Facts on Pug Puppies

Pugs have been around for centuries, originally hailing from China, then spreading to the rest of Asia. Tibetan Buddhist monasteries kept the pups as pets and their origin reaches back prior to 400 B.C. Pugs became mainstream as the fashionable dog to have thanks to Prince William II, who had pet pugs. Once he became King of England, the breed was all the rage.

  1. Appearance

    • Pug puppies are even smaller than the fairly small adults, which are usually about 10 inches tall at their shoulder and weighing between 14 and 22 lbs. Coats start off and remain sleek and short, with colors ranging from silver to black, apricot to fawn. Defining characteristics of pug puppies include their large heads, big, round eyes, dark facial masks, wrinkly foreheads, short, curly tails and blunt, square muzzles.

    Personality

    • Pug puppies are generally friendly and eager to please. Their penchant for getting approval usually makes them responsive to training. They also enjoy being the center of attention and can get moody when they are excluded from events or activities. Affectionate, even-tempered and charming, pug puppies are also usually very enthusiastic about whatever task is at hand, greeting new visitors and playing with children, adults or other pets.

    Care

    • Pug puppies do need an especially watchful eye, as they are small enough to get stuck in narrow crevices or other tiny areas. Their small size also makes them ideal for smaller homes or apartments. Pug puppies require less exercise than some bigger dogs. Since their coats are naturally short and sleek, grooming them is simple with a comb and short bristled brush. A pug puppy's facial wrinkles do require a bit more care, especially after a bath, as water can accumulate and lead to facial fold dermatitis. Dry their facial wrinkles well.

    Considerations

    • Weather that is considerably hot, cold or humid makes it difficult for pug puppies to breathe because of their short muzzles. Keep them in a controlled climate rather than outdoors during such weather. Heat stroke is a major concern for a pug of all ages, and pugs have a number of conditions that can develop as they get older. These include hip dysplasia, melanoma, mast cell tumors, atopy and demodectic mange. Patellar luxation, a kneecap disorder, and entropion, where the eyelid rolls inward and the eyelashes irritate the eyeball, are other disorders.

    Warning

    • A major health risk for pug puppies is a condition called stenotic nares. This congenital disorder results in malformed nostrils with incredibly narrow openings, severely restricting the air intake. Pug puppies that suffer from stenotic nares will try to make up for the difficulty of breathing through their noses by only breathing through their mouths. Stenotic nares requires surgery to correct it and often affects puppies that have other congenital disorders. Surgery has been largely successful in treating stenotic nares, Pet Place says.