Have You Ever Seen A Face So Ugly It's Cute?

Have you ever seen a face so ugly it's cute?  That is my pug, Bella.  Her eyes are huge.  Her belly is pudgy.  Her tongue sticks out most of the time.  But, if you look long enough you will find yorself laughing.  She has a grear personality.

If you throw a ball, she will barrel after it.  If she comes in from the rain she tears through the house snorting.  She sleeps with her legs up in the air.  And snoring?  You haven't heard anything until you sleep at my house.  You have to laugh.  No one can resist her charms.

Shortly after bringing Bella home, my dad passed away.  It was sudden and I was devastated.  When I returned from the funeral, Bella was waiting for me at the door.  She was jumping all over the place.  When that didn't get my attention she began twirling.  Then, she started snorting like a pig.  I couldn't help but smile.

For the next couple of weeks she never left my side.  If I started to cry, she would cry.  If I was pouting, she would like in the floor and pout right along with me.  When I told her stories about my dad she would cock her head to the side, and listen to every word I said.  I found myself talking to Bella more than anyone else in my life.  She listened.  It didn't matter if I was sad.  It didn't matter if I was angry.  She didn't care.  She just loved me.

Bella cannot bring my dad back, but having her makes me smile.  I found no joy in doing anything else around the house after the funeral.  But, taking care of her made me feel better.

Some might say Bella is a diva.  She does like things done her way.  When she thinks it is time to eat she twirls in circles and barks.  During the night she hogs the bed.  When she wants to play she is relentless.  She is known for her stubborness.  Yes, she runs the house. 

She makes me smile.  She makes me laugh.  She comforts me.  Sho what if she is demanding?  She is my partner in crime, my confidant, and my best friend.

At Our House...It's All About The Pugs!

My dogs are my children!  I can't imagine my life without them! 

Bella, my pug...is my baby...Rosie....our newest addition...has become my baby too....

Being a responsible pet owner involves so many things.  The vet, their diet, their exercise.....Bella and Rosie both require quite a bit of attention!  But, they are worth it!

Some people take their dogs everywhere. I have to admit I take Bella and Rosie to work with me.  (I have a very understanding boss!)  I take them to pick the kids up from school.  I take them to the bank (the girl in the drive-thru has a treat jar and isn't afraid to use it!).  I have even taken Bella to church.  On her first birthday our parish was having a pet blessing.  I couldn't resist.  So, we went and she was sprinkled with holy water!

Some dress their dogs in clothing.  Bella and Rosie wear coats in the winter, but I have to draw the line somewhere!  But I cannot resist any Pug in clothing! 

I hope the articles I have written about my dogs, and past experiences with others can inspire other dog owners or future dog owners!

Woof!  Woof!

Do Dogs Suffer Depression?

If you would have asked me this question a year ago I would have said NO.  However, when our Doberman, Mikey, went to live with a family member.....Bella became depressed.  She would do anything but eat.

The dog who slept through the night from day one...no longer slept all night.

The dog who was so hyper and vibrant and excited about everything...didn't care about anything at all.

And the dog who played every night...no longer paid attention to a toy.

When I called our vet to tell them about her symptoms they said "Vanessa, she is depressed.  She misses Mikey."

Of course we can't have Bella not feeling well, I thought.  So, we began searching for another dog.  And, a pug was the only option in our minds.

It didn't take us very long to find a little pug named Rosie who needed a home.

And yes, I did go through the list of questions that I recommend for all potential pet owners.  But, to be honest with you, I knew a pug was a good dog for us so it wasn't much of a list!

Did it change Bella?  YES!  And in a good way.  She is now running and playing and acting goofy and sleeping through the night.

I guess she was lonely and sad.  She is a dog that needs a companion because she has always had one.  And although she loves us, it is not the same as having another dog to play with!

Pugs: The Best Dogs For Me!

