Pug

Description:
The adorable pug is a square compact dog and is well proportioned and very muscular. It weighs around seven to nine kilograms and its head is pretty big, solid and round but it should not have the shape of an apple. The eyes of the pug are big and round and have the shape of a balloon and a sweet looking expression to them. The ears can either have a rose shape or button shape, however they are always thin, small and soft. The wrinkles of this dog are big and deep and its nose must be short, blunt and square, but not snubbed. The closure of its mouth has a slight inferior prognathism. The neck of this dog is strong, thick and slightly arched. The back is straight and the chest is wide. The insertion of the tail is high and tightly curled. A lot of people prefer the double curled tail. A pug's front legs are very strong and straight, the shoulders are moderately inclined back and the elbows are aligned with the wichers. The hind legs are very strong, are medium sized and the ankles are well angled. The coat of this dog is fine, soft and shiny, it shouldn't be hard or wooly. The pug comes in a variety of colors such as silver, apricot, black, or tawny and the nose, ears, jowl should be black.

Ideal owner:
The pug is a very adventurous and adaptable dog. It's small, easy to take care of, and has flexibility and talents that make it a great option for any owner. The pug is one of the most functional toy dogs that exist. It's a great helper in the garden and in the house it is easy to educate and can be very useful. Since it has a flat nose it tends to snore and sneeze, however this isn't anything to worry about. It loves children and other dogs.

Growth:
A pug's size at birth is around 113 to 255 grams. It does not reach full physical maturity until around the age of three years however it reaches its full height between ten and twelve months. The adult color is evident when it is a puppy although it modifies a little as it grows. If you are looking into getting a pug, it is important to get one that has good body substance and that is very healthy. Make sure the legs of the dog are straight; that it breathes well and that it's nasal canal is open. Make sure also that its eyes aren't too shiny and that they don't have any scratches or stick out too much. Female pugs reach sexual maturity at the age of nine to twelve months. Inferior prognathism is pretty common in this breed and it makes its face look somewhat snubbed.

General health:
Since the pug is small and brachycephalic it is pretty prone to hereditary defects. Some of the problems that have been seen are split lips and palates, prolonged soft palates, poorly made nose canals and all of these are congenital defects. You might be able to notice that its breathing is somewhat hoarse, however if it is excessive it might mean that it has sinus problems. Although hip dysphasia is rare, leg dislocation is pretty common and breeders need to get this defect checked. Another thing that has been observed although it is not a general thing is kidney stones, dry conjunctivitis, and subcortical stenosis. Amongst the major health worries are lesions, especially ocular ones. The owner must make sure to be careful with the dog's eyes and avoid them from getting scratches and irritated and he or she should check its eyes everyday. Skin irritations are also very common starting from the wrinkles on the pug has on its body, which is why it is important to keep them clean and dry; this must also be done on the ears. The pug is a good eater and it has a tendency to eat too much to which the owner will need to be careful it does not become obese because it can cause heart and back problems. An excess of weight can also reduce its resistance to heat, which is low as it is. The life span of a pug is around twelve to fourteen years.