Elaine Waldorf Gewirtz

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-25-2022

Finding the perfect Pug means looking for the right place to buy or adopt your dog and checking the general condition of the Pug. Once you decide to bring the dog home, you'll want to stock up on certain supplies to ease the homecoming. Housetraining, if needed, is a process that requires patient consistency. As you share a household with your pet Pug, be prepared to recognize signs of sickness or injury, so that you can seek immediate veterinary care.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The time may come when you want to take your dog with you when you're flying somewhere. Although all you have to do to fly is buy a ticket, pass through security, and get on the plane, things get a lot more complicated when a dog flies the friendly skies. Whatever the reason for your airline trip, don't just show up at the airline counter with your dog and expect to jump right into your window seat. (Generally, you should plan on checking in your Pug (or any other breed) at the airport two to three hours before your departure.) Airline travel with dogs isn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. The airline industry and individual airlines have conditions and rules that may not be so friendly to dogs who want to spread their air wings. Before you decide to take Puggy on a plane, find out what the airline's transport rules are and make plans to comply with them before you buy your own ticket. After hearing the regulations, you may decide that you don't want to take Puggy with you on a plane, after all. Understanding what airlines require For starters, your Pug needs a separate reservation to travel on the plane. In fact, the airline charges an extra fee for your pet. The amount depends on whether she rides in the passenger area of the plane or down below in the cargo section. (Every airline charges a different fee.) Generally, you can take a toy dog on the plane with you if she's small enough to fit in a soft carrier and stowed beneath the seat in front of you during takeoff and landing. (Be sure to ask the airline you're flying how big the space beneath the seat is.) She can't wander in the aisles, and no, she doesn't get her own movie. Keep in mind, however, that if your Pug puppy is staying with you in the main cabin, she may get fussy, and you may have trouble calming her down on a long flight. If a Pug is too large to fit in a carry-on bag beneath your seat, she must fly in an airline-approved pet carrier with solid sides in the cargo section beneath the plane. The pet carrier must be properly labeled with your identification and final destination information. It must be tall enough for your Pug to stand up in without hitting her head and wide enough for her to easily turn around in. The carrier needs to have two plastic dishes attached to the inside of the carrier door — one for food and one for water. Some airlines require that a small bag of food be taped to the top of the carrier as well and that some type of padding — a newspaper, blanket, or doggy pad be put inside the crate. Because Pugs overheat easily, it's also a good idea to secure a portable fan to the front door of her carrier. The airlines appreciate this extra precaution you're taking for your pet. Dogs in solid pet carriers are checked in as excess baggage and placed in the cargo section of the plane. This section beneath the plane is pressurized and is the same temperature as the cabin. By the way, a change of planes isn't a good idea for dogs riding in the cargo section. Baggage handlers can get busy or forgetful, and there's always a chance that your Pug may not get transferred to the connecting flight in time. Try to take a direct route whenever possible. Getting a health certificate Before the airline can accept your dog for transport, a representative must see a recent health certificate supplied by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian is required to examine your Pug in her office before she can fill out the certificate. The exam determines whether your Pug's in good health and if your veterinarian thinks she can make the trip safely. Check the airline you wish to travel on for the latest rules on how far in advance you can get your health certificate. Put your health certificate in a safe place — maybe with your airline ticket — so you don't forget to take it to the airport. You can't fudge on this one. If your dog doesn't have a health certificate, she stays home. Preparing Puggy for planes Airports are loud and noisy places, and your Pug may feel frightened by all the different sights, sounds, and smells she encounters when getting on and off the plane. To prepare her for these new experiences, here are some things you can do: If your Pug has never spent the night in a solid-sided carrier before, begin training her at least a few weeks before your flight to get her accustomed to being in there. When she's comfortable in her carrier, she can relax during the trip because it's her familiar comfort zone. If your Pug hasn't visited many noisy places before, take her walking in front of the airport a few times or go for a quick stroll in and out of the terminal. If your Pug has never been inside her carrier while it's being moved, try simulating the experience for a few days before her departure. Put Puggy in the carrier, place it on a cart, and roll it around. She needs to get used to the idea of being moved around because that's what happens at the airport. If Puggy is leaving on an early morning flight, don't feed her for a few hours before departure. Even the calmest Pug will be nervous, and having food in her stomach can make her sick. Feed her a little more the day before she leaves, if you have to. Factoring in the weather Before they accept animals for transport, all airlines want to make sure that the weather is not too hot or too cold before they take off and when they land in another city. This precaution is for the dog's safety. Often, planes have to wait on the tarmac before taking off, and the temperature inside the plane and the cargo section isn't controlled during those times. When you make your reservations, check the airline policy on the weather restriction because airlines frequently change their policies. They don't take dogs if they decide it's too hot or too cold where you're landing. Take this into consideration when you schedule your flight. It may be safer in the long run to take a red-eye, or late-night, flight so that you can travel in the coolest part of the day.