We have owned many dogs over the years. Not that they weren't good dogs. They just weren't the dog for me. That was until I saw a Pug. The minute I laid my eyes on one I wanted one of my very own! It took ten years to convince my husband, who is partial to dobermans.

Everytime we were near a pet store, I wanted to just go in and take a look. We didn't need a dog. We had a doberman and four cats already.  I didn't want to have to replace my shoes or the furniture for a puppy again!   I gave myself this speech every time we walked through a pet store door.

Then, I met Bella. AKA-Miss Piggy.  I knew she was the one for me as soon as I saw her. Her tongue was hanging out and she was so sweet. She immediately crawled into my lap when I sat down and I was hooked. She was the goofiest thing I had ever seen in my life.

It didn't take long for my husband to fall in love with her either. He says if we would have had her first we would probably have a whole bunch of pugs. Everyone in my family loves Bella.

She hogs the bed. She demands her meals. She loves to steal anything she get her little paws on. She wont take no for an answer when she wants to play. She runs the house.

But she is sweet, comforting, loving and has a personality like no other. When you talk to her she cocks her head to the side and listens to every word. When she gets excited she twirls in circles and blows snot everywhere.

I would never own another breed. I love our doberman, but the pug has been the best pet ever!

Coughing and Pugs

So, you noticed your Pug is coughing.  One time, two times..... What do you do?  I mean it is just a cough, right?  WRONG!

When I got Bella my vet told me that if she ever acted differently I needed to call and get her in right away.  Even just a cough.

While I waited for the vet to return my call I went online to try and figure out what it might be.  So many things said it could be heart and lung related.  It scared me.  All that for a cough?

How do you when you need to call the vet?  That is a good question.  This is not the first time Bella has gotten sick and a dog can dehydrate very quickly.  Especially the pug.  Anyone who owns a pug should be aware of this fact.

When I got Bella to the vet she had pneumonia!  I couldn't believe it!  Just a cough.  A few times.  If we had waited even one day she could have been hospitalized and even worse, we could have lost her.

Knowing what is normal in your pug and what is not is very important.  Bella is definitely a creature of habit and when she starts doing stuff that is strange I pay attention.  In this case she was lucky.  We caught it early and she will recover.  But some pugs aren't so lucky.

Pugs That Bark: Should You Use A Shock Collar?

Is it safe to use a shock collar on a pug?   I have to say that I honestly wondered when we moved into our new house.  Bella became quite a barker.  I knew someone who had used one on their dog, but it wasn't a pug and I didn't know enough about it.  And, I would never forgive myself if I hurt Bella.

While searching for information on shock collars I found a post on dogster.com that told me all I needed to know to make my decision.  I asked a few basic questions and these were the answers I found.

What is a shock collar?  How do they work?

Shock collars rely on negative reinforcement, causing a dog to live in fear of being electrocuted for normal behaviors such as barking. (dogster.com)

Does the dog feel pain? 

Dogs wearing shock collars can suffer from physical pain and injury, ranging from burns to cardiac fibrillation, and physcological stress, such as anxiety or displaced aggression. Dogs vary in their pain thresholds; a shock that is mild to one dog can be severe to another. Electronic collars frequently disfunction, causing constant shocks or no shocks at all. (dogster.com)

Why do some dogs bark so much? 

Dogs bark from boredom, distress, seperation anxiety, or defense of territory. Young dogs, small breeds, and dogs who are chained up or left outside for long periods of time are more likely to bark. For humane and safety reasons, as well as not to annoy your neighbors, it is best to keep a dog inside when you are not home. Dogs are much less likely to bark when inside, and barking indoors is less likely to annoy your neighbors. (dogster.com)

Is there another way to prevent some of the barking?

To prevent boredom related barking, walk you dog!

I made the decision not to get a shock collar for Bella after reading this information and other information on the internet.  Because I am leary of how a shock would affect her heart and the pain she would feel I will try to deal with it in other ways.  I am walking Bella more and trying to break the behavior by correcting her immediately when she does it.  It seems to be working so far.

