Our Pug Shane is Well Loved

by Terri
(NC)

I have had my Pug for two years now and he has been exceptionally sweet. I had been intrigued with the breed for years and when the time came to get our first family dog, there was no question about the breed, it was going to be a pug or bust.

We found a local AKC registered breeder who allowed us to play with the puppies and watch them interact, my husband and I were immediately drawn to the smallest of the litter. Not only was he adorable, he was a feisty little bundle. We named him Shane and he immediately bonded with our entire family, including our two small children and our Chihuahua.

Pugs have two buttons when they are puppies: asleep or rambunctious (their days are equally divided between the two for approximately the first eighteen months of their life). He has been very easy to potty train however, accidents do happen. We trained primarily with treat reinforcement and potty pads until he was comfortable being outdoors.

Since we live in the south, and for any pug owners in warm climates, it is important to note that pugs are not heat tolerant and should never be left outdoors for extended periods of time. I have learned that pugs enjoy chewing for both pleasure and spite. If there is anything left on the floor worth chewing, Shane will find it. It has aided our housekeeping efforts, especially in teaching the kids to pick up after themselves or it will become pug fodder.

Chewy toys and sturdy rope toys help curtail any unwanted chewing. With pugs comes minimal grooming however, they are prone to shed and it is important to keep the delicate skin within their folds clean. A damp baby washcloth taken to the folds around their muzzle will remove excess hairs and debris. This will also help prevent any ingrown hairs from developing on their faces.

Baths are not a pugs favorite pastime however, they have a knack for rolling in anything foul smelling so, bathing is a relatively frequent chore. For some reason, he keeps his nails worn down and we really only have to keep an eye on his dewclaws from getting too long.

Pugs enjoy sleeping anytime and anywhere they can. On the floor, in the bed, on the couch, upside down, with their eyes open, you name it. The other big surprise is the volume at which they snore. We expected some snoring having a short snout but, it can be enough to bring you out of a sound sleep. The noises pugs make when they are awake are highly entertaining, from their guttural snorts to their delicate howls.

I have been extremely pleased with our pug and he has brought a lot of joy to our family. He can be aloof at times but, he is very sweet in nature and has his cuddly moments. Patience with young children is a wonderful pug trait and he has taken to rolling over so our three year old son can give him belly scratches. I wouldn't trade Shane for any other dog breed or pug for that matter.