Everything you need to know about Pug puppies

Pug puppies: these human-loving, spunky cuties might be all over your social media feed and your local dog park (unwillingly), but did you know that their popularity goes thousands of years back in history? Yep, their companionship with us humans can be traced all the way back to 400 BC, according to the American Kennel Club. Since then, they’ve dabbled amongst Eastern royalty, Buddhist monasteries, and more recently, the oh-so-comfy couches of your neighbors. 

Big on naps, snacks and short-lived play time (like any toddler, then), there’s a lot to learn about puppy Pugs, whether you’re on the lookout for a pet sitter or thinking about house sitting a flat-faced, stocky cutie yourself. So, without further ado, let’s get into our facts on our iconic, flat-faced canine friends.

Pug puppy facts

Size: Pug puppies might be tiny, but their adult counterparts don’t get a whole lot bigger, so it’s no surprise that they make the American Kennel Club’s toy category. Pugs grow to between 10 and 13 inches tall, weighing in between 14 and 18 pounds.

Character: The Pug temperament is friendly, loving and adaptable - Pug puppies are the perfect best friend to their humans and have been for centuries.

Grooming: Pug fur is incredibly low maintenance, so ideal if you’re not one for puppy pruning! The short, glossy coat is prone to malting, so a quick, weekly brush should do the trick, along with regular nail trimming.

Health needs: The Pug’s large, sparkly eyes might be one of their best features, but unfortunately, they’re one of the breed’s biggest downfalls on the health front. Pugs experience chronic dry eyes which can often lead to corneal ulcers, plus like many flat-faced dog breeds, they suffer from breathing problems. To find out more about Pugs and their health needs, visit the Pug Dog Club of America.

Training: Pugs have been bred by humans for centuries, so it’s safe to say that they’re relatively easy to train and mostly eager to please (although they are known for being on the stubborn side at times). With a happy-go-lucky disposition, Pugs should be trained with positive reinforcement (which these dog training treats are particularly handy for), and should never be harshly punished (like any pooch, of course).

Energy levels: Well-established lap dogs of the human world, Pugs and Pug puppies would happily snuggle up with their pack all day long (with the odd playtime), if they had their way. So, it’s important to keep up their stamina and exercise your Pug daily (building up slowly if you’ve got a Pug puppy at home) to make sure they don’t become overweight.

Intelligence: In all honesty, Pugs aren’t the smartest breed. But while they’re no Poodle on the brains front, they’re eager to please and super loving, so can fit into family dynamics without too much fuss.

Noise levels: Pugs really don’t bark a whole lot, so they’re perfect if you’re surrounded by people who don’t fancy getting howled awake each morning. But due to their short snouts, Pugs are prone to snoring, so if your pooch sleeps near you, you may want to invest in ear plugs!

Pug puppy appearance

The Pug puppy’s appearance is nothing short of iconic - hard to mistake for any other breed, Pugs are born with characteristically large, sparkly eyes that are literally made to make us humans swoon. Below is their slightly unfortunate squashed snout (which sadly causes various health issues), along with an endearing over-shot jaw, whereby the lower teeth jut out slightly further than the top. Around these unmistakable Pug features are a set of adorable wrinkles (that set in rather early!), and between is their iconic black mask. 

Now onto that stout, stocky body. Pugs aren’t the most athletic pooches (the complete opposite to Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies!), happily lazing around with their pack between the odd, short-lived yet well-intentioned play time. Keeping them warm is a double coat of short, glossy, smooth fur that’s prone to a lot of shedding (vacuum cleaners at the ready). And when it comes to Pug colors, white Pugs are incredibly rare, while black Pug puppies along with fawn (and sometimes brindle) are much more common.

How to take care of a Pug puppy

Pug puppies (when not napping or pining for snacks), like their adult counterparts, will happily follow you around the house between naps. Despite their somewhat needy nature, they’re not difficult dogs to take care of. Due to their snooze-loving nature, Pugs are pretty low maintenance, mainly after pet parents who are willing to share the love and attention they crave. Along with TLC, what about feeding and training your Pug puppy? Let’s get into it…

How much to feed my puppy Pug

Any dog lover will know that not all puppies are created equal, with different breeds needing different diets to suit their size, activity levels and health needs. And feeding your puppy Pug is no exception. Pet parents need to strike the fine balance between putting down the right amount of food to fuel their puppy’s growth and development, while avoiding overfeeding and causing excessive weight gain. And this isn’t difficult with Pugs - their puppy dog eyes will tell you they’re starving, but you’ll have to gather the willpower to stick to your guns to avoid the dreaded Pug weight gain. 

