Treasure Hunt
Getting your pug to hunt for their food is an excellent way of keeping them occupied while you do something else.
You can stuff a toy with their favorite treats and hide it; this activity will give your pug so much joy once they finds their treat.
This KONG toy is ideal from Amazon. Its cheap and suitable for all dog breeds as it comes in different sizes. The reviews on this toy are remarkably positive!
Go For A Gentle Stroll With Your Pug
Pugs might not have much endurance, but it’s good for them to go for a short walk. This will get them more open to doing it more often and lift their spirits.
Just remember, you should go at your dog’s pace and never go out for too long!
Is The Low Maintenance Dog: The Pug The Right Toy Dog for You?
It’s NOT hard to find huge lists of lazy big dogs, small lazy dogs breeds and medium-sized low stamina dogs. In fact, the Pugs make the list and are ranked #28 on the popularity of dog breeds according to the AKC.
While it’s true that the Pug does not require a lot of exercise. According to the AKC, this breed requires at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. They will usually do well with a daily walk at a normal or fast pace.
I know you’re looking for low energy or lazy dog, but all dogs require exercise for several reasons:
Burning off excess energy through exercise also helps reduce those unwanted behaviors like barking, hyperactivity, scratching, and even boredom.
Pugs are adorable with all their wrinkles and smooshed faces. Some people say that they “have a face that only a mother can love.” I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but what I can tell you is that with that smooshed face comes some health issues you should be aware of.
Most lazy or low energy dogs are brachycephalic dogs. This means that they’ve been bred for short muzzles, which gives them the squashed face appearance.
The Pug, Bulldog, and French Bulldog fall into the brachycephalic category from the lazy dog list below.
Due to this condition, Pugs are known to have several health problems. They also don’t do well in the heat and should never be kept outdoors.
I’ve written some articles you should read before deciding on a Pug to help you find out about:
There’s a lot to take into consideration when getting a dog. There’s more to raising a dog than just how much exercise they require.
It’s a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. They will become a member of your family and you’ll have to care for them for at least 10-16 years, depending on which breed you get.
Read this article to find out the life expectancy of a Pug.
How lazy actually is a pug puppy?
Bred as perhaps the original lap dog, pugs thrive on companionship; theyre happiest when they can be near their owner. A bit goofy and rambunctious, pugs have also earned a reputation as a canine class clown. “They believe that they please you just by being alive and breathing your oxygen,” says Pam Nichols, DVM, president-elect of the American Animal Hospital Association.
Pugs are ideal house dogs thanks to their stable temperament and loving disposition. Although youll need a quality vacuum, as they shed profusely! Playful but not requiring lots of activity, pugs are content to do whatever their owner wants to do, whether that be watching a movie or going for a walk around the block. Very intelligent, and at times willful, pugs are happy and affectionate pups who remain very loyal to their owners.
As a brachycephalic breed, that adorable smooshy face can also be the source of common health problems for pugs, which potential owners will want to understand before they choose to become pug parents.
Its often said that the pugs motto is “multum in parvo” (a lot in a little) because these relatively small dogs pack in a lot of muscle onto their square frame, all while weighing in at 14–18 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club. Pugs come in two standard colors with a few tonal variations: fawn with a black mask or all black. The fawn or tan coat color can range from a warm apricot to a cool and rarely seen silver. Their heads feature their signature short, flat, black muzzle covered with deep wrinkles. Their prominent eyes dominate their comical, wrinkly face and showcase a range of emotions, from surprise and happiness to curiosity. They sport moles on their cheeks, called “beauty spots” and a clearly defined “thumb mark” on their forehead.
Their short coat is actually a double coat, and they shed like crazy, especially during the summer months. “Id call them monster shedders,” says Nichols, noting that you should be prepared to have your clothing covered in fur. According to the AKC standard, the perfect pug tail has a double curl.
A pugs favorite place to be is right by your side. Bred to be companions, they are completely content snuggling up on your lap and lounging the day away and arent afraid to hop right into bed with you. But be forewarned: Pugs wheeze, snort, and snore so you may want to invest in some ear plugs. They will be quite unhappy—and will let you know it—if you dont shower them with affection or if you leave them alone for long periods of time.
You shouldnt expect a pug to hunt, guard, or retrieve. A pug will have nothing to do with such activities. But that doesnt mean they arent up for a little romping and playing, the Pug Dog Club of America (PDCA) says. A funny little dog, pugs often find ways to create their own silly entertainment—but please for their sake pay attention to the show they are putting on—while maintaining a dignified manner when necessary.
