The Pros & Cons Of Pug Ownership
If you’re reading this page then you’ve probably been toying with the idea of bringing your own little rolly polly flat faced best friend into your life. Whether you got here from watching the Men in Black franchise, Milo and Otis, or if you just saw one in real life and fell in love with the little snort factories, WELCOME! We’re happy you’re here and are excited for your furry, love-filled future. After 25 years of pug experience, I hope I can help make your decision a bit easier.
Before I present my list, it would be irresponsible of me to continue without a disclaimer. Just like people and snowflakes, no two pugs are alike. While the pug that you met at the dog park might be the most mellow, friendliest, love-filled pudge on legs that ever existed, the puppy that you fall in love with might grow up to be a rage-filled Tasmanian Devil. Trust me, I’ve met and owned both and all in between. Now that that’s out of the way, let's get started.
Pros:
Low Maintenance
The great thing about having a pug is that they really don’t require that much maintenance. They don’t need super long walks or very much grooming. Their short hair only requests a monthly bath and occasional brushing. Once a week, they might require a wipedown of their face folds, and every two weeks, a quick nail trim. If you’re planning on walking them daily on cement, brick, or asphalt, their nails will be dulled naturally.
Lap Dog
Nothing makes a pug happier than a nice warm lap to snuggle on. Their soft warm bodies are a treasure during the colder months and their company is much preferred over many humans. Once they plop down on a lap, they can happily nap for hours.
Funny
A director once discovered that I had pugs at home and said, “Oh that’s why you’re so funny, you have pugs!” While I’m not sure if that was meant as a compliment to me and my acting abilities, it was definitely a compliment to a pug’s reputation for comedy. Each one has their own personality, but every single one of them has the potential to be the world’s funniest comedian. Their snorts, playful mannerisms, and even their cries for attention guarantee that your days will never be dull.
Emotional Support
If you’re on the lookout for a friend to offer unconditional love and support in between therapy sessions, look no further than your local pug rescue. Because they have so much love to give and offer so many laughs, pugs are known to be excellent emotional support animals. I’ve also known people who put their pugs through official therapy dog certification courses and regularly take their pugs to hospitals and hospices to lift spirits.
Good Travel Buddy
If you love to travel with your pet, pugs are a great option. Since pugs are small, they fit beautifully in a kennel or carrier. They are pretty low energy after a long morning walk, so you don’t need to worry about them acting up on a plane or a train. Just make sure that your pug, like all brachycephalic breeds, remains in the cabin next to you, as the cargo storage lacks pressurization and air flow, and can be deadly.
In my experience, pugs are often welcomed into hotels and AirBnBs that allow pets.
Cons:
Costly
Just like with any pet commitment, pugs can be very expensive to maintain. Depending on your location, vet bills can be high and frequent. Their food, vaccinations, toys, and medication can add up quickly, especially if you plan on spoiling them as they deserve to be spoiled. We love The Farmer’s Dog for high quality, human grade, fresh dog food and currently we pay around $180 for 16 days of food for three dogs. Their monthly flea, tick, and heartworm prevention medication runs $150 each dog for six months. Since we’ve run into multiple health issues with our pugs, the vet, emergency vet, and the ophthalmologist bills also need to be factored in. While all these numbers seem like an overwhelming uphill battle, I promise it’s worth it, as long as you are financially prepared.
Health Issues
It’s no secret that pugs are famous for their health issues. People love to point out all the health problems pugs can encounter but with that I say, “Every single purebred dog has health issues associated with the breed, many with far shorter lifespans and worse quality of life than a pug’s.” It does not matter whether you find your pug through an AKC breeder or a rescue, every dog can develop unforeseen health risks regardless of ancestry. I’ve had friends who spent thousands of dollars on a descendant of a show pug and discovered a year in that their fur baby inherited a rare form of spinal deterioration, heart murmur, kidney disorder, or early sight loss. I’ve also had friends who found their fur babies through a rescue organization and had their pug for 15+ years, and vice versa.
With that being said, stereotypical pug issues can include, but are not limited to:
Eye issues: Cataracts, dry eye, eye ulcers, eye rupture, and eye dislocation
Ear infections: Yeast infections and bacterial buildup from allergies and/or lack of cleaning
Breathing problems: Collapsed tracheas, enlarged nasal folds that requires surgery, “reverse sneezing”, inability to regulate breathing in extreme temperatures, sleep apnea
Spinal Problems: Occasionally pugs will be presented with a “humpback” or a form of scoliosis due to the preferred breeding of a curly tail.
Hip Problems: Hip dysplasia is common with pugs, as well as arthritis in the hips
Wandering patellas: If you’ve ever seen a pug do a “frog sit”, then you’ve probably seen a pug with a wandering kneecap. There’s not a whole lot you can do about this, but it can result in arthritis and a dislocated kneecap down the line.
Anal sacs: This is my least favorite pug disclaimer believe it or not. Pugs are one of the breeds that require regular manual expression of their anal sacs. Vet offices usually offer this as a service, but it’s definitely more cost effective to learn the technique yourself.
Velcro Dog
While the beauty of pugs is that they love you no matter what and want nothing more than to be next to you all of the time, the downside is also that they love you so much that they want to be next to you all of the time. Once you’re united with your pug, bid farewell to your alone time and privacy. I personally have a pug that gets up and tries to stand on me or my husband whenever we hug. Every. Single. Hug. You might be reading this and think, that doesn’t sound like it belongs in the con list at all, I’d love to have an adorable creature follow me around wherever I go, all of the time. I added this to the con column because too much of a good thing can become bad, it can also lead to separation anxiety. They may become depressed when you leave the house for work, or leave the house period, and your neighbors might hear the sad cries of an “abandoned” pug. With enough training and reassurance, many pugs will become accustomed to your schedule and habits, and be plenty happy if and when you leave the house. Vet prescribed doggy Prozac can also alleviate the stress on your pug.
I hope I’ve been able to help guide you on your pug journey!
