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Step 1
Consider a pug if you want a family pet who's good with children. Pugs get along with other animals, but jealousy is a problem, so take a look at other breeds as well pugs if you have other pets. Pugs also make serviceable watch dogs and bark at intruders. Remember, however, being good watchdogs means they will bark at the mail carrier and your next door neighbor.
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Step 2
Decide if you need a dog for a small apartment or house. Pugs are a good option for small dwellings because while they are playful, they are small and do not require a lot of space. They average between 10 to 14 inches high and weigh 13 to 20 pounds.
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Step 3
Determine if you can handle the high level of maintenance that pugs require. The breed has short hair and therefore does not need trimming, but does need frequent brushing due to heavy shedding, and frequent nail trimming. Also, because of their wrinkled skin, pugs need more frequent cleaning than other dogs. If you do not want to mess with grooming, look at other breeds.
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Step 4
Contemplate whether you want a constant companion by your side most of the time. Pugs are people dogs who easily become attached and follow them from room to room. They are good company but have strong, outgoing personalities and will demand your attention if ignored.
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Step 5
Think about whether you can provide a steady indoor environment for a pug. The breed not only needs to be inside near people, they can suffer health problems from exposure to heat, cold and the outdoors. Because of their scrunched face, they are prone to colds and allergies. Pugs must have careful monitoring of their food because they are prone to excessive weight gain as well.
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Step 6
Review more pros and cons on the website Pug Village to determine if a pug is right for you. Click on "Pug Profiler" for a quiz about your lifestyle and what you want in a dog. The quiz will advise you how well you and the the breed match up.
Comments
JaneHutchi said
on 3/21/2008 CONTINUED FROM ABOVE: My male was older when he came to me and still, at 3, periodically has accidents in the house. Although they do bark when people knock, about a third of the time, I find them to be a quiet dog. My neighbors didn't even know I had any dogs until I walked by with them about a year ago. And, last, but not least, size. In Seattle I have met very few pugs UNDER 20 pounds. Mine are (healthy weight) 21 (female) & 26 pounds (male). AKC says one thing, but reality seems to say the weight range is 14-40 pounds. Yes, I met a healthy not overweight 40 pound pug. He was a direct import from China and the woman speculated they breed them a bit larger there. So that's my 2-cents. Thanks!
JaneHutchi said
on 3/21/2008 Good advice and Pug Village is a great resource I would encourage people to use. As a pug owner (I have two, a male and a female) I would like to add a couple of words from my experience to this article. First, I find them very easy to groom - too much bathing dries out their skin so mine get washed monthly. However, the more frequently you wash them the more you control their shedding. The fawns, not the blacks, are the heavy shedders. The nail trimming is a trial though and I have it done by my vet most of the time. For some reason pugs do not like to have their feet messed with. The females are a little more aloof than the males. Mine doesn't demand my attention except when it's necessary. However, their quiet way also makes house training them a challenge. I had great success using the clicker training method to potty train my female. My male was older when he came to me and still,
ZachC said
on 10/19/2007 great piece, but pugs aren't ugly! best-looking dog breed there is...