07/12/2017
You want a pug. You’ve wanted one for years. You hopefully have done some research and think this is the breed for you.
Well, read on. There are some things about pugs that aren’t in all the books and that may make a pug a bad fit for you.
Let me start by saying that no two pugs are alike. Don’t assume that because your neighbour’s pug is a slug, yours will be. It’s a HUGE mistake to judge all pugs by your experience with one or two. They can vary quite a bit in energy, intelligence and temperament, ranging from go-with-the-flow to I’m-in-charge-of-everything.
Gross Generalizations that tend to be true:
Blacks tend to be busier and have more attitude than fawns.
Females tend to be pushier and more in your face than males.
Males tend to be more laid back and easy going than females.
There are exceptions to all of the above.
Pug Puppies:
No doubt, you’ve read about how pugs are sweet, affectionate, cuddly and low energy. So you will be rightfully horrified when you find that your puppy is a whirling dervish of energy who snuggles for 30 seconds and then is off again to race around the house, leaving destruction in his or her path. Pug puppies are no different from any other puppy. Expect nipping, chewing, gnawing, jumping, pulling on your trouser legs, shoe destroying, and general mayhem.
Here’s the reality. NO puppy is a couch potato. They are all lunatics. Some more than others. You likely won’t have a couch potato pug until at least the age of two and your pug may NEVER be a couch potato. Pugs from reputable breeders are more likely to have the pug temperament eventually, but even they will be devils as a puppy. If your puppy is from the internet, a pet store, a newspaper ad, then it’s up for grabs what kind of temperament you may end up with. You might get a pug that has the solid and stable temperament that is the signature of the breed, but you might also end up with a high drive, high energy pug that won’t settle down for several years, if ever.
One of the best ways to wear a puppy out (or any busy dog) is to engage them in activities that make them work and think. This is why obedience classes are so great – it may only be an hour, but that’s a hard hour of learning and really takes the ‘edge’ off of a busy dog.
Pugs are and were bred to be companion animals. They need people. If you are going to be gone for long periods of time and/or be too tired to engage with your pug when you get home from work, then a pug probably isn’t the dog for you. And pug puppies will need you to engage with them. They will demand it (as will most adults). Just like children, puppy brains need stimulation and activity to develop. A puppy left crated for eight to ten hours will be absolutely manic by the time you get home and will need you to devote the remainder of the evening to them. They are often referred to as a Velcro dog, so if you don’t want a dog that is going to be wherever you are all the time (including in the bathroom!), then rethink getting a pug.
