With literally hundreds of dog breeds to choose from, sometimes finding the right dog can be challenging. If you are in the market for a dog and have set your sights on the Pug dog breed, the most important thing would be to learn all you can about this particular dog, good and bad.
Without doubt, the Pug is adorable to look at but you want to make sure the breed would match your expectations and lifestyle too. There are many great things about this breed but also a few other factors that should be considered before buying.
Information and History About Pugs
Before we jump into the pros and cons of the Pug dog breed, we wanted to provide you with some basic information and a little bit of the breed’s history. Originally, the Pug came from China, making it an ancient breed. In fact, in Tibetan Monasteries, this dog was a favorite owned by Monks who appreciated the dog not only for its companionship but also its ability to serve as a watch dog.
In the mid-16th century, the breed was introduced to Holland and after saving the life of William of Orange by alerting guards of approaching Spanish soldiers it was quickly adopted as the official dog of royalty, becoming a loyal and trusted pet.
Then in the late 18th century, a Pug dog was purchased for Napoleon’s wife and used to smuggle messages to him during her imprisonment. Then in 1885, this breed was added to the list of dogs recognized by AKC.
Pros of the Pug Dog Breed
Now, we want to address some of the positive aspects of the Pug dog breed. At maturity, the Pug stands approximately 11 inches and weighs between 15 and 18 pounds. Because of its small size, this breed is a great indoor dog that needs little grooming or exercise.
For this reason, someone living in a home or apartment could choose this dog and not worry about excessive exercise. The Pug is also sweet, loving, and extremely affectionate. This breed is also relatively easy to train, for obedience and special tricks, great with other pets, lives to around 14 years, and if properly supervised, does well with children.
One of the most important things about buying a Pug dog breed is choosing the right breeder. When bred and raised by someone with experience and knowledge of the breed, your chance of ending up with an amazing dog would be improved.
Therefore, even if you had to pay a little more money, it would be worth it to get an amazing dog. This does not mean the dog has to have a champion bloodline but been bred with integrity.
Cons of the Pug Dog Breed
Just as there are many great reasons for buying a Pug, there are also some downsides that must be understood. Unfortunately, too many people purchase this type of puppy because of the cute, scrunched up face but then discover they are faced with challenges.
As a result, the dog is never treated properly or even dumped off at a shelter. By understanding the special needs and unfavorable characteristics of the Pug dog breed you would know if this were in fact the type of dog wanted but also know what to expect once the puppy was brought home.
One thing that people do not expect is the clingy nature of the Pug. For someone who wants a close companion, this would be seen as a positive and not a negative but you should expect this breed to hang around you all the time. In fact, the Pug is known for lying next to its owner but if that person were to go to the kitchen the dog would follow.
Additionally, the Pug dog breed can face a number of health issues. In fact, this dog has several things that can go wrong genetically so when compared to other dog breeds, the Pug typically has more trips to the vet. You should expect to spend more money in healthcare but of course choosing a dog from a top breeder and providing proper care would help reduce that particular expense.
Another consideration when it comes to buying the Pug dog breed is that this dog sheds. Unfortunately, the amount of shedding can be excessive so you need to be prepared to provide daily brushing and vacuum often.
Since the Pug dog breed loves being a companion, this means having hair on the bed and other furniture. Another thing to consider is that shedding could cause a problem for people with allergies or respiratory problems.
The last negative aspect of the Pug dog breed has to do with potty training. While some dogs are a breeze to train, the Pug can be quite challenging. Although the Pug is not rated as the hardest to housebreak, expect to spend extra time with this process.
On average, it takes between three and six months to complete training but again, knowing this before buying would help you plan accordingly and not become frustrated.
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