Think you know it all? These secret Pug facts will change your mind!

House training:

Pugs generally will not just go outside and do their business while you sit nice and warm in the kitchen and have a coffee. If they are outside, you'd better be outside, too. Most will not excrete outside without your company and encouragement. Many will also try to fake you out by pretending to pee. Maddening? You bet, but these quirks are part of the charm of the breed.

Pug Energy:
While they aren't sporting dogs, all pugs need exercise. Yes, quite a few would prefer to laze on the sofa all day, but that isn't good for them.

Pug Quirks:
Pugs have a variety of quirks that drive some people nuts. They are nosey, inquisitive, and often right under foot. Many are tremendously food driven and will consume things that you don't consider edible. I never trust any pug around any food source, garbage or even cabinets that they can open.

Pugs are often quite tactile. Many are obsessive lickers—of themselves, you, the other dogs or cats, the kids, the carpet, your pillow. It's a pug thing.

Pugs can be quite vocal and can be barkers, howlers, moaners and grumblers. As a breed, they have the widest assortment of noises I've ever heard. And some snore like buzz saws.

Pugs are tough little dogs that have no clue how small they are. Most will not initiate a fight, but many will vigorously defend themselves or others if a fight starts.

As a deeply food driven breed, you may have issues with food aggression and resource guarding.

Many pugs are not fans of inclement weather and will resist excreting outside in the cold, rain or wind.

Few pugs will show any remorse or other indication that they know they did wrong by excreting in the house.

Pugs (any dog, in my opinion) should not be off leash in any environment where they can get away from you and end up on the road or lost.

They have a remarkable capacity for bodily excretions. Expect to get snot blown in your face regularly, eye boogers to be wiped on your new white blouse/pillow/pants and to find the foul smell of anal gland excretions on your furniture or lap.

Pug Puppies:
No doubt, you've read about how pugs are sweet, affectionate, cuddly and low energy. So you will be rightfully horrified when you find that your puppy is a whirling dervish of energy who snuggles for 30 seconds and then is off again to race around the house, leaving destruction in his or her path. Pug puppies are no different from any other puppy.

Pugs are and were bred to be companion animals. They need people. If you are going to be gone for long periods of time and/or be too tired to engage with your pug when you get home from work, then a pug likely isn't the dog for you. And pug puppies will need you to engage with them.

Pug Health:
Like all pure bred dogs, pugs have some health issues that may crop up and they are often expensive health issues. DO YOUR RESEARCH on the breed and especially on where you are getting your pug. It's no guarantee that your pug won't have an issue, but does decrease the odds.

Pugs are prone to issues specific to brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds (breathing, eyes, folds of skin) and are prone to issues of the toy breeds generally (luxating patella, dental problems, trachea). And then there is Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) that is pug specific.

Pugs have a very high rate of allergies—food being a big one—grains in particular. Pugs need a high quality diet.

Pugs have a high rate of vaccine reactions. Be watchful and conservative in your vaccination protocol.

Pug Smarts:
Pugs are often erroneously tagged as dumb dogs. Most aren't. In fact, most are smart enough and stubborn enough to figure out how to get their way or how to outlast you.

As mentioned earlier, they can be wildly busy puppies and many first time pug owners get very discouraged. They may slow down with time and age, but you need to be sure that your pug, regardless of energy level, gets exercise and mental stimulation.

A High Maintenance Breed:
Don't get me wrong. I love my pugs, but they are, to my mind, a high maintenance breed. They need and want a lot of attention. They shed like maniacs. I'm not kidding about the shedding. It's downright astonishing.

They can be bossy, stubborn, and full of naughtiness. They require a fair bit of watching and managing in terms of safety, health and general training.

They tend to need some pretty regular cleaning of nose folds, eye areas and are notoriously fussy about having their nails trimmed. You can see some real dramatic behaviour around nail clipping in particular.

This is one of the most affectionate and overtly loving breeds I've ever owned. To me, they are worth the effort, expense and time that they require. They are clowns and comics and will provide hours of laughter and entertainment. But as a pug owner, you MUST be aware of the care involved in this breed.

There is SO much to know and learn about when it comes to owning Pugs. They're not just a cute pocket pet to have around and leave alone. They're high maintenance and very quirky, but they'll still love you just as much as any other doggy!

For more information on secret pug facts, visit Pugalug.