Care and maintenance of a pug

The most suitable breed of dogs for keeping in an 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 variety of hygienic procedures. In addition, the dog should be provided with a balanced diet.

Before you buy 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 characterized by small size, for a pet, you can install a lounger with dimensions of 40 * 60 * 70 cm. It is usually put on a flexible mattress in a removable cover, which is easy to use and easy to wash. In the first days after the puppy in the house, the lounger should be placed near the master's bed, so the crumb will not feel lonely and will not be frightened.

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 means for the care of folds and eyes. The volume of bowls should be up to 1 l. To the little pug in his spare time did not miss, He needs to buy a set of toys.

Despite the fact that the pug is simple in content, after his appearance in the house the owner must be ready to change many habits and rules. At home, an animal needs to be given maximum care and attention, since its beauty and health will depend on it. Caring for a puppy involves the implementation of activities such as regular cleaning of the ears, teeth and cutting claws. They are as follows.

• Ears. This part of the body in pets of this breed needs special attention, as the dog has a tendency to such a disease as otitis. To prevent it and maintain the frequency, the ears are recommended to be cleaned twice a month, using a special lotion (it can be purchased at any pet store), hydrogen peroxide (3%) or boric alcohol. In the selected tool, moisten a cotton pad and gently clean the ear folds so that they do not leave dirt, drank and wool.

• Teeth. Caring for them is considered the most important; regular teeth cleaning is included in the list of mandatory hygienic procedures. To remove plaque from the teeth of a young dog, it is necessary to use the service of a veterinarian, as this is done under anesthesia. For pets over the age of 7, it is impossible to perform the procedure under general anesthesia, since their heart will not sustain them. In this case, use a special toothpaste for cleaning. If it is not there, then at home it can be cleaned with a terry cloth soaked in soda solution.

• Claws To care for them you need to purchase a clipper.This device will help to avoid delamination and creases. Claws are recommended to cut as they grow, usually do it several times a month. Carry out the procedure must be carefully, otherwise you can damage the living tissue and cause bleeding. If the claws cut out of time, they will interfere with the pet during movement and cause deformation of the fingers.

Important in the care of a pug and is considered maintaining good fur condition. It is necessary to bathe representatives of this breed as their wool is contaminated, as frequent water procedures can harm the pet - when the biological film is washed off, dandruff appears on the skin of the pug and the fur becomes dull, brittle. When washing the dog, the pet’s ears should be covered with a cotton swab and provide protection against water entering the eyes.

Besides, Every week, the pet must be combed with an iron comb made of stainless steel. During the molting period, the wool should be more carefully looked after by brushing it out daily. During combing, special attention should be paid to the area near the mouth, it is the most tender. You can not touch the ears.

Pugs, like other short-haired breeds, It should be periodically cut, it greatly facilitates the care of a pet. In addition, a haircut is a prerequisite if it is planned to exhibit a dog at competitions or shows. Perform this procedure in the presence of skin diseases, abrasions, sections and fungal lesions. The most common type of haircut is shortening the length of wool across the body by 1.5 cm and its alignment on the tail and “pants” using thinning shears. The coat is usually trimmed. in the direction of hair growth with a special machine.

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

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

Pugs have many folds on the face, so they require careful maintenance. This is especially true of 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 smell. Often, the folds become obstructed, resulting in dermatitis or irritation of 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. First, wipe the area under the eyes, then all the other folds on the face. Upon completion of the procedure, the skin under the nose should be lubricated with petroleum jelly or olive oil.

To make the girls and boys of the pug look gorgeous, their owner should be worried about purchasing stylish clothes, which are currently on the market in a wide range.

Most often buy a set of clothes, consisting of a sweater and jumpsuit. There are on sale even stylish models with a hood in various colors. It should be remembered that the pug need to wear not for fun, but to preserve health. Therefore, during the purchase of clothing should be preferred. 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 he should include cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat), vegetables, fruits, sea fish, lean meats and dairy products. The diet should be made correctly, the composition and caloric content of the food is selected depending on the general condition of the dog and the season.

For feeding pugs, you can buy canned or dry food, they are easy to store and allow you to accurately distribute the daily rate. In addition, premium products are great for dogs of any age, prevents weight gain and does not cause allergic reactions.

The only thing that It is not advisable to buy feed, which includes rice, chicken and vegetables. In addition, the pug should be provided with a vitamin complex, because of the lack of beneficial trace elements in the body, negative consequences can occur.

Experts recommend giving the dog the following vitamins.

• Vitamin A. Especially important is its use during pregnancy, lactation, mating and during growth, development.
• Vitamin B. It is necessary for the development of muscles and has a positive effect on the state of hair and skin.
• Vitamin C. It increases the body's resistance to colds and is an excellent preventive drug against diseases of the joints and gums.
• Vitamin D. Strengthens tendon ligaments, bones. Protects against rickets.

In addition to the above vitamins, in the diet of a pug should include foods rich in calcium. As for the meal schedule, it is made up so 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 walking twice a day. During walks on the street should monitor the general condition of the dog and prevent it from freezing, overheating. In case of bad weather, walking time is desirable to reduce to a minimum. After each walk, the pug needs to be washed with a special brush.

Spring and summer after walking The dog should be checked for ticks that can stick to the paws and belly of the animal. After walks, special attention is required for folds in the face - not only can mites crawl in them, but also dirt and dust can clog up. In the cold season, the pet must be dressed in clothes, since this breed is “afraid” of hypothermia.

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

At the first stage of training the pug must learn to respond to its nickname.. Then it must be taught to the place of rest in the apartment and the regime (food intake, time for walking and playing). As soon as the kid has mastered simple skills, you can start learning basic commands, conducting classes twice a week for 4 months.

In addition to ensuring proper conditions for keeping a 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 event in the care of dogs is timely vaccination, without which she will not be able to travel abroad and participate in exhibitions.

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

For information on how to maintain and care for a pug, see the following video.