When there are so many different styles and types of dog collar on the market, it can be difficult to know what is best and how to fit it appropriately, but the first consideration should always be for the size and disposition of the dog.

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For most, the traditional leather or nylon collar is more than sufficient. It should not ride up too high on the dog’s neck, nor should it be so loose it sits down over the dog’s shoulders. For the health and safety of the dog, a collar should never be tight enough to restrict breathing or cause pain, and it should certainly not be loose enough for the dog to slip out of it at any time. A good snug fit is best, and this is achieved if the owner can easily slide two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck. Always fit this collar type by fastening around the neck rather than slipping over the head as this can potentially cause harm to the dog’s mouth, eyes or ears along the way.
If the animal is young and still growing it’s collar requirements will change with time and it is always worth measuring the dog’s neck with a tape measure, then adding on at least two or three inches to the collar size.

Small, lightweight collars are generally used best with puppies and smaller breeds of dog, while heavy styles with greater width and durability are better for bigger animals.

A harness, which is fitted around the dog’s neck and shoulders behind the front legs, is recommended for any dog with upper respiratory disease or any problems with the throat or trachea, this is because a dog with a traditional collar will naturally pull somewhat on the leash, and this can place undue pressure on sensitive areas, causing coughing and breathing difficulties.
A halter collar allows for the best control, although owners can be reluctant to use this type as it tends to look more like a muzzle with a band fitting around the back of the head and one fitting around the dog’s nose. However, this collar permits the owner to have control of the dog’s head, which in turns means having better control of the dog. The leash attaches to the collar under the chin, and so the dog’s head will either be pulled down or to the side with a gentle tug, making it just about impossible for the dog to move ahead of the owner or pull forward violently.

When used correctly, a chain-slip collar, which may also be referred to as a check chain or choke collar, can be highly effective for training and retraining purposes, but only on the correct animals. This collar type is used most often for dogs that are particularly strong-willed or have a tendency to pull violently on the leash when wearing a traditional collar, both situations needing for the dog to understand that a different behavior is required but it is essential to have a qualified dog trainer demonstrate how to use this collar type safely, and such collars should only be worn during training.

To obtain the right size for a chain-slip collar, measure the dog’s neck with a measuring tape and then add 2.5 to 3 inches. To correctly place the collar on a dog, the top ring on a looped collar should form the letter P when standing in front of the dog and pulling it snug. If it forms a shape like a number 9 then it is on backward and may not release immediately as designed.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJPXkkpeYjE

One gift that is excellent for a pug that likes to play with stuffed toys is a stuffed toy pug. The live pug will delight in the similar looking stuffed creature that has joined them to play. Not only will the dog enjoy the stuffed animal but it will be highly entertaining to watch a little pug scurrying after a stuffed pug which is tossed across the carpet. A stuffed pug called Melissa & Doug Life-Like and Lovable Plush Dog is a plush and stuffed version of a live pug who sits down on his hind legs and has his head cocked in slight confusion. The stuffed pug can be the live pugs little companion. The stuffed pug is slightly larger than the size of a living pug dog and that makes it hard for the real pug to tear out the fluff inside.

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If a little pug is used to cuddling up on the soft furniture, give the pug a blanket throw that they can lay on top of when they get up on the couch cushions. Let everybody know the throw belongs to them with a throw that has a big graphic image of a pug on it. There is a 46x60 inch soft cotton pug dog throw sold by Cjicollectibles LCC that features a pug standing on a wooden floor with a blue wall background behind the pug. The throw has fringe all the way around the perimeter of the blanket.

A great gift for a pug is a little dog sweater that they can wear to keep them warm when they take walks during the colder months. Bundling up a pug in a sweater as tiny as they are looks adorable and charming and protects them from the chilly weather with an extra layer of warmth. The Fashion Pet Bone Patch Cable Dog Sweater is a cable knit acrylic sweater and comes in the colors of blue, camel, and pink. The sweater has a color with a leash hole, and sleeves to protect the pug’s arms. The sweater is easy to put on the pug with a velcro closure and a little button for some extra security. There is even a little embellishment of a black dog bone on the tail end of the sweater.

Chinese history tells us that may Emperors refused to be without a pug, some of them even promoting them and giving them rank in the dynasties, such as one who gave the pugs equal status with his wives and in fact fed them as well as his wives were fed.

Coming to the other areas of Europe and America took a bit longer. Apparently the traders from the East India company found them interesting and intriguing and brought them back for European leaders. The pugs were really admired and longed for and it wasn’t long before they were women and childrens pet of choice.

They became known as nursery dogs in the Netherlands because they were so even tempered and good with children. Noted members of the European Royal families bred and kept pugs through the years.

This was no different in England.

William of Orange coming to the throne of Britain brought pugs with him from Holland and some say they were used to breed the King Charles Spaniel.

Royalty have long adored Pugs, and Queen Charlotte kept them, Queen Victoria was given one named Bully, by Prince Albert. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, famed for their exile owned more than ten while they were in France.

