Pug care and maintenance

The most suitable breed of dog for keeping in the apartment is a pug. These decorative pets are easy to care for, but in order to grow a healthy and beautiful pet, you need to perform a number of hygiene procedures. In addition, the dog should be provided with a balanced diet.

Before you get a pug puppy, you need to worry in advance about the proper organization of the place where the baby will rest, sleep and eat. Newborn pugs, like representatives of other breeds, at first require special conditions of detention.

Since this breed of dog is small in size, for the pet, you can install a sunbed with dimensions of 40 * 60 * 70 cm. A flexible mattress is usually placed on it in a removable cover, which is convenient to use and easy to wash. In the first days after the appearance of the puppy in the house, the sunbed should be placed near the owner’s bed, so the baby will not feel lonely and will not be scared.

In addition, for the pet, you will need to additionally buy two bowls, a harness or a collar with a leash for walking, a metal comb and products for the care of folds and eyes. The volume of the bowls should be up to 1 liter. So that a little pug doesn’t get bored in his spare time, he needs to buy a set of toys.

Despite the fact that the pug is easy to maintain, after its appearance in the house, the owner should be ready to change many habits and rules. At home, the animal needs to be given maximum care and attention, since its beauty and health will depend on this. Caring for your puppy involves performing activities such as regular brushing of your ears, teeth, and claws. They are carried out as follows.

• The ears. This part of the body in pets of this breed needs special attention, since the dog has a tendency to such a disease as otitis media. To prevent it and maintain frequency, it is recommended to clean the ears twice a month using a special lotion (it can be purchased at any pet store), hydrogen peroxide (3%) or boric alcohol. In the selected product, a cotton pad is moistened and the ear folds are gently cleaned so that there is no dirt, drank or wool left in them.

• Teeth. Caring for them is considered the most important, regular brushing is included in the list of mandatory hygiene procedures. To remove plaque from the teeth of a young dog, you must use the service of a veterinarian, as this is performed under general anesthesia. For pets over the age of 7 years, it is impossible to carry out the procedure under general anesthesia, as their heart will not stand them. In this case, use a special toothpaste for cleaning. If it is not, then at home you can clean the plaque with a terry cloth soaked in soda solution.

• Claws. To care for them, you need to purchase a nail clipper. This device will help to avoid delamination and creases. It is recommended to trim the nails as they grow, usually this is done several times a month. The procedure must be carried out carefully, otherwise you can damage living tissue and cause bleeding. If the claws are cut late, they will interfere with the pet during movement and cause deformation of the fingers.

It is considered important in the care of a pug and maintaining good condition of the coat. It is necessary to bathe the representatives of this breed as their fur becomes contaminated, as frequent water procedures can harm the pet - when the biological film is washed off, dandruff appears on the pug's skin and the fur becomes dull, brittle. While washing the dog, cover the pet’s ears with cotton swabs and Provide protection against contact with water.

Besides, Each week, the pet needs to be combed using an iron comb made of stainless steel. During molting, the wool needs to be more carefully looked after, combing it daily. During combing, special attention should be paid to the area near the mouth, it is the most tender. Do not touch the ears.

Pugs, like representatives of other shorthair breeds, should be cut periodically, this greatly facilitates the care of the pet. In addition, a haircut is considered a prerequisite if you plan to exhibit a dog at competitions or shows. Perform this procedure in the presence of skin diseases, abrasions, sections and fungal infections. The most common type of haircut is to shorten the length of the fur along the body by 1.5 cm and align it on the tail and “pants” with thinning shears. The hair is usually cut in the direction of hair growth with a special machine.

Since the pug’s eyes are often exposed to various diseases, they also require careful care. Their condition should be monitored constantly and wipe them in time.Every day you need to remove accumulations of secretions from the corners of the eyes with a cotton swab or a soft damp cloth. In addition, you should follow the eyes, controlling the intensity of lacrimation.

