Pugs have captured the hearts of dog lovers everywhere with their pudgy facial features and mischievous smiles. They’re one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. It won’t surprise us if you were interested in getting one for yourself! In fact, there are pugs for sale just about anywhere these days.
If you’re looking to start off with a pug puppy of your own, you’ll want to know how to take care of it. Just like any parent, you want your kid to start their life off right. Every pug’s early life is different, of course. But they all need to be planned for! So let’s take a good look into just how a pug should be cared for as soon as it comes into this world.
Living Space
There aren’t many things in the world that are cuter than a pug puppy. Right away, your first concern is giving it a comfortable living space. Before bringing your new pug puppy over, make sure to puppy-proof your home. Remove any small items they might accidentally chew on or swallow. It’s also a good idea to block off any tight spaces they might get stuck in.
At night, you might be tempted to cuddle with your buddy in bed. However, you might want to consider how this will affect them growing up. Pugs might get used to sleeping on the bed with you if you start them out this way. If you want them to have their own space, get them a comfortable canine bed for sleep time.
Don’t go giving them their own room though. Pugs want to be with you most of the time, so be sure to put their bed somewhere close to yours. Just like a human baby, you don’t want to leave them out of your sight too much just yet.
Pug Food
Young pugs need to grow into strong adults and that starts with food! Puppies in particular require not just the right amount of food, but the right nutrients as well. Special puppy food can ensure that your pug gets the right building blocks for healthy growth. These usually come as wet food while your puppy is still trying to grow its chompers.
As they grow, however, you’ll want to mix their food up with dry food as well. Dry food is actually better for the teeth once they’re growing and won’t make their little “accidents” all runny and hard to clean.
Potty Training
Speaking of accidents, doggy diapers are very handy early on. A pug puppy isn’t really capable of holding in its internal “presents” for a long time. When they need to go, they go. So it’s best to have them in diapers just in case.
Once they’re about 3 to 4 months old, you can start teaching them how to go on their own. Make sure your puppy knows where to deposit the goods. And it helps to put their designated area in a place where they can easily reach from anywhere in the house.
Don’t expect this to be a cakewalk though! It can take up to 3 months to potty train a pug. But consistency matters and the more you help your pug learn proper toilet etiquette, the sooner it will put it into practice!
Health and Lifestyle
Puppies are just as susceptible to illnesses as we humans are. The best way to make sure your puppy doesn’t catch the flu (or worse!) is to be diligent with their vaccinations. Keep a record of every vaccination your puppy has gotten and make sure to ask your veterinarian if your puppy is at the right age to receive a certain shot.
Physically, pugs definitely look pudgy. But that doesn’t mean they’re not active! Like any puppy, they are excitable and want to move around a lot. Take your pug on a nice walk every day or at least let it move around and play as much as it can. Be careful of overworking your pug though. Make sure they’re always properly hydrated and let them rest if they’re tired.
Socializing
Pugs love having new pals around to have fun with. But a puppy will need some gradual introduction to social life. Before taking them out on puppy dates, make sure their playmates are healthy and vaccinated as well. Always watch out for your puppy’s behavior, as well as other puppies’ behavior towards them. Teach them to play nice so they don’t scare off new friends!
Slowly help them be comfortable with other people too. Being given affection from other people will make them feel safer and more likely to relax around strangers.
Summary:
It’s not an overly complicated process to give your pug puppy the love and care they deserve. But it does require commitment! Now that you’re ready, give a pug a home today!