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Although Pugs love to be taken care of, they also like to pay attention to their owners. They have loving and affectionate personalities, which means they're perfect companions for anyone who likes to get affection from his or her pooch. They're ideal lap warmers and very loyal to their families. Putting a big dog into a little body Pugs have a big idea about themselves and think that they're the prime movers and shakers in their households. They probably are because most owners end up catering to their Pug's needs. A Pug is determined to get what she wants, but only if she doesn't have to go too far from the couch. Getting a heavenly house dog Pugs are easy to get along with and don't require that much space to keep. As long as they have their toys, a comfortable bed to sleep on (yours), and enough food to keep them satisfied, Pugs are great to live with. They also like having you around and are happiest when you're nearby. No matter what you're doing, they're usually quite happy to be doing the exact same thing. Satisfying a Curious George Pug Leave an interesting object out where Puggy can see it, and soon it's gone. Pugs like to investigate things and get up close and very personal with your belongings. Although their sense of smell isn't as well developed as other breeds, a Pug still likes to test it out. In fact, she wants to sniff things until they're very wet and soggy. For example, if you leave a check sitting on the coffee table, in no time at all, it's separated into tiny wads of paper. However, you need to be careful because this curiosity can kill a Pug. To prevent your Pug from injuring herself (or worse), don't leave poisonous substances or sharp objects around that your Pug may be tempted to investigate. If an object looks interesting or has any kind of a food aroma, it's probably going to be Pug history. Clowning around: Pugs just wanna have fun Pugs are clowns, and if you laugh even once at something they do, they gladly keep repeating the act to get you to laugh again and again. Fun is their middle name, and it's hard for a Pug to walk into a room without sizing up what she can get away with. If you have two Pugs at home, count on them to make a toy out of anything. They love to play and find things to tug at and chew up. Having a busy calendar: Pugs like stimulation As much as a Pug likes to be a lap dog, she also enjoys seeing and doing new things and discovering new adventures. As with any dog who's always confined to the house, Pugs can easily get bored. Finding activities you can both enjoy keeps your Pug happy about life and less motivated to want to eat. Provide new and interesting toys for your Pug to maintain her interest around the house. Taking her along on safe outings can also please her. Finding another jogging partner: Pugs and intense exercise don't mix If you're a jogger, don't even think that your Pug wants to accompany you on long-distance runs. Although her spirit may be in the activity, her body isn't, and she stops running or walking when she feels like it. Never walk a Pug farther than you're willing to carry her. Sometimes she may just sit down on an outing and refuse to go anywhere. When planning to do some outdoor exercise with your Pug, check the temperature first. Pugs aren't hot weather, outdoorsy types and definitely need to stay cool during workouts. Now, some Pugs do like to swim and hike, and they're perfectly able to do so if they're properly conditioned. Swimming Pugs aren't that common, but they've been known to actually like the water. If a Pug learns to like the water, swimming is a great activity for her — especially because you don't have to worry about her getting too hot. A pool is always cool! Getting out to socialize: Pugs love people Pugs are really people dogs. They crave a lot of human companionship and affection and want to be around you all the time. Expect a Pug to follow you from room to room and to want to go out for a car ride with you whenever you leave home. Pugs are also naturally attracted to children — maybe because they're nearly the same size! When children understand dogs and respect them, they can make great companions for each other. Be sure to always supervise children when they're playing with your Pug and don't leave them alone unattended. Paying attention: Pugs like to be noticed If a Pug thinks that you're neglecting her, you can count on her to come up with something creative to get your attention. Leave it to a Pug to do anything to get you to look at her. She can wind up in the oddest places just to see your reaction. Although Pugs don't leap buildings in a single bound, they do like to do some jumping, and if they can figure out how to slowly creep up to the couch or a favorite chair, they're going to do it. Accepting the big snore: Pugs and snoring go together Pugs are no different than any other breed with a short muzzle — make that a very short muzzle — and pushed-in nose. They make a variety of noises while they nap or sleep. Find a comfy pillow at home, and you most likely see a Pug off in dreamland and letting the world know all about it. She makes just about every nasal sound you can think of, from a low snort to some good solid pump-up-the-volume breathing. If you're a Pug lover, you probably get so used to their sounds that you don't even hear this snooze alarm. Other people, however, may not think of it as music to their ears, so it's a good thing they can always get earplugs. But as long as Puggy's breathing is regular, the snore is a perfectly healthy sound.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