Coming to America took a bit longer. Pugs were not popular here until the first part of the 1800’s and became wildly popular during the Civil war period.They became incredibly popular here and are now loved and raised and spoiled by many of the rich and famous. Curious who else likes pugs?

Noted celebrities who keep pugs now are:

* Balthazar Getty– Ajax and Daisy.
* Billy Joel– Sabrina
* Brigid Berlin– India and Africa.
* Chris Kirkpatrick (’N Sync) — Busta (fawn) and Korea
* Christine Elise (actress) — Dempsey
* Denise Richards (actress)black pug named Betty
* Ted Danson (actor)
* Mary Steenburgen (actress)
* Gerard Butler (actor) – Lolita
* Jessica Alba– Sid  and Nancy
* Tori Spelling
* Paula Abdul– Puggy Sue
*Rob Zombie–Dracula
* Mickey Rourke– Raphael

Needless to say also, that means you’re not going to want to buy from a pet store. Sadly enough, pet stores are notorious for purchasing from puppy mills. This keeps their costs low, but also nearly always gives you a dog with some inherent problems. Pugs bred in puppy mills aren’t well socialized, don’t always have a great temperament and may have some health issues due to their beginnings and their poor care or treatment.

Getting a pug that has had good health care and all the advantages that you’d like for your dog to have in the beginning is important. Find a reputable breeder or to be honest, a backyard breeder who is of the hobby variety.

These little guys are going to be far better socialized, have been played with by the children and are family members, meaning that they’ve been out and about, are accustomed to being handled and played with and will be far more easily assimilated into your own household because they’ve seen other dogs, other cats and know the score.

They will be less fearful and les guarding with their food as well as more tolerant to changes.

Make sure that you visit the parents on site and see how they interact with you and with your children so that you can see some of the temperament. Visit with the owners or breeders about where they got their pugs and what issues they may have had with them.

A responsible pug owner is going to want to assure that you give their puppy a great home, so they will quite likely have some questions to you as well. If they don’t, let it be a red flag to you, because most owners want to be sure that they are getting a great home for their puppy.

Many plants are toxic and little folks will try to chew them if they are close to the ground. Plants which are toxic to dogs can cause illness or even death if they are eaten. The Pug seen below is a perfect example. They will try anything once… even sand.

Prevent the accidental poisoning of your dog, prevent injury from plant intake by learning about poisonous plants that may be part of your household and put them up, perhaps in hanging baskets, or eliminate them all together.

when your dog is outside, be with him or her, to prevent them from chewing on outside plants. Even some of the ones more harmless to you and your family may be damaging to a dog. Noted examples of this are grapes and onions. The plants viewed below should not be eaten or even sampled my your furry kids.
Poisonous Plants
* Aloe
* Amaryllis
* Arizona Yellow Bells
* Asian Lily (Liliaceae)
* Asparagus Fern
* Autumn Crocus
* Azalea

* Bird of Paradise
* Bittersweet
* Branching Ivy
* Buckeye
* Buddist Pine

* Caladium
* Calla Lily
* Cutleaf Philodendron
* Charming Diffenbachia
* Chinaberry Tree
* Chinese Evergreen
* Christmas Cactus
* Clematis
* Cordatum
* Cycads
* Cyclamen

* Daffodil
* Day Lily
* Devil’s Ivy
* Dumb Cane
* Deadly Nightshade

* Easter Lily
* Elephant Ears
* Emerald Fern
* English Ivy

* Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron
* Flamingo Plant
* Foxglove

* Glory Lily
* Gold Dieffenbachia
* Gold Dust Dracaena
* Green Gold Nephthysis

* Hahn’s  English Ivy
* Heartleaf Philodendron
* Heavenly Bamboo
* Holly
* Horsehead Philodendron
* Hurricane Plant
* Hyacinth
* Hydrangea

*  Iris

*  Japanese Show Lily
* Japanese Yew
* Jerusalem Cherry

*  Lace Fern
* Lacy Tree
* Lily of the Valley

* Madagascar Dragon Tree
* Marble Queen
* Marijuana
* Mexican Breadfruit
* Mistletoe “American”
* Morning Glory

*  Narcissus
* Needlepoint Ivy
* Nephthytis
* Nightshade

* Oleander
* Onion
* Orange Day Lily

* Panda
* Peace Lily
* Philodendron
* Plumosa Fern

* Red Emerald
* Red Lily
* Red-Margined Dracaena (aka Straight-Margined Dracaena)
* Red Princess
* Rhododendron
* Ribbon Plant (Dracaena sanderiana)
* Rubrum Lily

*  Saddle Leaf Philodendron
* Sago Palm
* Satin Pothos
* Schefflera
* Spotted Dumb Cane
* Stargazer Lily
* Striped Dracaena
* Sweetheart Ivy
* Swiss Cheese Plant

* Tiger Lily
* Tomato Plant
* Tree Philodendron
* Tulips

* Variegated Philodendron

* Warneckei Dracaena
* Wood Lily

* Yucca