery</i>, ISBN 978-0323044394}

If you think your dog is overweight, you should work with your veterinarian to develop a healthy weight loss diet for your dog.

Consider the pug’s special needs

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Prepare extra steps for the dog to climb up and down high areas. You can buy a dog ladder or find a way to make it easier for your dog to climb into beds and high places. These parents will save you a lot of money on veterinary visits later because jumping up and down too much will weaken the dog’s joints and hips. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Understand that the pug is a very brave dog. Always use a leash when they are near pit bulls, rottis, cows, horses, and buffaloes. They are really unaware of their weight class and will protect you at all costs.

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Invest in plenty of squeaky toys and chew toys. You should let your dog play with toys in a rotation so that every once in a while they think they have a “new” toy and are always interested in them. You also need to take care and make sure your dog doesn’t chew on toys and swallow small pieces.

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Appreciate your dog’s affection and show your affection for them. Let your dog lick you whenever they want. It’s actually one of the very few ways to show affection that they know. A pug’s love for you is bigger than you think.

Talk softly and coo with them often. They will love you twice as much..
Pugs are very funny and they will make you smile even when in a bad mood. Really, the best way to live with a pug is to love it with all your heart. They love you – you love them too.
Any pug loves to be scratched on the back of his hand and even on his stomach! They are a wonderful dog and deserve to be loved every day.

Warning

Having a pet is an expensive hobby. Make sure you have the financial means to provide your dog with all it needs to stay healthy and happy, including food, sleep, grooming, veterinary care and toys. .
Choosing a pet is a kind of long-term commitment. Do not adopt any kind of pet unless you are prepared to care for it for its entire life, which could be 10 to 20 years.

Steps