Do Pugs shed? Are Pugs hypoallergenic?

Do Pugs shed? Yes, Pugs shed and they shed profusely throughout the year.

Pugs are cute little dogs having distinctive features like wrinkly short muzzles and curly tails. They have a short and shiny coat which is mostly fawn and seldom in black color.

Pugs are intelligent dogs known for their humorous acts. They are fun-loving and bond well with humans. They thrive in human company.

But do pugs shed? All dogs shed just as we humans do! It is part of their natural cycle of hair growth. Pugs go through this cycle much faster and hence shed a lot.

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Why do Pugs shed a lot?

Let us explore a few reasons below to understand why Pugs shed a lot.

1. Most of the Pugs have a double-coat. The dogs that have double coats shed a lot, especially during the time of year when their inner coat blows out. Most Pugs are fawn-colored and have a double coat. Black pugs are single-coat but are rare and they still shed a lot due to other factors.
2. Pugs have a high hair density. Pugs have almost 600 hairs per square inch of their hair coat. This is almost three to six times compared to other dog breeds which have typically 100 to 200 hairs per square inch of hair coat.
3. Pugs’ natural cycle of hair growth is much faster than other dogs. This combined with other factors makes the pugs shed a lot of hair.

Hair growth and shedding in dogs happen in a cycle divided into four different phases.

• Anagen phase – This is the phase where hairs are new and growing.
• Catagen phase – This is the phase where they mature and stop growing actively.
• Telogen phase – This is the phase where they have grown fully and stop growing further.
• Exogen phase – This is the phase when the hair has come to the end of its natural cycle and is shed from the follicle.

All dog breeds have different duration of these phases of the hair growth cycle as per the genes. Pugs have a faster hair growth cycle and hence they shed a lot.

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Are Pugs Hypoallergenic?

Hypoallergenic dogs are the ones that do not cause allergies to humans. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, as much as 10% of the U.S. population is allergic to dogs.

Contrary to popular belief, humans are not allergic due to hairs that dogs shed but allergy is due to the dander and saliva.

Dander is the flake that comes off from the dead skin of the dog. This is the most common allergen responsible for allergies in humans.

Allergic people have an immune system that overreacts when they get in touch with the dog’s dander or saliva.

So are Pugs Hypoallergenic?

The answer is no. It is because :

1. Pugs do shed heavily and also cause lots of dander which is the cause of an allergy to the allergy-prone people.
2. Pugs are brachycephalic breeds. These breeds are the ones who are flat-faced and have a short muzzle. Dogs of this breed will drool when overheated. The saliva that comes out of this drooling can be the cause of allergy.

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Factors that impact the shedding of pug hairs

1. Nutrition – If the dog is not healthy due to not having nutritious food, typically he will shed more and will have a dull hair coat.
2. Age – As the dog grows older than a year, he may shed more.
3. Heating cycle – Female pugs that enter the heat cycle may shed a lot.
4. Climate – Though pugs shed all year round, they shed profusely during autumn and spring when their inner coat blows out.
5. Type of coat – Pugs who have a double-coat (Fawn colored) shed more than single-coat Pugs (Black Pug).

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Tips to control Pugs from shedding a lot?

Let us look at a few tips and tricks to control shedding in Pugs.

1. Nutritive food

Giving nutritive food to your pug will keep his coat healthy and magnificent. Foods like Fish and its supplements or Olive oil are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.

This helps in keeping the hair healthy and hence reducing the amount of shedding. Check out if your pug is not allergic to these foods before using them.

The Royal Canin Pug Adult Dry Dog Food is our recommended food for pugs.

This food is specifically made for the nutritional needs of a pug that helps in keeping them fit and protecting them from allergies. It also contains Omega 3 Fatty acids for reducing the amount of shedding.

2. Regular Brushing

Regular brushing not only helps in getting rid of the dead hair but also has many other benefits.

1. It creates bonding between the Owner and the Pug.
2. Brushing helps in distributing the natural oils in your dog’s coat.
3. It can also help to see any rashes or bumps so you can start doing the remediation of the same.

It is ideal if you can brush your Pug’s coat once every day. If not, you should brush his coat at least two times a week. This will help to trap the dead or loosened hairs in the brush and control their falling off everywhere.

Tips for brushing Pug’s coat.

1. You need to check if your pug is a single coat or a double coat.
2. Brush them outdoor. You may see a lot of furs that have come out.
3. A single-coat pug may need a brush to cleanse the dust. A Grooming Glove would be great for them. We recommend Pet grooming glove that has soft rubber tips for gently cleaning and massaging your pug. And they are extremely easy for you to use.
4. In case you have a double coat pug, you may also need a rake or de-shedding brush as well to loosen the undercoat hairs. We would recommend FURminator. You will find a lot of positive views on Amazon about this from Pug owners.
5. Brush your Pug in the direction of hair growth.
6. Brush your pug’s whole body including the underarms, neck, chest, or tail.

3. Bathing

Pugs should bathe every 4 weeks. If you bathe your pug lesser then they may become smelly and dirty.

Bathing more often can lead to skin problems as it removes the essential oils of the skin. This may make the skin dry leading to skin ailments.

Tips for bathing your Pug

1. Put cotton balls in his ears that will help him not to accidentally let the water go in. Remove them after the bath.
2. Use an Oatmeal-based dog shampoo. Human or Baby shampoo is not suitable as their skin pH value is different from ours.
3. Avoid the face while bathing and use wipes to clean the face wrinkles and keep them dry.
4. Dry them with a towel or use a blower. Don’t use hot air as this may be harmful.
5. Brushing before and after a bath can help further to decrease the amount of shedding.

We recommend Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo as the best shampoo for Pugs.

It is gentle on the skin of Pugs as it has all-natural ingredients and no soap, artificial dyes, or fragrance. It has Oatmeal and Aloe which help with itchy skin and promote healthy skin.

4. Keeping your pug hydrated

Dehydrated dogs can shed more and hence it is advisable to keep the dog’s water bowl filled.

5. Choose the right color Pug

Pugs often come in two colors: fawn and black. Fawn color is the most common. It may look surprising but Fawn color Pugs mostly have a double coat whereas Black color Pugs typically have a single coat.

Due to this Black Pugs shed quite less than Fawn color Pugs. So if you have not yet chosen a Pug for you and shedding is one of your criteria, go for Black color Pug.

But just because black color Pugs have a single coat doesn’t mean they do not shed. Black Pugs still shed heavily but the rate of shedding is lesser than a Fawn color Pug.

6. Accept the fur

It is natural for Pugs to shed and you can only control so much. Learn to accept that they will shed and you can only minimize the amount of shedding.

7. Vacuuming

Now that you are aware that you cannot control shedding 100 %, still to keep the house clean and to avoid any allergy due to Pug’s fur, it is best to vacuum the house regularly especially around the corners and below the heavy furniture.

We would certainly recommend Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum.

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About Pugs

Pugs are an old breed that originated in China. They are known for their witty humor and the bonding they make with the humans.

They are small loyal dogs who have flat faces. Due to this, they should not be left in high temperatures and should be kept under shade or best indoors.

Being intelligent, they can often be difficult to train but their mischievous tricks earn them the title of being the clown of the dogs’ world.

They are your small loyal companions who can be naughty sometimes.

Pugs also have prominent eyes on their face and you should be careful as they are prone to eye injuries.

Pugs weigh approx 14 to 18 pounds and are generally 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder. The average lifespan of a pug is around 12 to 15 years.

Hope you know why Pugs shed and some tips on how to control shedding in Pugs.