Everyone loves puppies, regardless of breed. Pug puppies have adorable wrinkles, curly tails, bulging eyes, and tons of energy that will make you smile. But what are Pug puppies like and will they make a great addition to your family?
What Are Pug Puppies Like
Pug puppies come in several different colors and are known as a breed that is clownish, temperamental, stubborn, and co-dependent. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect, the first year of having a Pug puppy.
Pugs are well-known for their adorable appearance and friendly temperament. But what are their puppies like?
Below are some facts about pug puppies and the unique joys and challenges that come with owning one.
8-10 Weeks Old
At about eight weeks, your pooch is ready to leave their littermates and go to their new homes. During this stage, your pup may cry a lot during the night because they miss their mother, brothers, and sisters.
It’s possible to start training your young pup. You want to start with simple commands like sit, that are easier for them to learn.
During these early stages, it’s important to feed them a high-quality puppy food that is specifically formulated for puppies. Their bodies, brains, and muscles are in the development stage and the right food will help them develop properly.
Pugs are prone to obesity, so it’s important to understand how often to feed you pup.
Before bringing home your new pug Puppy, you should create a checklist of everything you’ll need to be ready for this bundle of joy.
Physical Appearance
Pugs are easily identified by their flat, round, wrinkled faces, curly tails, and distinctive coloring. Pugs generally have dark coloring on their faces and ears, and tawny, silver, or black coloring on the rest of their bodies.
Unlike some large breeds that change drastically as they age, pug puppies tend to look like mini versions of a fully-grown pug.
Temperament
Pugs excel at being companion dogs and were even originally bread to be companions to royalty in China and Europe.
Extremely Hyper
All puppies are playful, regardless of the breed, but at 4-6 months of age, your puppy will be a ball of energy. Pug puppies are extremely hyper and won’t calm down until they reach about two years of age.
During the puppy stage, they may display those unruly behaviors pet owners don’t like such as bite, dig, and chew. During this stage, you want to start training your puppy to help them understand what’s allowed and what isn’t.
This is the perfect time to bond with them, by spending time playing with them and showing them lots of love.
Curious
Puppies are inquisitive little things. You will see your pup sniffing and licking anything they find laying around on the floor.
Like a child, you need to puppy-proof your home. Make sure you lock up any toxic chemicals, pick up small objects, or anything else that can cause harm to your pup.
Get down to their level and look for hazards such as:
- Hiding all the electrical chords.
- Locking all cabinets that contain food, medications or harmful chemicals.
- Make sure you have dog friendly plants that won’t harm your pooch.
- Invest in a good trash can that your puppy can’t open.
- Keep your shoes or anything with laces and string locked up.
Don’t worry, your pooch will eventually grow out of this curiosity stage, but my Pug was always curious about everything I brought into the house.
Lap Dog
Since pugs were bred to be companion creatures, they make excellent lap dogs and are often happiest wherever you are. This can lead to some clingy behavior sometimes, but if you are looking for a small dog to watch T.V., sleep in your bed, and generally be by your side, then pugs are the right way to go.
A pug puppy may be more inclined to indulge their curious nature and explore your home rather than spend hours sitting quietly by your side. However, pug puppies are still happiest when they are with their people, and a little maturity and supervision will see your puppy turn into a couch-surfing partner before you know it.
People-Pleaser
In general, pugs love people. Your pug will likely be happiest when you are happy. As a result, pugs will often clown around, performing silly antics and trying to play with their humans in order to make them happy.
Once your pup bonds with you, they will stick to you like glue. Pugs are referred to as “velcro dogs” because they have a tendency to become overly dependent on their humans, which can lead to separation anxiety.
Somewhat Stubborn
Even though they are eager to please and love being with their owners, pugs can often have a mind of their own.
This can make them difficult to train but also contributes to their funny antics as they explore whatever thought pops into their very independent minds. Proper training and socializing from a young age will help temper this stubborn streak and make your pug puppy more pleasant to be around.
Training
As with most puppies, it’s important that you start training your pug while it’s young. This will help establish good patterns of behavior that will be reinforced as they grow up.
Pugs can be difficult to train, especially when it comes to housebreaking. Part of this may be due to their aversion to significantly hot or cold weather, which may make them less inclined to go outside when they need to relieve themselves.
The good news is that pugs are people-pleasers, and they love food. Simply be patient with your puppy, reward it well with high-quality treats when it gets something right, and withhold attention for a short time if it’s doing something wrong. Pugs can be prone to obesity though, so be sure not to overdo it with the treats!
Constant Hunger
Pugs can often seem like they are constantly hungry. This is especially true for pug puppies who are still growing.
It’s important to feed your puppy the right amount of high-quality food so they can grow properly. Be careful not to overfeed, though, and go easy on the treats and table scraps.
Pugs can often have a hard time getting enough exercise due to their short legs and various hereditary breathing issues. This, combined with their small size, can make it easy for them to become obese, which can introduce a whole host of additional health problems.
Grooming and Health Needs
Though they have short coats, pugs actually shed a lot! You should plan on brushing your pug puppy once a week. Pugs also need their nails clipped on occasion. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, you can always get a professional to do it for you.
Pugs tend to have a lot of health problems related to their distinct facial features. Their short noses can make it easy for them to overheat or develop breathing problems. Their large eyes can be prone to drying out and developing ulcers on their corneas. They are also prone to hip dysplasia.
If you are getting a puppy from a breeder, make sure it has been cleared for the more common diseases like hip dysplasia, hyperthyroidism, and eye problems. Then, monitor any unusual behavior your pug has, and take them to a vet if they start doing anything stranger than their usual goofy personality accounts for.
If you do this, you should be able to keep your pug healthy so you can enjoy their company for many years to come.
A Puppy At 6-12 Months
At this age, your pup is reaching adulthood and should be receiving training and socialization to help them become well-behaved adult dogs. If your pooch has had their vaccinations, they should be fine mingling with other dogs at the dog park, obedient classes, or doggy daycare.
Taking your pooch with you will not only make socializing easier, but it will help them become comfortable in different environmental surroundings.
Final Word About Pug Puppies
With the right training, Pug puppies make great dogs! They are extremely loyal and will provide you and your family with years of unconditional love!
Here are some more facts about Pugs you should be aware of before deciding if this is the right dog for you.
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References And Further Reading
Puppy Stages: A week-by-week guide for caring for a newborn puppy