Pug Dog Breed: Characteristics, Information, Lifespan, Cost

Whether you're a fellow pug owner or prospective pug pawrent, I hope you find this guide to pug dogs useful. Pug dogs are wonderful family pets and companions who brings joy to the whole family. This page covers some interesting facts about pugs, including: 

• pug characteristics (appearance)
• pug characteristics (personality traits & behaviours)
• pug health issues
• pug life span: how long do pugs live?
• pug dog price: how much do pugs cost?
• pug weight: why are fat pugs common and what is considered healthy?
• happy pugs: things pugs like
• grumpy pugs: things pugs don't like

A cute pug dog has many adorable pug characteristics which we are famous for. Here's a selection of some of the most well-known (and cute) ones:

• Our pug forehead wrinkles look like the Chinese character '王' ('wang') which means 'prince'. Pretty interesting as pugs were originally companions for Chinese ruling families!
• We have curly tails (sometimes described as a cinnamon whirl by my Baba) which makes chasing our tail really hard...
• Us pug dogs shed like crazy! This is all year round so we need regular brushing to remove the excess hair. This is most obvious when a hooman wearing black clothing picks up a fawn pug...you're going to need a lint roller!
• Pugs have big, warm eyes and we will lovingly gaze into our owners eyes when we feel happy, safe and secure around them.
• Contrary to what many people say, being a fat pug is not our natural state. We love to exercise, play, do zoomies and go for walkies and should not be overweight. Pug obesity is a major problem though (as you've probably seen on social media). Check the pug health issues section further down this page.
• A pug dog has soft, velvet-like ears which flop downwards (unlike a French Bulldog who's ears are a little different). Our ears really are super soft!
• Pugs have short legs but that doesn't stop us wanting to go for walkies and randomly breaking out into pug zoomies when we get excited!
• Pug dogs have a flat nose and surrounding muzzle area with facial folds.
• There are a few different colour of pugs which are officially recognised: fawn pug, black pug, silver pug, apricot pug. Pangpang the Pug is a fawn pug but his grandma was a black pug so he has a mixture of the two colours with a darker patch on his forehead.

The funny and cute pug personality traits bring  so much joy to our hoomans. Here's some of the best known pug personality traits:

• Pugs are incredibly playful - most pugs want to be around their hoomans 24/7 and play until they tire themselves out for a pug nap.
• The pug breed is highly sociable - if you get the chance to attend a pug meetup it's sure to be the highlight of your pug's day. Pugs tend to get on very well with each other and they have a blast with their pug buddies.
• Pug dogs are needy - most pugs do not like being left along for extended periods and many get separation anxiety. Definitely consider this before getting a pug. I'm extremely fortunate in that both Mama and Baba work from home which means I have company throughout the day. If there's no one at home for a large proportion of the day, I would suggest that a pug is not best suited to your circumstances
• Pugs are highly curious - if you place a new object in the house (or even if something has moved positions slightly) it may catch your pug's attention and lead to some cute pug barking while they investigate. Nothing gets past a pug!
• Some pugs can be territorial - when someone rings the doorbell, knocks the door or approaches the house, be prepared for a flurry of pug barking. Once visitors are inside, this generally stops but it's important to work to prevent this habit by starting pug training when your pug is young.
• We are highly affectionate - get ready for pug kisses cos once we start we can't stop!
• Pug are really stubborn - once we decide we're going to take that sock from the basket, we can't be stopped. You can try to distract us with a healthy dog treat but most likely we'll go straight back to the basket once we've devoured it! 
• We're very trainable - despite what you may have read online, we're fairly easy to train (as long as you have some of our favourite training treats to hand). I'll discuss this in more detail further down this page. 
• Pugs just want to be their owner's best friend - your pug will be your shadow following you everywhere (especially to the kitchen or garden if it's nearly meal time or time for walkies). Something to be aware of as not all dog lovers are keen on this habit.

As with all breeds, pug dogs have their advantages and disadvantages which prospective pug pawrents should be aware of before bringing a pug into their home:

• The pug dog is classified as a brachycephalic dog breed along with French bulldogs and bulldogs among others. This is due to the shape of the pug skull. As a result, extra care should be taken in warm and humid weather conditions and when engaging in intense exercise to prevent overheating
• Linked to this, it can be more dangerous for a pug to vomit than many other breeds as they can swallow/choke on it, which gives keeping your pug cool added importance. Should your dog ever be sick, don't wait - head straight to your vet to get a check up
• It is easy for a pug's wrinkles to become infected as they trap dirt and moisture (particularly the fold above their nose). As a result, pugs require regular cleaning. This can be done with some doggie wipes and it's a good idea to develop this habit early on to avoid resistance. Bear in mind that your pug many not be happy about having their wrinkles cleaned the first few times so having some of their favourite healthy treats on standby to encourage compliance is highly recommended
• A pug's eyes regularly get a build up of eye goo (not sure what the technical term is for that...). Again, use doggie wipes to gently wipe this away to protect your pug's eyes and keep them healthy and comfortable by cleaning them daily.
• A pug's eyes are prone to eye ulcers. In serious cases, this can lead to impaired vision or blindness so it's definitely something pug pawrents need to be careful with
• I've met many pugs who are missing an eye following dog fights. Personally, I believe they are more vulnerable to eye injuries such as eye ulcers due to having big bulging eyes so be careful when your pug is playing with other dogs, particularly breeds that often bite.
• Pugs are well-known for having issues with their weight. Pug obesity is definitely a major problem and requires careful management of their diet and exercise routine. This is discussed in more detail further down this page in the section 'Pug weight: why are fat pugs common and what is considered healthy?'. Maintaining a healthy pug weight is crucial to avoiding other serious pug health issues, such as spinal, heart, leg and joint problems.
• Pugs shed like crazy and require regular brushing. At certain times of year, owners will find clumps of hair around the house so a pet vacuum is a must and we have lint rollers tactically placed to help keep this under control.
• Pugs paws can become infected with trapped dirt of if cut/grazed on walkies. Use doggie wipes to keep them clean and look out for your pug excessively licking their paws, biting them and the accompanying cheesy smell as this will require a visit to the vet before it gets serious.