Kids love pugs, and pugs love kids. While they are a toy breed, pugs are a bit tougher than other similar-sized pups and are up for playtime. Avoid disappointment and make sure the kids know pugs arent likely to play fetch or chase a soccer ball though. Pugs are pretty amenable to getting along with anyone, including other dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals.
Pugs also make great companions for those living in apartments and older individuals because they dont require too much indoor space for activity. Were not necessarily saying pugs are lazy, but they are known to sleep up to 14 hours per day! They also dont bark much because breathing is a bit difficult for them. Their breathing challenges combined with their short legs make them poor swimmers, too. Although theyd likely benefit from a dip in the pool on hot summer days, as they dont tolerate heat—or the cold—well.
As much as your pug loves you, they might love to eat even more, the PDCA writes. So be diligent in helping manage their intake—limit their treats and dont feed them table scraps no matter how cute and pleading their stare may be—because their small stature makes them likely to gain weight quickly. You should also encourage exercise, although they dont need much in a day. They find creative ways to burn off energy on their own.
Bathing (about once monthly) and regular brushing (with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt, or a hound glove) help manage significant pug shedding. And those sweet facial wrinkles need extra attention because they are a breeding ground for infection if they are damp and dirty. Dry your pugs wrinkles thoroughly after bathing and wipe them out in between baths—a dry cotton ball will do the trick. Pugs also need their nails trimmed regularly, as they dont naturally wear by spending lots of time outdoors. Regular teeth brushing is a must as pugs are susceptible to gum disease.
Training can be a challenge, Nichols says. “These kids are harder to train and not super interested in your opinion.” Their feelings can be easily hurt so avoid harsh training methods. Remember their ultimate goal is simply to spend time with you.
Nichols cautioned that pugs tend to be expensive in the first year of life. “They often need nose resections to enlarge their nostrils and surgery to shorten the soft palate. If those surgeries are not done, expect a lifelong loud snoring dog.”
Beyond causing snoring, pugs physiology often makes it hard for them to breathe, to exercise, and to keep cool in warm weather. These are symptoms of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), which can also cause saliva disorders, sleep issues, and difficulties with regurgitation.
Pugs can face a fair amount of other health issues, including back problems, epilepsy, allergies, hemi-vertebrae (or misshapen vertebrae), hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and nerve degeneration later in life. A variety of skin conditions may affect pugs, including yeast infections, staph infections, or demodectic mange.
While their big, dark eyes are adorable, they are especially vulnerable. Pugs sometimes face corneal ulcers, proptosis, and dry eye, among other ailments. Skin conditions such as walking dandruff—caused by a small mite—need to be treated by your veterinarian. Pug parents also need to watch that their pugs maintain a healthy weight; obesity can exacerbate their breathing problems.
A study released in 2022 comparing the health of pugs to other dogs found “many critical health-related welfare challenges to overcome for pugs.” In the study, pugs had significantly increased adjusted odds for BOAS, stenotic nares (narrow nostrils that make it hard to breathe), and corneal ulceration. Conversely, according to the study, pugs had significantly reduced adjusted odds of having heart murmur or lipoma tumors.
One affliction unique to pugs is Pug Dog Encephalitis, a fatal inflammatory brain disease. There is no known cause or test for it unfortunately. It causes a pug to seize, circle, become blind, then fall into a coma and die. Research is ongoing. Pugs have been around for centuries and have long been represented in art and advertising. They were very popular during the Victorian era, and were often featured on postcards, in paintings, and as figurines.
Pugs are an ancient breed—perhaps the oldest dog breed, in fact—that originated in China. Going back some 2,000 years, flat-faced, or short-nosed toy dogs like the pug were popular with Chinese emperors and lived lavish lives because of it, the AKC says. They were only given to those outside the Far East as gifts. But in the 1500s and early 1600s, Dutch traders arrived in Europe with the breed and thanks to popularity with royal households they quickly gained popularity across Europe.
Their long history reveals a number of different names for the breed including lo-sze (Chinese), mopsi (Finnish), doguillo (Spanish), and mophonds (Dutch), among others. The name pug is supposedly derived from the Latin word “pugnus”—which means “fist”—to reflect the fact that a pugs face looks like a clenched fist, the AKC writes.
Pugs were also very popular during the Victorian era, featured on postcards, in paintings, and as figurines. For years they remained largely pets of the aristocracy. Queen Victoria had many pugs and bred them, and Marie Antoinette also had a pug named Mops. They were standardized as a breed in the early 1800s. Upon taking over the Chinese Imperial Palace in 1860, the English discovered several pugs and began breeding them back in England to improve the breed.
It wasnt until after the Civil War that pugs came to the United States. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. Initially very popular, pug ownership and breeding waned until the 1930s when the, the Pug Dog Club of America was created and recognized by the AKC.