It is easy to recognize a pug: short face, flat nose, big eyes, curled tail, short glossy coat, in a variety of colors, and small body. The muscles, the narrow hips and the broad shoulders are close to bulldogs features. Despite some mean remarks, these dogs are not at all ugly, on the contrary. All these features make the pug unique and expressive.
And these dogs are perfect companions for children, as they like playing a lot and are extremely affectionate. But they will always want to be in the center of attention. With strong personality, almost human-like, they will soon gain control over the whole house and it will be easy for them to manipulate the people around them for anything they like. They are very good at making you laugh and generally want to please you.
You have to be very careful, though, when you decide to take care of a pug. There are a lot of things that you need to know in order to have a healthy pug. Some of the issues are specific to their breed.
• They can be prone to obesity, very frequent in small dogs. To prevent it, make sure the dog does not have a sedentary life and you choose the right diet for him.
• Respiratory problems may occur, especially during hot weather. The owner must make sure they are breathing properly and the normal body temperature does not rise to the critical point.
• The short faces and the skeletal brow ridge make these dogs prone to eye injuries and illnesses.
• Teeth problems may occur because misaligned teeth and the skull structure of these dogs.
• Always pay attention to proper cleaning the wrinkles of a pug, in order to keep possible infections and irritations away.
• There are a lot of other serious conditions that are mostly due to their genetic inheritance: pharyngeal reflex, necrotizing meningoencephalitis, hemivertebrae, hip dysplasia, weak immune system. These are extremely serious conditions that are usually fatal to pugs. You must check for the history of the breed and avoid inbreeding.
• Normally, these dogs live about 10 years.
It will not be long before the pug you have chosen to get becomes a member of the family. Love your new pet a lot and show it to him as often as possible. He will be the happiest dog ever, as he does not need anything more than that. These dogs can be great companions, most loyal friends, very honest and funny, so you will soon discover that a pug is more than just an ordinary dog.
