How to Care for Pugs

Pugs make great pets for both adults and children. They are generally very easygoing and require less care than some breeds. They are a toy breed and typically weigh between 12 to 16 pounds and come in black and fawn colors. Pugs are extremely loyal to their owner and will do anything for laughter and applause. This breed can live 14 years or longer with proper care and attention.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog brush
  • Washcloth
  • Dog toothbrush
  • Dog toothpaste
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed your pug a nutritious dog food and avoid giving your pet table scraps. Check the ingredient listing on the back of the bag; one of the first ingredients should be meat. Obesity is a major cause of illness and injury in dogs and pugs are especially prone to obesity problems because of their small size and stature.

    • 2

      Brush your pug's coat on a weekly basis. Pugs have short hair that does not require much maintenance, but weekly brushing will help keep your pug's shedding to a minimum. As an added benefit, most pugs seem to enjoy being brushed and it provides bonding time for the pug and its owner.

    • 3

      Clean your pug's wrinkles using a damp washcloth to clean them on a regular basis. Pug's deep wrinkles trap dirt, bacteria, and all sorts of other stuff inside the folds of skin. Running a damp washcloth through the wrinkles will prevent infections If the skin between wrinkles appears red or irritated, take your pug to the vet's office to check for any serious problems that may occur.

    • 4

      Keep your pug from overheating by providing water when it is outside and keeping it indoors on hot days. Unlike most breeds, pugs are unable to regulate their own body temperature. Never leave your pug inside a car on a warm day or outside in the heat without water. If your pug does become overheated, apply a cold pack to its underside to help lower its body temperature quickly. If your pug appears severely overheated or dehydrated, take it to a vet for treatment.

    • 5

      Brush your pug's teeth on a daily basis to avoid tooth decay and gum disease. Pugs have a lot of teeth in a little mouth, making it easy for tooth decay to start. Use a special dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste to brush their teeth the same way you would brush your own. Most pugs do not enjoy this process the first few times, but will quickly grow to accept it as part of the daily routine. Hard dog bones can be used to scrape plague off your pug's teeth in between brushings, but they are not a substitute for brushing your pet's teeth.