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Exercise

Pug Exercise

Overview

Exercising your Pug plays an essential role in long-term health and is a vital part of overall care. But, being a brachycephalic breed, Pugs can overheat, have breathing issues, and/or have too much stress placed on the joints if the exercise level is too intense or if the duration is too long. While you must take care when exercising your little guy or gal, by no means should you avoid it or be afraid of it. A sedentary Pug is an unhealthy Pug. The key is to find the right balance. 

The Benefits of Exercising a Pug

There are many reasons to keep your Pug active: 

1) It helps maintain muscle tone which in turn promotes good posture and proper support surrounding the hips and knees. Since this breed is prone to elbow dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes and hip dysplasia, this is a very relevant benefit. 
2) It helps keeps a dog in good health and extends lifespan by reducing the risk of heart disease, arthritis, canine diabetes, and even some cancers. 
3) It helps regulate metabolism and plays a role in weight maintenance. 
4) It allows a release of any pent-up energy which may otherwise be directed to negative behaviors such as destructive chewing or excessive barking. 
5) It allows a dog to engage his canine senses (hearing, scenting, sight), which often leads to a more emotionally satisfied dog.  
6) It exposes a dog to stimuli which eventually leads to less reaction (i.e., barking at other dogs).

Exercise Restrictions for Pugs

Pugs can and should be exercised every day. However, there are some restrictions to keep in mind. You will want to avoid: 

1) Excessive exercise when under 10 months old. This is a time of rapid growth and very excessive exercise can affect growth plates, the soft areas at the end of bones where cells continually divide, allowing bones to properly grow as the pup matures into his adult size. Once growth is complete, the plates close.

If a puppy is put under too much physical stress, there can be damage to those plates which can lead to malformed or shortened limb(s). Normal walking and play are not considered excessive. You will want to avoid lengthy full-out runs or forcing activity when a pup has reached his limit. 

2) Exercise within 1 hour after eating. This breed is prone to bloat. To help prevent this, avoid having your dog run around in the yard or taking a purposeful, brisk walk until one hour has passed after a meal. 

3) Exercise passed the point of labored breathing. Pugs, being a brachycephalic breed, have some level of stenotic nares (narrow nostrils) and elongated palate (soft tissue at the back of the root of the mouth partially blocks the windpipe). This can cause noisy breathing and it limits to what extent a Pug can endure physical activity. Heavy breathing is also an indication of heat stress that if not addressed can lead to heat stroke.

During an exercise session, breaks should be taken every 15 minutes or so; but, should be halted if a Pug is struggling to catch their breath. 
4) Exercise during very hot or humid weather. When the temperature is soaring and especially if the air is very humid this can exacerbate breathing issues. Activity may need to be scaled back or brought inside. 

Age to Start Exercising a Pug

If you just brought home a new puppy, you may be very eager to start taking your Pug for walks around the neighborhood or head out to the dog park. However, Pug puppies should not be brought out to public places for exercise until all puppy shots have been given. This is typically by the age of 12 to 14 months old. You will want to confirm this with your Pug's veterinarian. 

How Much Exercise a Pug Should Have

At a minimum, Pugs should have two 20-minute sessions of exercise per day. This should be a light to moderate cardio that slightly increases heart rate and keeps a Pug's body in motion. This can be greatly extended for Pugs that are healthy and enthusiastic to stay more active than this. With precautions in place, a Pug can go for an hour walk or more and there can be 3 to 4 exercise sessions per day. 

Exercise frequency and duration can be adjusted as needed. 

Weather including hot summer days or freezing winter days can affect a Pug's tolerance for outdoor activity. It can help to split up exercise sessions into shorter intervals, for example, four 15-minute walks as opposed to two 30-minute walks. 
And, as a Pug transitions into the senior years or if there is a develop of hip or joint issues, exercise may need to be scaled back. In most cases, there is never a valid reason to completely stop exercising a Pug since remaining sedentary often leads to a wide range of health issues. 

