Pugs are one of the best breeds to have. They have that zest for life, enjoy their food, and bond with just about anyone. And have I mentioned their famous smushed face? Simply adorable! But while they are almost always the life of any party, pugs are also the best companion at home. They are affectionate and make a great family dog. As a bonus, you can even dress your pug in dog costumes. How exciting! Now, as much as they are the dream dog, I’m sure there must be lots of questions in your mind right now. Starting with: How big do pugs really get?
Keep reading because I have just the answer for you.
8 weeks
Pugs are generally small dogs. The American Kennel Club has considered them as part of the toy breed alongside others in the group like Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers, and Chihuahuas. If you adopt a pug from puppyhood, you usually get them at 8 weeks of age. By then, a pug puppy should weigh around 2-4 lbs. This is the time when they are fully weaned from their mother’s milk and onto solid puppy food.
Bonus tip: This period is the best time to train your puppy. Use puppy treats to teach them basic obedience training such as come, stay, sit, and heel. We have a detailed article here to help you on How To Train A Dog To Come.
6 months
By the time your pup reaches 6 months, his body weight should be between 7-12 lbs. Additionally, you can slowly introduce adult dog food to your growing furry friend at this time. For toy breeds like pugs, they can mature as early as seven to nine months. Hence, they may not need the extra calories anymore. You can gradually switch by mixing a small amount of adult dog food and puppy food. Continuously decreasing puppy food and increasing adult food every week.
9 months – 12 months
At this time, your puppy is now a dog. How time flies! According to the American Kennel Club breed standards, an adult pug should weigh between 14-18 lbs. for both males and females. Anything below or above this is considered underweight or overweight. However, in reality, you might see some pugs weigh more than the standard weight. But athletic pugs, in particular, have more muscles. Thus, they may pack more weight. Your veterinarian will be the one to determine if your pet’s weight is a cause for concern or not. For their height, pugs are usually between 10-13 inches tall (25-33 cm). Males are known to be taller than females.
Furthermore, if you’re planning to buy shoes for your pug, then you should know a standard pug’s foot size. (Yes, dog shoes are a thing.) They provide protection for their paw pads for when the roads are too hot or cold. Or it can also be just for the cute pictures. Nevertheless, a pug’s foot size is about 1.5 inches wide x 2.5 inches long.
Compared to other large breeds, pugs reach their maturity at a year old. This means that they stop growing and will probably stay that way forever. From here on, pug owners have a responsibility to watch their pug’s weight gain. With this breed’s innate love for food, they are susceptible to obesity. Although they are usually a bundle of energy, pugs will still happily stay at home given the opportunity. Keep him fit by going on daily walks and having play sessions in the park.
Teacup pugs
Teacup pugs look like full-sized pugs but smaller. They are small enough to fit in a teacup – hence the name. Basically, I do not recommend buying them because they are expensive and have a lot of potential health complications. They are the result of breeding (usually) the runt of the litter to make the smallest dog possible. The runt of the litter often times have a weaker immune system. Thus, their puppies may have health problems. But teacup pugs can weigh at only 3.3 lbs.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a dog that’s small but sturdy, has a big personality, outgoing, and can fit into your apartment, then a pug may be the one for you. Pugs are a small breed weighing only 14-18 pounds and 10-13 inches in height. Just make sure that you watch their weight as they can be prone to obesity. Give him a moderate amount of exercise to keep him at the ideal weight.
Also Read: How Big Is A Great Dane?