If you have your heart set on a Pug, you probably should spend some time brushing up on your choices (puppy or adult, fawn or black, show dog or pet) before you actually bring home the Pug who you want for your own. After all, you do want yours to be the most perfect dog ever, don't you? Sure, you want companionship and a healthy, good-natured puppy, but you also want your Pug puppy to look like a Pug. You're selecting this breed precisely because you're drawn to the Pug's unique appearance (see Figure 1). Figure 1: A beautiful Pug head showing good expression. © Judi Crowe Believe it or not, the Pug doesn't look the way he does by accident. He's the result of several generations of careful planning by many conscientious breeders who have been following the same design. The design for the perfect Pug was first formulated by Pug lovers in England in 1885 and reaffirmed in 1931 by members of the Pug Dog Club of America. Recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the design, or breed standard, describes exactly how the Pug should look and act. This standard includes the dog's ideal structure, personality, gait, and general overall appearance. When breeders match sires (fathers) and dams (mothers) together, they hope that the puppies they produce come as close as possible to the ideal breed standard. Figure 2 shows how breeders and veterinarians describe parts of a Pug's body. You may want to refer to this figure as you read the following list, which explains the main physical characteristics of a Pug. Figure 2: Parts of the Pug. General appearance: From any angle, the Pug has a square shape. Measure his height from the ground to his shoulders, and the measurement should be about equal to what his length is from the front of his chest to his rear. Head/face: To meet the standard, the shape of a Pug's head should be round when you see him from the side and square when you look at him face to face. The bottom of his black velvet ears should fall to his eye level. His large, round, dark eyes have a soft expression. Although he looks sweet, the Pug should also look animated and excited during playtime. A Pug's snout, or muzzle, is very broad. When his mouth is closed, you shouldn't see his teeth or tongue. All those marvelous wrinkles around Puggy's face fold over his black nose and add character to his expression. Neck, topline, and chest: To support his big round head, the Pug's neck should be strong and thick. What's a topline? If you were to draw an imaginary line from the top of a Pug's shoulders down his back to where his tail begins, breeders refer to that area as a topline. It should be straight and level, without dipping in the middle, and it shouldn't slope downward or upward. The Pug's chest should be wide and full. Body: If you stand in front of your Pug, you should see straight, sturdy, short little legs connected to broad shoulders and chest. A Pug is not a Bulldog, so don't expect to see feet that turn outward. The Pug's chest should extend over the front legs. The Pug's rear legs should look strong and be parallel to each other from the back. Coat: The Pug's coat should be fine, smooth, short, and glossy (never hard or coarse). Both fawn and black Pugs have the same coat type, which is soft when you touch it. Color and markings: Pugs come in two basic colors — black and fawn — although the standard mentions a silver color that has become rare in the United States. The silver coat has been described as the color of moonlight, while the true fawn Pug's coat is sunlike. Sometimes the silver Pug is confused with a smutty fawn-color Pug, but there's a distinct color difference between the two. Black Pugs should be a shiny, jet-black color. If there is any white on the black Pug, it's called a mismark. Fawn Pugs may have a white mark on their coats, too, but it blends well into the lighter coat and doesn't show up as easily. Fawn Pugs are more popular than the black dogs, and the contrast between the black muzzle and the fawn Pug may be one reason. The contrast is striking and should be very distinct. Another interesting Puggy marking is a darkened spot centered on Puggy's forehead that is known as a thumbmark or a diamond. This area is formed by the wrinkles on the forehead but looks like a thumbprint. Gait: His legs should swing forward easily, with each leg moving in a straight line. Neither one should be flinging outward, and the path of one leg shouldn't cross over the path of the other one. Going away from you, the Pug's legs should move in a parallel pattern along the same line as the front legs without any motion flinging outward. When Puggy speeds up to a trot, his legs should move toward a center line. Personality: Pugs are even-tempered and stable, and they love to have a good time. They can also be dignified, yet very charming, when the situation requires it — they seem to be able to tell when it's necessary to act mature instead of silly. Puggy is intelligent and curious, yet ready for a game. Although the breed standard calls for the Pug to be steady and charming, his average behavior ranges anywhere from very active to least active. So, when you're choosing a Pug, remember that the typical Pug personality is anything within that range. Not all Pugs are couch potatoes or high energy. Somewhere in that broad temperament spectrum is the perfect Pug for you.