#7: Anticipate Winter-related changes in behavior.
There are a couple of behaviors that may develop once winter is underway.
1. Earlier sleep times. When daylight hours are much shorter and sunlight is limited in the winter, this can throw some dogs off. A Pug may want to go to sleep much earlier than normal, sometimes soon after the sun sets. If this does not disrupt your own schedule, you may not need to interfere. But, if you find this makes your Pug wake up much too early in the morning, you may want to address this.
It can help to perform some grooming tasks once it gets dark out such as brushing the teeth or the coat or engage in some indoor play, and leave on plenty of lights. This can send a message that even though the sun set the day is not quite over yet.
2. Changes in appetite.
This can go both ways. Some dogs eat less as their body naturally adjusts to less physical activity, if this is the case. And, some dogs tend to have an increased appetite during the winter regardless of activity level.
If your find that your Pug acts ravishingly hungry in the winter but you are concerned about weight gain (this breed does have a propensity for excess weight), it can help to offer extra snacks as long as they are low-calorie options.
A good choice is
Fruitables Skinny Mini Dog Treats; these are 100% all-natural treats, all under 4 calories a piece, and come in some really yummy flavors including berry, mango, apple, watermelon, bison, and chicken.
#8: Keep up with shedding.
Expect a normal amount of shedding in the middle of winter and for your Pug to have a lot of shedding as winter approaches in anticipation of cold weather and then again as springtime is about to begin as the body readies for warmer temperatures.
Since a good portion of the hairs will be falling back into the coat, not on the ground, routine brushing should be done regardless of what can be seen. To keep up, aim to go over the coat at least 3 times per week.
You may find that the best grooming tool for winter shedding is not actually a brush, but rather a glove. For example, the
Delomo Grooming Glove
has 250+ tips that reach deep into the coat and latch onto tons of dead hairs. This is very easy to use since your hand follows the curve of your dog's body and can get areas that can be difficult with a traditional brush.