Pug Breed Information

Pug Characteristics

Overview

Body Type

The phrase “a lot of dog in a small space” has been used to describe the Pug. This dog breed has a thickset, square cobby body, thick, wrinkled skin, a broad chest, and big bone structures.

They have short, round heads that are large compared to the rest of the body, along with large dark eyes on a flat, round, wrinkled “ugly” face and an undershot jaw. They have tightly curled tails that rise over their hips, and a double curl is considered perfect.

Pugs, including both males and females, ordinarily weigh between 14 and 18 pounds. They are typically 10 to 14 inches tall from the shoulder.

Coat

The pug breed has a double coat that is short, soft, and glossy. Having a short coat makes them easy to groom. Despite having a short and smooth coat, pugs shed their coat twice a year, particularly in summer.

Color

Pugs are usually black or fawn-colored. There are different shades of the fawn color, including apricot and silver. All pugs have a black muzzle, ears, and markings, with a black trace running down the center of their back. They also tend to have moles on their cheeks, called “beauty spots,” and a thumb mark on their foreheads.

Temperament

Pugs are high-spirited and alert dogs that show lots of affection towards their owners and pretty much any other person they come into contact with. They are loyal, fun, and great companions to humans, both young and old, and are especially good with children.

They are best not to be left alone because they absolutely crave human attention. As playful and sometimes mischievous dogs, they like getting up to silly antics and basically have a positive attitude toward nearly everything.

Pugs are relatively inactive, sedentary dogs who are more than happy to sit on their owner’s lap as they watch a movie or read a book, or follow them around the house. They are stable-tempered dogs, which makes their loving and cheerful character all the more charming. While they are playful dogs, they carry themselves about with admirable dignity.

Health issues

The lifespan of a pug is 10 to 12 years. While they are normally healthy dogs, they are prone to certain health problems, as you can expect with any other dog breed. As pugs have a flat face, they do not fare well in extreme hot or cold weather conditions.

For this reason, it is best to keep them indoors most of the time, keep a careful eye on them when they are outdoors, and not overexercise them. Due to congenital reasons such as their short nose and a relatively weak trachea and respiratory tract, they are more likely to experience breathing difficulties.

Their large eyes are also prone to injuries. Because of this, they tend to be more adversely affected when they have a cold, resulting in serious complications. That is why immediate attention and treatment are necessary to prevent this from occurring. The wrinkled skin and nose of pugs should also be checked regularly for skin problems.

Obesity Alert:

These dogs are naturally born with a thickset, short stature. This, along with their incredible love for food, puts them at an increased risk of obesity. Although a pudgy pug may look adorable, this is not ideal as overweight can lead to heart disease and premature death.

While they may love to eat, it is important not to indulge them with food and feed appropriate amounts of feed. The recommended daily intake for a pug should be half to one cup of good quality dry food, given as two meals, but this may vary according to the dog’s age, size, activity level, and metabolism.