Pug Puppy

Pugs are actually on the top 10 list for family dogs and they are the only small/toy breed that makes the list.

yep good with kids as long as they are older than toddler. They are smaller sized dogs and can easily get hurt if a Toddler trips on them or if they are too rough. Especially if you get a puppy. They can be hard to house train, they are known to be a bit stubborn. Yes they have A LOT of health issues due to there pushed in faces (Brachialcephalic), Breathing, swallowing and joint issues. So if you want a relatively healthy one, you need to go to a GOOD pug breeder. Not a cheap backyard breeder, or someone that thinks its just cute to breed there dogs with no thought to the health of the pups. The snore, they snort, they have issues with exercise because of the compromised breathing, and easily become over weight. I worked as a shelter manager for 7 years. I saw MANY MANY pugs come in for all the reasons I stated above. You could go with a mixed pug, they tend to be healthier but not all the time.

We have two pugs and I also volunteer for our state's pug rescue. they are a terrific breed, very friendly, fun, and playful. They are a very sturdy little breed, but as others have said, kids need to be careful with them as puppies. We didn't have any issues housebreaking (we got both ours as pups). They can be a stubborn breed, but do fine with training if you are consistent and start early - and they are VERY food motivated. They will do anything for food! But because of this they can also become overweight very easily. They can have respiratory problems because of their squished-in noses. We had to have stitches put in one of our pup's nostrils to widen them, but he's fine now. The most common issue we see with rescue dogs is eyes. Because they bulge out, they pop out easier than other breeds. So if they have any trauma (fighting, hit by car, etc.) this tends to happen. So it's also very important that kids know this risk. It sounds gross, but I have heard cases of puppies' eyes popping out because kids were too rough with them. Here's what we have posted on our site about pugs: (so people know about the breed before adopting)

Pugs shed a lot.

Pugs snore.

Pugs were bred to be companion animals. They NEED to be with their people. They can have behavior problems if they can't be with you. This means they can seem "clingy" or "needy." If you want an aloof, detached dog, you don't want a pug!

A pug's nose wrinkles must be kept clean in order to prevent infection.

Pugs are prone to dental problems because of their cute flat faces -- not enough room in their mouths for all the teeth they have.

Pugs can have several different breathing problems due to their flat faces, some requiring corrective surgery.

A pug's bulgy eyes are susceptible to injury and to medical problems caused by dryness.

A pug can have issues with unstable kneecaps (luxating patella), sometimes requiring expensive corrective surgery.

Good luck! They are the best breed, in my opinion! They are so lovable, great little friends. We take ours hiking and camping and they do great. I wish I would have grown up with these dogs.

Here's a place to start:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pug.htm

Think of a puppy as a new baby who will need your care, attention, and raising. Babies who don't get the care they need don't turn out well. Neither do dogs.

I've never had a pug, but I have a couple of friends who think it's the best breed ever!

I agree with what Martha J said

My husbands Aunt has two, and honestly I don't like going over there with our kids. I love the dogs, they are very sweet. But they are SOOO hyper and yappy and never shut-up and they jump all over the kids for the first 5 minutes we are there. Now, I'm not saying they aren't trained because they are, and they listen very well but unless your kids are older I wouldn't get this kind. But they are the perfect dogs for his Aunt and Uncle who are retirement age.

I have a 10 year old pug and he is fantastic with children. One of the most mellow dogs I have ever owned. Even our young neighbor who is terrified of most dogs likes our dog. We got him when he was 9 weeks old prior to us getting married, so essentially he was our first child. He was about a year and half old when my oldest son was born and from day one he was always gentle around the baby. My kids now 9 & 2 1/2 love him to death. Our only complaint? He might just kiss you to death! :)

I have a 9 year old pug and he is the best dog I have ever had. My kids (2&4) play with and pull on him and he is gentle. When they were newborns I never worried about him nipping or stepping on them. They are very loving dogs and like to be around people. Our pug was easy to housebreak.

Pugs tend to be high-strung - not a breed I would recommend for little kids.
Because they're brachycephalic (smush-nosed), they also tend to have eye and respiratory issues. And those cute little facial folds collect moisture and dirt, and have to be frequently cleaned i order to avoid skin irritation and infection.

I have 2 pugs of my own, and they are fabulous with kids - but like others have said, they are very small as puppies and need to be handled gently, so if you have a very young toddler, who just wants to "love the puppy to death", it may not be a good idea (and personally I don't recommend any new puppies in the house if there are any kids under 5 years old, but that's me). They can be very high energy when younger and tend to mellow out and turn into sofa spuds as they get older, but they are very friendly, even-tempered, not at all high-strung, nippy or yappy.

They can be stubborn, but when my pug was a puppy I crate-trained him and he was pretty well house-trained by 6 months old. You need to be consistent and patient. I was able to to teach him sit and lay down with puppy classes but he didn't seem to interested in much else. He does know "wait" and "leave it" so at least he isn't just leaping out of the car or grabbing whatever off the ground. But I don't need him to heel perfectly because he's small and easy to manage anyway.

As for health issues, they are prone to some respiratory problems because of their anatomy but mine are fine as long as they are not outside for very long on hot humid days. They do snore, but we're used to it and think it's pretty cute (they don't sleep with us or in our room so it's not like we hear it all night long). They are also prone to skin problems (allergies), knee problems (luxating patellas), and eye injuries because of how much their eyes protrude. I've been lucky in that neither of mine have had any problems, but some of that might be good breeding. Every dog will need routine medical care (vaccines, heartworm prevention, spay/neuter) and sometimes things come up that need to be treated that can happen to any dog.

If you do decide to get a pug puppy, do your homework, attend some dog shows where you can talk with breeders, and go through a professional, reputable breeder - do not go to a pet store, where many of the puppies have come from puppy mills. Buying a puppy at a pet store only supports the puppy mill industry (you can google "puppy mills" to learn more) and you are more likely to get a sick, poorly-tempered puppy with no knowledge of it's medical history or parentage.

There are also breed rescues for every breed other there, including pugs. You may be able to get a young pug or an older pug that for whatever reason needs a good home - check out Michigan Pug Rescue for more info. Good luck!