What Type of Exercise is Best for a Pug

There are two main types of exercise that are ideal for Pugs. 

1) Walks. Going for walks is the most traditional method of ensuring that a dog meets their exercise requirements and for good reasons. There is always a Point A and a Point B which gives you both a goal and helps ensure proper duration. And, unlike free-running, intensity can be adjusted by you, as you see fit. 

2) Organized cardio. This is another excellent way to keep a Pug active. This refers to a controlled physical activity session, often with alternating short bouts of cardio and rest. The classic game of fetch fits into this category and is a good choice since most dogs find it to be very enjoyable and it helps strengthen the owner-dog bond. In addition, fetch can be played both indoors and out, making this perfect no matter the weather. 

Tips for Walking Your Pug

By following some easy guidelines, you can take your Pug for walks knowing that you are allowing your dog to reap the benefits of exercise in a safe manner. 
1) Place a harness on your Pug, not a collar. When exercising a Pug, breathing-related issues must always stay a top priority. And, the accessories that you place on your Pug play a huge role in this. 

Collars place pressure and tension against the windpipe which can severely impact a Pug's ability to breath. Each pull on the leash or lunge to the side puts compression on already stressed airway structures. Avoid this by using a harness. This distributes tension from the leash onto the shoulders, back, and chest where Pugs have strong skeletal muscles. 
There are different types of harnesses including step-in and pull-overs, straps and vests. One recommended one is the Puppia Soft B Vest Harness which is an easy step-in design (nothing needs to be pulled over the head) with an air-mesh fabric that keeps a Pug comfortable and cool, and an easy-close Velcro flap on the back.  
2) Use a retractable leash or short 6-foot leash. When you take your Pug for walks, you will want to be in control of the pace and the easiest way to accomplish this is to have your Pug in a heeling position; this means to your immediate left and no further ahead than the extension of your foot. 

For this, you will hold the handle of the leash in your right hand, allow the leash to cross past your body, and then grip it near your left hip. Using a 6-foot leash or a retractable leash will help you feel comfortable when doing this. 
For this, you may wish to consider the Flexi Retractable Dog Leash which has a very comfortable grip and a one-handed brake button. 
3) Bring along water. Offer a break for rest and hydration at the halfway mark of a short walk and every 15 to 20 minutes on a long walk. This should be done even if your Pug seems to be handling their exercise just fine and there are no signs of overheating. 
You may wish to bring along a collapsible bowl and a chilled water bottle or an all-in-one option like the Tuff Pupper Portable Water Bottle
4) In the summer, be aware of possible hot walking surfaces. Concrete, pavement, and brick can all reach over 120 F degrees during the summertime which can cause burns to the paws. If you cannot hold your palm to the surface for a count of 5, it's too hot for your Pug to walk on. Paw wax (see tip 7, ahead), staying in the shade, or rescheduling walks for early morning and later in the evening can help with this; generally taking your Pug out before 10 AM and after 5 PM will help you avoid the hottest parts of the day.  
5) In the winter, be aware of ice melt products that can cause chemical burns and road sand which can be irritating to the paws. Keep your Pug securely in a heel position so you can react to and help with any traction issues. Paw wax (see next tip) can help with this. On days that the temperature is below freezing, limit the duration of the walk. And, during stormy weather (snow or ice storms) your dog's safety is more important than that one exercise session, so the walk may need to be put on hold. 
6) Protect your Pug's paws. Paws take a beating when a dog is out and about. Hot walking surfaces, frozen walking surfaces, allergens, irritants, and slippery (small gravel or ice) surfaces are all possible issues. Applying a paw wax can help with all of these aspects. 
A good one to use is Musher's Secret Paw Protection Wax; this absorbs pretty quickly, only has to be applied once every 2 weeks, and does a great job at offering a breathable layer of protection and better traction. 
7) If want to try out a new route and are not sure if it is too far away or will be too much of a challenge for your Pug, start off slow and work your way up. The last thing you want to happen is that your Pug tires out once you're at the halfway mark and still need to turn around and cover the same amount of distance to return home. On the first day, go half the distance and see how your Pug did. You can then add on more distance the next time. 
8) Keep your Pug interested by making the walk a challenging game. With your little guy or gal on a harness and in the heeling position (previous tip 1), you can speed up, slow down, go around telephone poles, swerve around bushes, etc. to create an on-the-go obstacle course. 