So, how much should you be feeding your puppy Pug? As a general rule, try to stick to around one ounce of food per one pound of body weight. Once they’re fully grown, adult Pugs should have half an ounce of food per pound of body weight. If you feel your furry friend isn’t putting on enough weight as they should be or gaining too much, be sure to consult your vet to check you’re feeding your pup the right amount, and that no serious health issues are at play.

How to potty train a Pug puppy

As we’ve mentioned, Pug puppies can be a little stubborn, but at the same time, they’re eager to please and highly motivated by food. So, a positive reinforcement-based potty training regime will be your best bet. 

Luckily for new pet parents, puppy toileting is pretty predictable, so after a few days from welcoming your pooch home, you should get to know when they’re likely to go. A good potty training routine starts the night before - to avoid any unwanted accidents, take your puppy outside right before bed to remind them that the outdoors is where the toilet is. Then in the morning, take your pooch out first thing so that they associate the outdoors with going to the toilet. Then during the day (and especially in the early puppy days), take your pooch outside every 30 minutes to an hour. This will help your new pup to understand that going to the toilet happens outside. 

Many parents will opt for puppy matt training, which can be useful in the early stages of puppyhood. Why? Well it helps your pup to understand that only parts of your living area are right for toileting. On the flip side, this isn’t a long term solution, so many pet parents will start as they wish to go on, and train their puppy to toilet outside from the off.

Some pet parents will also opt for crate-based toilet training. This can be effective for teaching your puppy to avoid going to the toilet in the space they associate with sleeping and relaxing. How? Well if you invest in a crate that’s large enough for snuggling up but too small for going to the toilet, they’re able to learn to hold it in until they’re let outside to go to the toilet.

Along with consistency and positively rewarding your Pug puppy when they’ve taken the initiative to toilet in the right places, one thing that’ll serve you throughout your pet parenting life is to know the signs. Whether they’re a puppy or not, dogs will perform certain behaviors when they need the toilet. And while each pooch is different, there are a few you can look out for. These include sniffing the floor, circling around the room, looking restless or anxious, and heading to an area they’ve recently been to the toilet in.

How to train a Pug puppy

As you’ll know by now, Pugs are little greedy guts. And while this might be their downfall in some ways, it can be beneficial for training scenarios. So when puppy training, take a positive reinforcement-based approach, rewarding your pup when they behave in the way you intended. Pugs can sometimes be stubborn, so it’s super important you and those in your pack enforce your house rules consistently. According to the American Kennel Club, there should be different stages to Pug puppy training, where training is adapted from your pup’s growth stage, through the puppy stage to adulthood. 

Getting a Pug puppy

Like with any pooch, welcoming a Pug puppy into your home is a forever responsibility. Before making the decision, be sure to learn as much about the breed as possible, making sure that you, your home and the rest of your pack are right for these spunky little cuties. 

Buying a Pug puppy

If there’s not a Pug awaiting adoption in your nearby shelters, you may opt to buy from a breeder. We can’t stress this enough - be sure to research your prospective breeders in-depth before choosing. Sadly, like many other breeds, Pugs are associated with unethical, unjust and often illegal breeding practices, so it’s vital you pick an ethical breeder before commiting.

Pug puppy adoption

Sadly, many who welcome Pug puppies home decide that the breed isn’t right for them or their lifestyle. The result? Many cute Pug puppies and adults are waiting in shelters for forever homes. While giving an adorable animal a loving family is probably enough to sway you, another benefit to Pug puppy adoption is that they’ll be microchipped, spayed or neutered, and housebroken. This means you’ll save heaps of time and money on all the essential medical procedures they need.

How much exercise does my Pug puppy need?

Great question! Especially for new pet parents, gauging how much movement your pup needs can be challenging. Find out their exercise needs and balance it with meals, snacks and training for a happy, healthy Pug pup.