When walking, it’s important to keep an eye on so that the pug does not come into contact with sick animals. The presence of yellow or greenish mucus in the eyes of the dog indicates a possible infection. If sticking and the appearance of a crust on the eyelids are observed in both eyes, then this is a sign of conjunctivitis. Swelling and swelling of the eyelids indicates an allergic reaction or an insect bite.

Pugs have many folds on their faces, so they require careful care. This is especially true for the hot season. After walking and eating, many bacteria accumulate in the folds, which provoke the development of infections, fungal diseases and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Often folds are blocked, resulting in dermatitis or irritation on the skin.

To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to wipe the skin several times a week with a cotton swab dipped in a lotion that does not contain alcohol. At first they wipe the area under the eyes, then all the other folds on the face. At the end of the procedure, the skin under the nose should be lubricated with petroleum jelly or olive oil.

In order for the pug girls and boys to look chic, their owner should also worry about purchasing stylish clothes, which today are on the market in a wide assortment.

Most often they buy a set of clothes, consisting of a sweater and overalls. There are even stylish models with a hood in various colors for sale. It is worth remembering that a pug should not be worn for fun, but to maintain health. Therefore, when buying clothes, you must give preference those models that are convenient for cleaning and will not hamper the movement of the dog.

In the content of pugs, special attention should be paid to their diet. Unlike other dog breeds, their stomach is small and not adapted to liquid food. If the owner chooses the home menu, then it should include cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat), vegetables, fruits, sea fish, low-fat meats and sour-milk products. The diet should be drawn up correctly, the composition and calorie content of the food is selected depending on the general condition of the dog and season.

For feeding pugs, you can purchase canned or dry food, they are convenient to store and allow you to accurately distribute the daily rate. In addition, premium products are great for dogs of any age, prevent overweight and do not cause allergic reactions.

The only thing it is not advisable to buy feeds that include rice, chicken and vegetables. In addition, a pug should also be provided with a vitamin complex, since due to a lack of useful trace elements in the body, negative consequences may occur.

Experts recommend giving the dog the following vitamins.

• Vitamin A. Especially important is its use during pregnancy, lactation, during mating and during the period of growth and development.
• Vitamin B. It is necessary for muscle development and has a positive effect on the condition of the coat and skin.
• Vitamin C. Increases the body's resistance to colds and is an excellent prophylactic against joint and gum diseases.
• Vitamin D. Helps strengthen tendon ligaments, bones. Protects against rickets.

In addition to the above vitamins, calcium-rich foods should be included in the pug's diet. As for the meal schedule, it is designed in such a way that the pet ate at the same time in small portions.

It is recommended to keep pugs in an apartment or a private house, but this does not mean that the pet does not need walks at all. Representatives of this breed should be walked twice a day. During walks on the street, you should monitor the general condition of the dog and prevent it from freezing and overheating. In case of bad weather, it is advisable to reduce the walking time to a minimum. After each walk, the pug needs to wash the paws with a special brush.

In spring and summer after walking the dog should be checked for ticks that can stick to the animal’s paws and stomach. Folds on the face require special attention after walking - not only ticks can crawl into them, but also dirt and dust can clog. In the cold season, the pet should be dressed in clothes, as this breed is “afraid” of hypothermia.

Pugs have a friendly character and are malleable in training, so their education occurs without any problems. It is best to train a pet from an early age, this can be done both on special courses for dogs and independently at home.

At the first stage of training, the pug must learn to respond to his nickname. Then it must be taught to the place of rest in the apartment and the regime (eating, time for walks and games). Once the kid has mastered simple skills, you can begin to learn basic commands by conducting classes twice a week for 4 months.

In addition to providing the proper conditions for keeping the pug, the owner must constantly take care of his health. This will help prevent the development of various diseases and prolong the life of the pet. An important exercise in dog care is timely vaccination, without which she will not be able to travel abroad and participate in exhibitions.

Vaccinations are allowed only to healthy individuals. The first vaccination is given to puppies at the age of 2 months, the second - at 3 months. The vaccination course is repeated every year. 10 days before vaccination, deworming should be performed. Walking the pet is allowed 1.5 weeks after the second vaccination.

See how to maintain and care for a pug in the next video.