| Pugs: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Pug personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Pug, including these excerpts:
"Sometimes playful and clownish, sometimes calm and dignified, always sturdy and stable, good-humored and amiable -- this is the Pug.
Though peaceful with all the world, the Pug will sound off with his rather odd bark when visitors arrive. Then he will welcome them inside with snorts, snuffles, and grunts.
Pugs are fine with other animals, though they can be jealous of another pet sitting in your lap.
A Pug is very childlike and always needs to be with you. If not spoiled too much, he can be depended on to maintain his sweet, comical, charming personality.
His large expressive eyes, wrinkled forehead, cocked head, innocent expression, and strange puggy sounds bring out parental feelings in many people.
Though stubborn, Pugs seldom get into real mischief. Adults spend much of the day sleeping.
Gassiness can be an embarrassing problem, and housebreaking can be a challenge, especially in the rain."
History
The beloved pet of Buddhist monks, this breed may have been named for his facial resemblance to marmoset (or pug) monkeys. "Pug" is also an old term of affection.
Size
10-11 inches and 14-22 lbs |
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Pugs
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Pugs, and placid Pugs.
- Hard-headed Pugs, and sweet-natured Pugs.
- Serious Pugs, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Pugs, and Pugs who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Pug puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is small, yet sturdy and blocky, even chunky
- Is round-headed and short-faced, with large expressive eyes and wrinkled forehead
- Has a soft, short coat
- Can be calm and dignified, and also lively and playful, but is almost always dependable and good-natured with people and other pets
- Seldom gets into real mischief -- adults spend much of the day snoring
A Pug may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Stubbornness (mind of his own)
- Snorting, snuffling, wheezing, snoring
- Gassiness (flatulence)
- Slowness to housebreak
- Constant heavy shedding
- A multitude of serious health problems
A Pug may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Pug... |
My major concerns would be:
- Mind of his own. Pugs are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and can be manipulative and stubborn. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
| To teach your Pug to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Pug Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Pug sounds. Because of the short face, Pugs snort, snuffle, wheeze, grunt, and snore loudly. The sounds are endearing to some people; nerve-wracking to others.
- Constant heavy shedding. It's been said that Pugs shed only once a year -- for 365 days. In other words, they shed constantly. Their short hairs cling tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.
- Housebreaking. Pugs tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training before you see results.
- Gassiness (flatulence) that can send you running for cover. Fortunately, Pugs who are fed a natural diet of real meat and other fresh foods have much less trouble with gassiness. See my Pug Health Page for more information.
- Serious health problems. The biggest problem with Pugs is health. This breed is grossly deformed. The unnaturally short face and upturned nose means breathing difficulties and the potential for heatstroke in hot humid weather. Their compromised respiratory system makes it risky to anesthetize them. Most of these dogs can't even whelp their puppies without veterinary intervention.
The large shallow-set eyes are extremely vulnerable to injury and infection. Pugs are also prone to a serious brain disease, joint problems, and skin and allergy problems.
In my opinion, what has been done to this breed's structure in order to create an "amusing" appearance and to win in the show ring is a travesty.
| To keep this breed healthy, I strongly recommend following all of the advice on my Pug Health Page. |
| If you're considering an adult Pug... |
There are plenty of adult Pugs who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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