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Looking at your Pug's short-haired coat, you probably find it hard to imagine that he needs much primping and preening to keep him clean, but even Pugs need some grooming. His ears need to be wiped out, and those Pug wrinkles just scream, "I'm cute but grimy and need a good cleaning." Puggy doesn't need the services of a professional groomer, however; you can handle the job yourself. Checking ears to help prevent infection Puggy's cute little fold-over ears make a great hiding place for dirt, grime, and who knows what else. A shoe could even be underneath those ears! Well, maybe a small one, anyway. The one thing you don't want to have inside your Pug's ears is an ear infection. Infections hurt and itch, and your Pug may be scratching and rubbing to alleviate the discomfort. If it's really bad, he scratches them so hard that they bleed! You certainly don't want your Pug to suffer when you can easily take care of the problem with regular cleaning. Besides good old-fashioned dirt and a buildup of regular ear wax, allergies and other conditions (such as hypothyroidism, overactive adrenal glands, diabetes, or ear mites) can also be the culprits responsible for your Pug's ear infections. It takes only a minute to flip over the top of one of Puggy's ear flaps to check inside to see whether anything funny is going on in there. You want to see healthy ears, which are slightly pink and not red. Red means trouble and an infection. With Pug ears, you can sometimes smell a problem before you see it. Your nose picks it up right away. A brown or black waxy buildup down inside the ear canal accumulates and sends off a very earthy, but somewhat nasty, odor. It's your cue to enter your Pug's ear, stage left (or right), and clean up the act. Check your Pug's ears every day. Doing so helps you catch any problems before they get any worse. You want to make sure that the insides of his ears feel warm to the touch but aren't bright red. A few cleanings can clear up most ear infections within a few days, but you may want to take Puggy to the veterinarian if a problem persists. If your Pug's ears aren't clearing up, he may have ear mites. These tiny pests live in the ear canal and wreak havoc with their constant irritation. Your veterinarian can prescribe a stronger cleaner for these unlucky creatures. No, ear infections and ear mites aren't contagious to other dogs or people. Looking into Puggy's ears isn't a one-shot deal. It's a regular doggy job you have to keep repeating if your dog has problem ears. If you let a few days go by without checking his ears, don't be surprised if he's rubbing his ears on the carpet or scratching wildly at them. Doing regular ear cleanings Ask your veterinarian to give you a safe ear-cleaning solution to do the job right. Although a few types of ear cleaners are available in a pet food store or through a dog supply catalog, these products usually contain alcohol, which can dry out and irritate your Pug's sweet little ears and make them itch even more. Here are the steps to follow for cleaning your dog's ears: 1. Using one hand, lift up one of your Pug's ears and, using your other hand, squirt some ear cleaner into the same ear. 2. Place your thumb and forefinger on each side of the base of the ear and press your fingers together a few times, compressing the ear slightly each time. You should hear a squishing sound. The cleaner is breaking up the waxy debris stuck to the inside of Puggy's ear. 3. Insert a long rectangular piece of rolled cotton — about 6 inches works well — into the ear as far as it can go. Don't worry about hurting the eardrum. It's located far down his neck, and you can never reach it! 4. With your finger in the middle of the cotton, rotate the cotton around a few times in his ear and draw it out of the ear. If Puggy's ears are really dirty, the cotton may be a yucky shade of dark brown. 5. Repeat, inserting the cleaner and a new piece or side of the cotton one or two more times, until the cotton comes out clean. 6. Repeat the process with the other ear. Give Puggy a small food treat to reward him for putting up with this ear invasion! Don't use cotton swabs, baby wipes, cotton balls, or tissues to clean your dog's ears. These items aren't big enough to absorb all the liquid from the cleaner or get all the debris. In addition, don't go digging inside Puggy's ears with anything other than cotton strips. Anything sharp can hurt his sensitive ears. If your Pug's ears aren't dirty, then don't clean them! Cleaning without a reason can cause yeast infections. Maintaining worry-free wrinkles Part of the Pug's appeal is his wonderful wrinkle factor. Who can resist the V pattern of wrinkles on his forehead? Then there's the irresistible nose roll — the deep fold of skin that lies above his nose. It even wiggles whenever he sniffs. Despite the Pug's physical appeal, keep in mind that taking care of your Pug's wrinkles and nose roll is serious business. When filled with debris, the wrinkles can make Puggy feel very uncomfortable. Your Pug can be so bothered by the dirty wrinkles that he tries to clean the folds himself by rubbing his head sideways against a door frame. Yuck! Puggy rubbing his face on the carpet? Better check his nose roll. Clean the nose roll and other wrinkles every day — bath or no bath — to prevent odor. Some Pugs have larger nose rolls than others, but even the smaller ones need to be cleaned regularly. The best thing to use for cleaning Puggy's nose roll is a damp washcloth. To rid the roll of rank stuff, take these steps: 1. Take Puggy's cheek in your left hand. 2. Lift the folds and look for redness, moist sores, rashes, or musty smells, which may mean infection. 3. Run the damp washcloth through the roll from one side to the other. Repeat on the other side. 4. To help keep the wrinkles cleaner longer, spread a small amount of earwash onto a gauze square and use it to wipe the wrinkles and folds on your Pug's face and nose clean. 5. Clean the smaller wrinkles under the eyes the same way. A bald spot or a rash in your Pug's wrinkles means there's a fungus or a staph infection. Chin acne also pops out if the face isn't cleaned. Take Puggy to a veterinarian to know for sure.