I don't condemn those who don't agree with my decision.  To each his own, but everyone should make an informed choice when considering an item like this for their dog. 

PK- Have You Heard Of It?

Bella's friend Honey suffers with PK.  When I heard this, I felt really stupid asking what it was.  I thought I had read about every possible thing that Pugs could get. 

What is PK?  It is pigmentary kerititis.  Anytime you get an injury to your eye, especially pugs, PK can result.  The pigment usually starts on the inside corner of the eye, then spreads across the cornea. It is more common in certain breeds then others.

After finding out Honey suffered with PK I began asking around to find out more.  Of course, all of Bella's dogster friends were more than helpful.  I decided to share her friend Bailey's story with you.

When Bailey was a puppy she was outside playing and somehow scratched her eye.  It developed an ulcer.  Her owners put ointment in but they now think it may not have been the right kind as the ulcer indentation is still present. That was the beginning.

Bailey is now 8 years old.  And as she has gotten older she has developed a little tumor.  This promotes dry eye.  She was unable to close her eye completely.  For years, vets insisted that nothing was wrong with the tumor.

The tumor on her eyelid was causing entropion, where the eyelid curls into the eye ball and the lashes then rub on the eye causing irritation and damage.  PK is the resulting "scarring" from this kind of thing.

However, since the removal of the tumor, her dry eye is improving and Cyclosporin drops are helping to thin the PK out so that she is able to see shapes now!  Her eye specialist was very pleased.

Bailey's owners are not sure how the PK developed in her other eye. Presumably their other pug, Hercules, scratched it or Bailey may have scratched while rubbing her face into the carpet or walls from the other tumors.

The vet is certain the right eye will heal completely, so she will most likely always have sight in that eye! This is remarkable because Bailey was blind not very long ago and running into everything and everyone.

What should you look for?  Bailey's owner says "One sign to look for when your dog is losing its sight is whether they lay down in strange areas and start rubbing their scent all over the walls."

The prognosis?   Dry eye can be cured, hence PK can be healed well enough to allow some sight to be restored. This depends on how much of the eye has been covered by the PK. If it has moved over the pupil...it can be thinned but probably won't ever go away. If it's only in the corner of the eye (where it usually starts) then the likliness of it going away is really good!

Again, I cannot stress this enough with any animal, but especially the pug, if you think something is wrong you should call your vet.  If you don't agree with their assessment take them to another vet.  Even vets are human and make mistakes.  Your pet depends on you to keep them safe, happy and healthy.

Thank you to Bailey, her mom, Honey and Anna for allowing me to share their experiences with PK.

Taking Your Dog To Work!

I am so fortunate to have a boss that loves Bella and Rosie.

When I started my job I explained that I couldn't come to the office if Bella couldn't come with me. 

So, Bella became an office pug!  And life was good.

When Bella became so sad I told my boss we were considering getting another pug...He thought it was a great idea.  So....the next day.....I called him up and told him I had hired a new secretary.....Rosie...

Suprisingly he didn't have a problem with TWO dogs at the office.

The clients that we serve LOVE them.  They are the talk of the office.  They greet our clients at the door and escort them to my office.  Then they sit in their beds or on the "comfy chair" in my office and listen intently to the conversation.  Sure, sometimes it is distracting.  But, every person who walks in this office leaves with a smile on their face!

Of course, it takes some preparation to bring your dog(s) to work:

Permission from your boss (yeah, most may not be as understanding as mine is)

A place for them to sleep.  (Very important to a pug)

A place for them to eat.  (We all know they love to eat!)

and then...well.....a way to deal with the presents they leave.....

It took a little adjusting at my office, but we have found a way to be pug friendly and it really does help when you are having a bad day to look at Bella and Rosie.....They just have a way to put a smile on my face.

Two Pugs? Are You Nuts?

When I went and picked up Rosie, I knew what I was going to hear....

TWO pugs?  Doesn't Bella cost you a fortune in vet bills?  Are you nuts?  Well, I guess so.

