Let Me Tell You About My Pug

I have had my Pug for two blessed years now and she has been exceptionally sweet. I had been intrigued with the breed for years and when the time came to get our first family dog, there was no question about the breed, it was going to be a pug or bust.

We found a local AKC registered breeder who allowed us to play with the puppies and watch them interact, my husband and I were immediately drawn to the smallest of the litter. Not only was she adorable, she was a feisty little bundle. We named her Leeloo and she immediately bonded with our entire family, including our two small children and our Chihuahua.

Pugs have two buttons when they are puppies: asleep or rambunctious (their days are equally divided between the two for approximately the first eighteen months of their life). She has been very easy to potty train however, accidents do happen. We trained primarily with treat reinforcement and potty pads until she was comfortable being outdoors.

As we live in the southwest, and for any pug owners in warm climates, it is important to note that pugs are not heat tolerant and should never be left outdoors for extended periods of time. I have learned that pugs enjoy chewing for both pleasure and spite. If there is anything left on the floor worth chewing, Leeloo will find it.

It has aided our housekeeping efforts, especially in teaching the kids to pick up after themselves or it will become pug fodder. Chewy toys and sturdy rope toys help curtail any unwanted chewing.

With pugs comes minimal grooming however, they are prone to shed and it is important to keep the delicate skin within their folds clean. A damp baby washcloth taken to the folds around their muzzle will remove excess hairs and debris. This will also help prevent any ingrown hairs from developing on their faces.

Baths are not a pugs favorite pastime however, they have a knack for rolling in anything foul smelling so, bathing is a relatively frequent chore. For some reason, she keeps her nails worn down and we really only have to keep an eye on her dew claws from getting too long.

Pugs enjoy sleeping anytime and anywhere they can. On the floor, in the bed, on the couch, upside down, with their eyes open, you name it. The other big surprise is the volume at which they snore. We expected some snoring having a short snout but, it can be enough to bring you out of a sound sleep. The noises pugs make when they are awake are highly entertaining, from their guttural snorts to their delicate howls.

I have been extremely pleased with our pug and she has brought a lot of joy to our family. She can be aloof at times but, she is very sweet in nature and has her cuddly moments. Patience with young children is a wonderful pug trait and she has taken to rolling over so our three year old son can give her belly scratches. I wouldn't trade her for any other breed or pug for that matter.