Are Pugs Good Pets for Apartments? Complete Guide

Pugs: Are good pets in apartments? Complete Owner Guide

Frankly speaking, I did not know at first that a dog would fit into my 750-square-foot apartment. Then I encountered the pug of my neighbor, Winston, who appeared to be most satisfied with his siesta on a small balcony and making three flights up and down the stairs twice in a day.

Four years had been spent with an apartment pug and the following is what really works and what is mere wishful thinking.

The reason Pugs are used in small areas

They’re Genuinely Small

Adult pugs range between 14-18 pounds and they are approximately 10-13 inches high. My pug occupies less space compared to my IKEA floor lamp. She is a good fit in a 24-inch bed and can cuddle into one couch cushion. This is important when you are trying to manoeuvre among the furnishings in a tight area.

The Exercise Reality

Do not remember anything you read about pugs being lazy couch potatoes. They are active and the demands are apartment-friendly:

Morning walk: 15-20 minutes of walking round the block.
Another 15-20 minutes walk in the evening.
Indoor: 10-15 minutes of fetch or tug-of-war.
The overall time (active): 45-60 minutes a day.

Their walks are followed by literal sleeping of 3-4 hour spans by mine. I do my job at home, and she can be caught snoring beneath my desk at 9.30 AM every day. That is compared to high-energy breeds, which require hours of vigorous exercise.

Noise Levels

Pugs will not jump at all feetsteps in the hall. Here’s what you will hear:

Complete snorting under excitement.
Loud snoring at night
The howl of great happiness once in a while.
Reverse sneezing episodes

They’re Velcro Dogs

Chinese bred pugs to sit in palaces and placed them on laps. They do not have the working dog instincts shouting at them telling them to patrol a yard. The whole aim of theirs is to be close to you. This is to say that they are quite happy even in small areas as long as you are there. I have observed my pug sitting on my feet instead of going into the nice weather.

The Real Problems No One Speaks About

Control of temperature is an absolute.

Here is where the majority of the articles tend to be general and I will be specific. Pugs are unable to control the body temperature due to their flat faces.

During summer, you should have your apartment at no more than 75degF. You are not able to switch off your AC when you head to work. I got familiar with this when my electric bill has doubled in hot months, however, it is a safety measure, not something that can be ignored.

In winter, pugs shiver at 60degF. You’ll have to have sweaters and a warm bed not before a drafty window. There are awful apartments with regard to climate control- check the capability of your AC to make it to 72degF before getting a pug.

Shedding Everywhere

All articles contain a reference to shedding, but I can render it down: you will see pug hair where it does not even make physics. In cans, in your coffee, implanted in every bit of furniture you have.

The implication on apartments is as follows:
Vacuum 3-4 times weekly minimum
Robot vacuums are not a waste of money.
Lint rollers in every room
Air filters should be changed monthly.

Setting Up Your Pugs Apartment

Climate Management

Get a smart thermostat that is controllable remotely. Install blackout curtains on the west facing windows. During summer, keep your pug in the coolest area possible, that is, not in front of the windows and sometimes even inside the bathroom.

Flooring Solutions

Slippers and pugs are a catastrophe. Their legs are stubby and their backs are heavy, and thus they are easy to slip.

What works:

Main living rooms Area rugs.
Yoga strips made into hallways.
No-slip nail trimming or normal paw pads.
There will be carpets before food bowls and primary doorways.

It was my pug who slipped and broke her leg before I could realize this. Just buy the rugs upfront.

Smart pugs Food Station

Finer bowl to avoid choking.
Prepared feeding station some 4 inches high.
Spill mat underneath made of silicone.
Water fountain rather than ordinary bowl.

Place is important: it should not be near garbage, or in a busy place, and should be placed on a floor one can easily wash.

Air Quality

As everything sheds in a small area, there is a rapid reduction of the air quality. An air purifier that operates 24/7 to use is massive. I would wake up with a stuffy nose every morning and then got one.

The Morning Speed Routine

My 15-minute morning routine:
Wake up, urinate pad indoors (back up required)
Fast food as I get under the shower.
10 minutes walk around the block.
Refill water back in, and goes to sleep again.

Weather Timing – Pugs apparment setting

Summer walks are made prior to 8 AM or after 8 PM. In the day time pavement test with your hand–when that gets too hot to your hand, it gets too hot to paws. Winter walks should have sweaters less than 50degF and less than 10 minutes in case of less than 30degF.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Trust thinking fans are enough: You do not need to save on the AC costs. The pug of one of the neighbors was also taken to the emergency vet after his apartment reached 82degF. Just pay for climate control.

One Walk per Day: This results in constipation, destructive behavior and weight gain. At least 2 walks, although one of them can be 10 minutes.
Overeating: Pugs are professional beggars. Use a real-life measuring cup to measure food. Obesity exacerbates their already impaired breathing and gives them joint problems.
Missing Socialization: Inadequate socialization will make the dogs reactive inside the elevators, scared of strangers and anxious. It is necessary to visit stores where dogs are allowed weekly and expose them to the life in an apartment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pugs know how to be left at home all day?

The maximum time that adult pugs can work is 6-8 hours, although a midday rest is best. Puppies less than six months cannot be left alone more than 3-4 hours. And without appropriate exercise and mental stimulation, expect destructive behavior.

On which can I train my potty with no yard?

Take your pug to the same outlet place after every 2 hours at first and treat him after success. Majority of the pugs are completely trained at 6-8 months. House pee pads as back up in case of extreme weather or in case of sickness.

Will stairs be a problem?

It is not a problem to go down a few flights. It is more difficult to go up–I take my 16-pound pug up more than two flights at a time, particularly in hot weather. Elevators are essentially essential in floor five or more.

How many hours a month do you spend on it?

Approximately 1.5- 2 hours per day walking, feeding, grooming and play. This does not involve the visits to the vet, picking of supplies, or cleaning up hair.