How to Groom Your Pug

Hi pug owners and everyone alike, today I'm going to show you how to groom your pug properly. When it comes to pugs, they need a little extra special care, especially when it comes to the summer time heat. Pugs can be prone to getting yeast infection between the skin folds or hot spots if not washed properly. So without further ado, lets dive into learning how to care for our pug.

Supplies

You'll need a few supplies including but not limited to:

a drying towel

a washcloth

dog shampoo

gentle cleaning wipes

scrub brush

dog grooming brush

Step 1: Gathering Supplies

There's not many supplies you'll need for grooming your pug but they each serve a purpose. With these few supplies, you'll be able to leave your pug well groomed if not slightly mad at you for cleaning him. I like to use a shampoo with aloe vera to help combat skin fold pyoderma (hot spots) which can leave your pug chewing and scratching at his skin. I also recommend a gentle cleaning wipe that we will use to target specific high risk areas of your pugs skin, such as face and ears, later in this guide.

Step 2: Setting Up the Bath

Once you've gotten your supplies (and also trapped your pug into the bathroom so he can't run) we now have to set up your bath. Ensure that your water is at a comfortable lukewarm temperature. Too cold can make the bath uncomfortable and your pug may be unwilling in future baths. Too hot can burn your pugs skin or overheat them. A removable showerhead nozzle can make bathing your pug much easier. It isn’t essential but is highly recommended.

Step 3: Soak Your Pug

You'll want to ensure that you soak your pug thoroughly. Some pugs can have double coats and you'll need extra time to ensure the undercoat has been washed thoroughly. Don't forget to soak under the chest and the body. Avoid spraying the head especially around the eyes, nose, or mouth. Most pugs have breathing difficulties and can panic when sprayed with water. You don’t want to make this a negative experience for your pug. Later in the bath we will get to washing the face but it will require an extra step.

Step 4: Using Shampoo

Now that your pug has been soaked. The next step is to apply soap and massage deep into the coat. Apply a liberal amount of soap and scrub. If your pug is unfamiliar with bathing you can apply soap to your palm and work it into his coat. I use a dog shampoo brush to ensure adequate scrubbing but this is absolutely not necessary. Scrubbing with your hands is more than enough and should be just fine.

Step 5: Lather Up

Make sure to scrub your pug well. You want a foamy layer built all over the body. It will help wash out excess loose hair and dirt. This lowers the amount of shedding your pug will do. Your furniture will thank you.

Step 6: Lower Body Too

Continue scrubbing your pug. Don't forget to also wash the chest, legs and paws. If yours is anything like mine, this is his least favorite step. You may be tempted to skip this step but it will greatly reduce his itching. This gives my pug relief from his grass allergy and lowers the amount of chewing on his legs that he does during the spring/summer days.

Step 7: Face Washing

Caution must be used when washing your pug’s face. Apply a small amount of soap to a wet washcloth and gently scrub your pug’s face. Take extra care to avoid the nose, eyes and mouth. Be gentle since your pug may struggle against or try to avoid the washcloth. To remove the soap DO NOT RINSE with the shower head. Rinse off the washcloth and wipe the soap off your pugs face. Multiple rinses of the washcloth may be needed.

Step 8: Rinsing

Rinsing your pug off is a lot like the soaking step. Give yourself extra time rinsing to ensure that the soap is off your pug completely. Especially with double coat or thick fur pugs. Any left over soap will irritate your pug’s skin and may cause him to scratch frequently. What I recommend to do is to run your hand along your pug’s coat to feel any soap residue left from inefficient washing.

Tip: having a second person to lift your pug makes it much easier to rinse off the chest and lower body.

Step 9: Drying Off

Using a small soft towel, wrap it around your pug and towel dry your pug. You can also use a vet approved dog dryers. I don't recommend using a hair dryer unless it comes with a non heat setting. The dry hot air can damage your pug’s skin and fur. If using a dryer that makes noise, please protect your dogs hearing with dog ear covers. Ensure that pug is completely dry to avoid itchy skin or pet dandruff. This is a battle for me. My pug likes to fight the towel a lot. Proper drying is essential for the next step.

Step 10: Brushing Your Pug

After your pug is dry, get him outside or in an area that’s easily cleaned and brush their coat. Using a dog brush, use long gentle strokes downwards to brush out excess fur. Use light pressure especially around sensitive areas.

Step 11: The Nose Fold

Now that we are done bathing and brushing our pug, we are almost done! At this point your pug should probably be fed up with you, but there are a few more steps to be done. Lots of dirt and grime can be trapped in the fold above his nose. Fold a gentle cleaning wipe over your finger and run your finger gently along the fold of his nose. You'll be surprised at the amount of build up that can be in here, but no need to vigorously scrub. Gentle pressure and a good cleaning wipe should be more than enough to clean this area.

Step 12: Ears

The last step we have to clean is the ears. As part of the droopy ear family, pugs are at an increased risk of ear infections and thats something that my pug deals with constantly. Never use water to rinse out the ears as this can cause a breeding ground of bacteria and put your pug at risk for ear infections. With one hand pin the ear upwards and back to expose the inner ear. With gentle circular motions, wipe down the inside of the pugs ear using a gentle cleaning wipe. Take care not to push to hard or force the wipe in his ear. Both sides must be done. The inner ear should be a healthy pink color. Redness and a funky odor may mean your pug need vet attention and treatment for infection. Take care not to irritate the ear by pushing too hard.

Step 13: Finished!

With that we are completely done! Don't forget to treat your pug with either play time or treats! Especially after the “awful horrible experience” they just received being cleaned! You’ll also want to wipe down your bathtub after so it doesn’t clog or end up looking like mine. Thank you for taking your time to read this!