Tell me about Pugs...

[STLDisney_Freak]

I have owned two pugs. My black one, Blackheart, who passed away a few months ago. He was 15 years old. I have a fawn colored one named, Precious. She is 13 years old and my baby. When both of my dogs were puppies they were very hyper and with age they have became couch potatoes.

Pugs are known for their health issues. They are sweet dogs, but they do have a lot of health issues. Blackheart had surgery on his bladder for bladder stones 3 times. Total of all 3 surgeries cost me almost $5000 dollars during his lifetime. He was put on special food and required to take special medication. Blackheart eventually also had dry eye which pugs can genetically get because of their big eyes. He went blind.

Precious also has dry eye and is almost completely blind. She can still get around the house because I lead her with my voice and I don't hardly ever move any furniture around for her. She also has a collapsing trachea which again is genetically common for pugs. She will begin to cough and hack when she exerts herself to much or it is too hot. It gets 80 on the temp outside I turn my A/C on for her. If she gets too bad I have to give her 2 types of medication.

I love Pugs. They are very very sweet dogs with my kids, but as you can read they are not the healthiest of dogs.

 

[ziggystardust]

i had a pug with my ex boyfriend (as far as I know the little guy is still happy and crazy as he ever was), in fact, ziggystardust was his name and the reason for my user name.

we adopted him when he was 2. He was a larger pug and one without an incredibly pushed in face, so his breathing wasn't as bad as it could have been. He would easily get overheated though. These dogs will eat and eat and eat. He got into bags of chocolates that were being saved for easter one day and had to have his stomach pumped. He also got attacked by an akita and thrown around a bit. That poor dog went through a lot. (miss him!)

But all in all, he was/is a great dog. You couldn't go to sit down without him already waiting to jump on your lap. He never barked, just whimpered and ran in circles when he wanted something. He would sit on your lap in the car too, dangerous but he needed that companionship all the time.

about dog insurance, we personally never had it for him. But my mom had it for our chocolate lab. From her experience, she said it made more sense to put that monthly/yearly charge into a bank account specifically marked for the dog and when something happened or for just regular check ups, to take it out of there. By the time my chocolate lab needed to use the insurance for various health issues, a lot of things weren't covered.

 

[madcat]

We have a two year old pug that we got as a puppy, he is by far the best dog I have ever owned (outside of my irish wolfhound). I had heard that pugs were high strung as well but honestly ours is very lazy. As others said you do have to be careful about eyes, allergies and heat. Ours only makes it around the block before he is snorting and grunting, but excercise is important because they are so prone to getting over weight. If you mind shedding or dog hair rethink a pug because it will be all over everything. I have to sweep everyday but he is totally worth it. our pug's nic name is "the prince" if that tells you how we feel about him.

 

[FloridaPixie]

Hello! Just had to chime in about what wonderful little dogs Pugs are. My mom and dad have a pug that they adopted from our neighbors. Brittany (the pug) is just the sweetest pup, good-natured, and very smart. She has been wonderful with my five-year-old, no problems whatsoever. The only downsides I can see with her are that she is a true garbage-gut, she would eat until she explodes! She has a tendency to gain weight, so my mom has her on special weight-control dog food. Also, she sheds unlike any other dog that I have ever seen, even with regular brushings. But we love animals so we overlook the overeating/shedding and concentrate on what a great family dog she is. And she is the cutest thing ever!

 

[Buttercup26]

We have two pug/pom mix boys, they are brothers from same litter. They do shed like crazy but are very sweet loving dogs. The kids can pick them up and carry them around like dolls, they are extremely tolerant and put up with pretty much anything.

Since they are part pom they don't have the really smushed faces, one is more flat faced than other and does have breathing, snorting, sneezing, fits occasionally - mostly when very excited.

Our boys are 4 and have had no health issues, they are quite strong for little dogs and eat a lot for little dogs. They love to walk/hike and can go for hours, haven't had any issues with overheating, but again they aren't purebred pug.

Our local shelters both have waiting lists you can get on for small dogs, you might if your has the same.

 

[ceecee]

No matter the breed they will still cost you! A fence is quite expensive (we got an invisable fence) and there are yearly vet bills (just for healthy dogs) and more vet bills if they get sick or hurt. Then there's food, treats, toys, kennels, etc. Please check a rescue if you want a full bred they will most likely be potty trained and they will know how they react with kids, animals, etc. I have just seen too many labs in our lab rescue because people can't afford them and are clueless about the cost of owning a dog ANY kind of dog.

 

[Princesca]

I agree with the PPs who said that dogs are expensive, generally... be aware of that. One thing people who've typically had cats (including me) don't realize is how much dogs will eat. I don't mean that for the cost of food, I mean that for the cost of vet bills. Since we've had him, my dog has eaten:

A bush
A frisbee
A puzzle toy
Numerous bugs
A vine I thought was poisonous

... and many more!

Within the first year we had him, I had to take him for a really bad fever, and they kept him overnight and gave him some fluids, etc. Then he got ringworm, then he got this weird ulcery thing on his face that went away, then he ate that bush and the soft wood of it got bound up in his intestine.

Mind you, I watch him more than most people would consider sane, so I don't know how he gets all this into his mouth, but...