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Step 1
Know that a pug is often considered the clown of the dog world and will do just about anything to be the center of attention. If you want to read the newspaper instead of playing don’t be surprised if your pug plants himself in your lap blocking your view or drops her smelliest toy in your cup of coffee. Pugs don’t care what you are doing as long as they get their ears rubbed and/or their wrinkles scratched.
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Step 2
Be aware that pugs love to play and a pug owner must invest in a multitude of toys to keep their dog happy and entertained. Though most pugs are not too picky, squeaky toys tend to be the way to a pug’s heart. Please note that pugs don’t have the best eye sight, so “fetch” toys aren’t always good. Also, pugs have short attention spans, so don’t spend a lot of money on one toy, and try to change the variety every once in awhile.
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Step 3
Learn that the signature feature of a pug is his nose, or rather lack there of. A pug nose is cute, but it can be a problem. Extreme high and low temperatures can cause breathing problems, and even death, a lot faster than in dogs with a snout. If you live in areas with constant extreme temperatures, a pug is not for you. If you are located in an area with seasons, it’s likely your pug will adapt with limited exposure during those extreme times.
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Step 4
Remember that pugs do not need much exercise compared to bigger dogs, but they do like to be active. “The Pug Scoot” is a signature mark of this breed. They start out standing, then put their ears back, dart forward like a bullet and continue running (often in a continuous loop) at full speed. “The Scoot” doesn’t last long, but it can be disastrous in the wrong location. Your pug will do “The Scoot” in your house, so unless you want a path worn into your floor or carpet, it’s worth taking him to a dog park or fencing-in your backyard
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Step 5
Know that patience is a virtue and a necessity in order to own a pug. Though they can be trained, pugs are notoriously stubborn. Most pugs do what they want to do when they want to do it and not for any other reason. Pug owners need to accept this and learn to ignore their pug in many situations. You need to ignore him when he insists he needs to be fed a second, third or even fourth time, or when she sits by the “cookie” drawer whining for hours or even when he wants to you to play tug-o-war while you eat dinner. A happy pug will eventually back down, but she’ll always be trying to get her way. Always.
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Step 6
Be aware that pugs may be small and have a short coat, but that doesn’t mean they don’t shed. On the contrary; pugs shed a lot—-especially during the change of seasons. A pug owner gladly has a vacuum cleaner and a broom on hand at all times. It helps to have pug fur-colored carpet, but that’s not always practical.
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Step 7
Know that a pug’s nose is the source of many sounds. A pug owner must learn to delight in the sounds of snorts, wheezing and snoring. In fact, over time, a pug owner will be able to interpret what a certain snort means as if it is another language. Another sound that is common with pugs is an “inward sneeze.” When a pug sneezes, the sneeze often goes back into its head because it doesn’t have a snout to propel it forward. The sneeze kind of sounds like a choke, but it shouldn’t last long. “Inward sneezes” happen more in pugs who have particularly small nostrils, which can be surgically altered if the sneezes happen too much.
