When it comes to feeding, a Pug puppy often looks like it was reborn starving. Its belly seems never to be full, and even right after a meal it may look at the owner with pitiful eyes as if it still has not eaten enough. Soft-hearted owners are easily fooled and keep feeding more and more. In mild cases the puppy ends up at the hospital; in severe cases, it can die. For a puppy at this stage, small frequent meals are the only reasonable method. Never let yourself be misled by the puppy's greedy expression.
Most puppy-food packages contain a detailed feeding table. As long as the owner follows the puppy's age and weight and feeds accordingly, that is usually enough. Those tables are designed on a scientific basis. Another situation sometimes appears: a shy puppy may not eat or drink at all when first arriving in a new home. In that case, there is no need to panic. It is often simply afraid. If it will not eat, a very small amount of wet topper can be mixed into the food. If it will not drink, the owner can offer water by hand while gently petting and comforting it.
If the puppy is refusing food because it is picky, then set the food down at a fixed time and remove it after fifteen minutes whether the puppy eats or not. Do not offer anything else in between. When food is offered again, the same fifteen-minute rule should apply. A tiny puppy will not stubbornly risk its own life forever. Eventually it will learn to eat during the allowed time, and from there a proper feeding habit can be built.
Toilet training should also begin early. Around three months old, a Pug puppy no longer needs soaked kibble all the time, because some hardness in food helps the teeth stay healthy and can reduce bad breath and other oral problems. Puppies under six months should not be fed meat too early, because it can upset the stomach. Treats also should not be introduced too early. Many owners think milk is good nutrition for a puppy, but in fact this is often a mistake. Milk contains a lot of lactose, and many puppies cannot tolerate lactose well, which can cause diarrhea and lower immunity. If vaccination has not yet been completed, the consequences can become serious.
It is completely normal for a Pug puppy to urinate and defecate anywhere at first. It is still a baby. Since we choose to raise it, we also have to tolerate that stage. Teaching it where to go is the owner's responsibility.
First, decide where the puppy toilet will be placed. It should not be too close to the eating or sleeping area and is best located in a bathroom or similar place. As soon as the puppy arrives home, show it where the toilet is and let it eliminate there once if possible. At first it will still make mistakes. When that happens, take the puppy to another room, clean the soiled place out of sight, and spray deodorizer. Little by little, the puppy will remember the location of the toilet. After about two weeks, many Pug puppies can begin going to the designated spot by themselves.
Puppies that whine urgently or sniff the floor are often showing they need to go. Owners should quickly take them to the toilet at those moments. Such patterns are especially common after meals and after waking up, and over time the owner can learn the puppy's routine. Once the puppy starts following the rules, it should always be warmly praised. If the puppy eliminates in the wrong place, never beat or scold it harshly, because it will not understand what is happening. It needs positive and correct guidance instead. The owner should also never push the puppy's nose into the waste, because that only causes fear.