Tips for Playing Fetch - Both Indoors and Out

A session of fetch can be a great way to exercise your Pug. This can be played in many places including your own yard or a park or can be kept inside on days with bad weather as long as you have room in your house. Some dogs naturally know how to play and others need a bit of time to catch on. Here are some tips to keep this a fun and beneficial activity. 
1) Time the sessions. If this is going to replace a walk, set a timer for 15 to 20 minutes. 

2) Your enthusiasm plays a huge role. The more animated you are and the more you let yourself laugh, the more your Pug will want to chase after the fetch toy and enjoying bringing it back to you for another go. Even if your Pug can't catch the ball in the air or is a bit confused about what to do, your encouraging words will keep things moving along. Give praise for 'good tries' and effort that your Pug puts into the game. 
3) If your Pug needs a bit of motivation, play with a toy that is only reserved for these exercise sessions. And, offer a reward treat when the game is complete. 
A fun fetch toy for outside games is the Chuckit! Flying Squirrel Spinning Toy; this brightly colored fabric toy does some pretty wild soaring and is easy for a dog to mouth. 
And, if you have some space in your house like a large room or a long hallway, you can play fetch with your Pug using a toy like the Chuckit! Indoor Roller Dog Toy. There is an optional launcher that shoots the ball for you, if your arm needs a rest. 
4) End things on a good note. While you do want to keep your Pug moving for at least 15 minutes, it's best to end the game while your little guy or gal is still having fun. This will help your puppy or dog look forward to the next session. 

If your Pug has a hard time accepting that the game is over and is clamoring at you to continue, you can give one last throw and then offer a reward treat as a sign that the session is truly over. Switching to a new activity like brushing the coat can help your Pug make the transition. 

Alternative Ways to Keep a Pug Active

1) Dog parks can be a great place for a Pug to move around if he is otherwise reluctant at home. Interacting with other dogs can be motivation to run around and can be a good way to build social skills. 

You will want to be sure to visit a park that has separate areas for dogs based on size. Never let your Pug into an area with much larger dogs. Keep an eye on your Pug to assess breathing and separate him for breaks and re-hydration as needed. Keeping visits to the park to 1 hour is a good time limit.
2) Weather permitting, swimming can be a good activity for Pugs. This is a low-impact exercise that is sometimes used in recovery therapy for dogs being treated for joint issues. This said, since the Pug has a barrel-shaped body, this breed is not the most proficient swimmer. Play it safe by having your Pug wear a canine life vest and staying by their side for close supervision. Be sure to rinse your dog off afterward to make sure chlorine and pool chemicals are washed from the skin and coat.
3) Walks do not need to be limited to your neighborhood. Pugs can go on hikes and explore many places with their humans. If you search for hiking places to bring your Pug, the 3 aspects to focus on are distance, difficulty, and terrain. It's recommended to stick to trails no longer than 2 miles (if you plan to loop around), those rated as easy or introductory, and with a terrain of solid, soft, or gently rolling hills (avoiding those marked steep or rough). 

A Final Word

Since the Pug breed is prone to weight gain and certain joint issues, exercise is an important part of care that will help keep your dog's body in good shape, maintain important muscle mass, keep the heart healthy, and burn calories. 

Pugs tend to mimic their owners; if their human is happy to sit around all day, a Pug may be perfectly content to snooze the day away. But, if their human sends out a vibe that engaging in exercise is fun, a Pug is often more than happy to join in. Keep your Pug active while being away of their limitations; it's an important step in extending your Pug's life span to be as long as possible. 
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