Rosie was only 7 weeks old when we got her.  She had some medical issues that took a few months to correct.  But, we worked with the vet and gave her medication and she is a perfect picture of health at 4 months.  It only took about 8 visits!  Yes...I said 8....

Potty training...now I started to feel like I was nuts...or glutten for punishment...But, after a few days....Rosie got it....My carpet got it too though.....more money....

Then there was the leash....I am ashamed to say that I have not been able to totally leash train Rosie yet....She HOPS!  Yes, I said Hops.....But she is doing that less now....

Then there is the bed....It is a large bed, but we barely fit when it was just Bella...Now there is Rosie...but we have managed....

Now that Rosie has become a part of our family I cannot imagine life without her.  She and Bella get along perfectly and I am so glad that we were able to adopt her.  She helped Bella with her depression and she makes us smile and that is all that matters!

Are All Pugs The Same?

When my sister in law called me and said she had seen some pugs, but was confused as to why they looked so different than Bella I began to wonder.....Aren't they all the same?  A pug is a pug right?

I know there are pug mixes of course.  But, I am talking about purebred pugs....

I am here to tell you that I have two pugs that are different in characeristics...and attitude!

Bella has a punched out face with a long nose and Rosie has a short nose that is punched in.

Bella is a silver backed fawn....Rosie is too....However, there base colors are different.  I don't know if this will change when Rosie grows up or not.  But, Bella is lighter in color than Rosie.

Bella has short stubby legs....Rosie...she has long skinny legs...

Bella's tail curl's but is not as long as Rosie's.

And their eyes?  Well Rosie's kind of bug out a little while Bella's do not.

Then there is the tongue issue...Bellas's sticks out most of the time...You never see Rosie's unless she is yawning!


I am thankful for this as I will be able to tell them apart....Of course, I would be able to do that anyway..because their personalities are TOTALLY different.

Bella is more relaxed.  Of course, Rosie is a puppy and that could change, but I don't know....She is all about the drama...Even my vet said she is a drama queen.

Bella tends to wander around and she comes to you if SHE wants to.  Rosie comes on command....

Bella is a very schedule oriented dog.  She knows when she is supposed to eat, go outside and definitely knows when it is time for bed.  And if you don't remember she will remind you...in disgust!

Rosie....well Rosie just wants everything all the time!  She will whine and whine and whine until she gets it...

I know they are different because Bella is older and Rosie is just a baby still....It will be interesting to see if they act the same after Rosie grows a little more....

With all of their differences, they do have some similarities.  They are both the sweetest, most loving dogs, they love to ride in the car, they love to go for walks (Rosie hops still), and they both turn the head when you talk to them.  When they are in trouble, they both hang their heads in shame and look at me with those big eyes....They both box with the cats and when they play one is always on their back with their legs up in the air...They both snore constantly when they are sleeping.....and oh yeah....they BOTH LOVE coming to work with me!  And my clients LOVE seeing them!

I love them because they are different.  It doesn't matter to me.  They are two of the best dogs I have EVER owned.  And I doubt that I would EVER get any other kind of dog...

Love your Pug?

If you love your pug and want the world to know there is a great site that allows you tell the world for free!

Not only can you meet other dogs and their owners.  It is an informative site that I have learned to depend on when something is wrong with any of my animals.   I have to warn you though, it is fun and it is addicting. 

Check out Dogster!

Thanks to all of our friends on Dogster for your help in building this site!

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Vanessa Calleja is a freelance writer specializing in scrapbooking, pets, family relationships, & health and wellness topics.

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Nothing But Love For The Pug!

Thank you to all of the Puggies that pitched in to help with this page!  I couldn't have put it together without all of you!

So many photos have been sent that it may take me some time to get them on here but keep visiting to see your photo soon!  Thanks again!

No Pugs were harmed in this process.  We have nothing but love for pugs!

If you would like to share a photo of your pug  Email Me!