Pug Dog Clothing

Overview

Sure, it's true that clothing on a dog is just about the cutest thing you can see; however, there are also valid reasons why a Pug may benefit from having a soft shirt, vest or coat.

But, First, the Models

Before we dive into the reasons for Pug clothing and look at some options that fit Pugs well while effectively meeting their purposes, let's have a short peek at some super cute Pugs posing in their best outfits.

And if you have a Pug that has a favorite outfit and you want to show him/her off, just sign up to be a free Member, and send us your Pug's pic. If you do, be sure to let us know his/her name, age and your name as you wish for it to appear (first, first and last or family name).

Rio, 2 and 1/2 years old.

Photo courtesy of Priya Purusotham

Raymer, at 6 years old, from Denver Colorado

Photo courtesy of Janet Rafferty

Ruby at 14 weeks old

Photo courtesy of Jane King

Doodle, at 1 year old

Photo courtesy of Rakesh

How Clothing Can Benefit a Pug Puppy or Dog

#1 To stay warm in the winter- A lot of owners wonder if a Pug needs to have some sort of clothing to stay warm. After all, this is a breed that's known for his thick double coat of fur, so would he really need this? In fact, some Pugs do need a bit of help during certain times of the year.

Of course, when the weather is warm, you won't want to add any layers to your Pug. And most Pugs also do just fine in autumn even if it's a bit chilly out.

However, in the winter when the air and ground is downright cold, many Pugs do have some trouble with maintaining core body temperature.

Some of this has to do with this breed's size. The smaller the dog, the less body fat (while Pugs are barrel-shaped, they do not have any more fat relatively speaking than any other comparable breed; except, of course, if the Pug is overweight).

In addition, with short legs, Pugs are close to the ground. And in the winter, the ground is colder than the air. It's interesting to note that when weather forecasts show temperature, this refers to the air temperature, in the shade, at a height of 2 meters (about 6 feet). But, the ground can be anywhere from 1 to 8 degrees colder.

Also, without any protection on his paws, the cold that radiates out from frozen surfaces enter right into the paws (which are just thick skin) and can chill his whole body.

#2 Which leads to meeting exercise requirements - A huge hurdle for owners is making sure that their Pug gets enough exercise. And this is really hard in the winter when the temperature can be below freezing, with howling winds and maybe even some snow (or a lot!).

If a Pug has a marked decrease in exercise all winter long, this can have quite an effect. Not only can a dog suffer from the canine equivalent of cabin fever, often manifesting as depression with listless behavior or being hyped up with over-active behavior, but it has an effect on his metabolism.

If you've been keeping up with a great exercise schedule all year long, don't let some bad weather get in the way of keeping it up. The right vest or coat can help make your Pug comfortable enough to head outside with you.

#3 And it helps with housebreaking in cold weather - It takes time and effort to properly train a puppy, and you won't want all of that to go to waste just because it's cold out. A big mistake when training is not staying outside long enough. Most dogs need at least 10 minutes (and sometimes even longer) for bladder and bowel muscles to relax enough to go to the bathroom.

So, if a Pug is feeling chilled or uncomfortable or if his human rushes him back inside (either because the dog was not dressed up warm and/or the owner didn't have on the right clothes), this can completely disrupt a good bathroom routine.

If your Pug puppy or dog stays outside longer because he has good cold weather gear on, he'll stay on track.

Please note: We are in the process of updating this page to show exact recommendations for Pug dog clothes. This is being done alongside some other beneficial site updates. We thank you for your patience and are working every day to bring you the information you're looking for. Please check back soon.