Although pugs have a reputation for being the dog breed most likely to be overweight, the truth is that they are bundles of energy when given the opportunity to lead an active lifestyle. Pangpang loves to go for walkies twice a day and spends a lot of time playing and running around the house. For my full guide on the issue of fat pugs and the associated pug health issues click on the button below.

Pugs generally live for between 10 and 15 years based on personal experience. I've had many pug buddies who have reached this age range so would say that this is the normal pug life expectancy. I've even had a few friends who have surpassed the age of 16 which is amazing. Obviously, this requires good care, maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise and some good fortune along the way. Prospective pawrents should be aware of the average pug life span before brining their pug home.

Pug adoption over buying a pug from a breeder

When prospective pug pawrents are looking for their pug baby, we always recommend adopting rather than buying a pug puppy. There are too many pug puppy mills out there and pugs in need of rehoming, so we encourage adoption to help rehome a pug in need of a loving forever home. An adoption fee also has the added benefit of being way below the cost of buying a pug puppy so it's a no brainer. It's also the best option for prospective pug pawrents who do not want to go through the puppy experience as many pugs who are put up for adoption have already reached their adult years and gone through basic training.

Buying a pug from a breeder

For pug pawrents who opt to buy a pug, be careful not to be ripped off. When I was looking to get Pangpang a baby brother I did speak to a few pug breeders / people selling pugs and the range was eye-watering. Since COVID, the lowest I've seen has been £700 but one seller quoted me £3,500 which was above my ceiling. Most importantly, check the health record to ensure your pug has had regular vet checks/the required injections/jabs and ideally is KC registered (or the equivalent in your country).

Things to consider before getting a pug

Regardless of whether you choose to adopt a pug or buy from a breeder, we strongly recommend going to meet your pug to see that they are happy and healthy before making this big life decision. Also, think about what type of pug personality suits you best - endless energy and playful or chilled out - and try to make the best choice for your new pug and your household.

Finally, before taking your new pug buddy home make sure you're prepared to be a pug pawrent for your pug's lifespan (on average 10-14 years) as surrendering your pug should be a last resort and not a decision you take lightly due to the emotional impact on your pug dog.

Us pugs love our food and we are not afraid to use emotional blackmail in the form of puppy dog eyes to beg for all dog-friendly foods and dog treats. As a result, many pugs are overfed and end up as fat pugs. Pug obesity is a major health problem amongst pugs and owners should do everything possible to keep their pug in their healthy weight range.

The potential long-term health issues associated with being a fat pug are covered above in the 'Pug health issues' section. Remember, a pug should be fit not fat - and contrary to the myth they love walkies and exercise just as much as many other dog breeds.

The ideal weight range for a pug will vary depending on their height, length etc. so it's really important to speak to your vet to find out your pug's ideal weight and use it as a benchmark when doing portion control. Pangpang the Pug is a relatively small pug with a short body and legs. His ideal weight is 7.3-7.6 kilograms and we do all we can to ensure he stays around this weight. This can be achieved through regular walkies, playtime, managing dog food portions, avoiding unhealthy processed dog treats and dental chews, and predominantly giving healthy treats (such as blueberries and cucumber). 

Pugs are very sure of certain things that they like, including:

1. All dog-friendly foods (keep anything non-dog friendly out of reach) and prioritise healthy dog treats (like dog-friendly fruits and vegetables) over unhealthy processed dog treats
2. Walkies
3. Playing with our hoomans
4. Exploring: on pug walkies be prepared for your pug to sniff every single bush, plant, tree, post and pole they come across.
5. Belly rubs (though Pangpang only got into them at the age of 5!)
6. Going in the car - pugs tend to get super excited to be going on a car journey
7. Meeting and playing with other dogs (especially other pugs - strongly recommend pug meetups)
8. Socks, gloves and hats!

Us pug dogs have certain things we don't like, including:

1. Not being included in meal times. If you're eating, we want to eat something too!
2. Having dog baths (especially as a pug puppy)
3. People ringing the doorbell / knocking the door
4. Loud sounds like car horns or motorbikes
5. Being barked at by other doggos
6. Not being the centre of attention
7. Having our pug nails cut!

If you're interested in learning more about pugs check out my pug dog blog here: