Pug gifts: 15 ideas for pug lovers and the pugs who run their homes
The best pug gifts suit a small, food-loving, flat-faced companion: a slow feeder or puzzle toy so meals last longer, a cooling mat for warm days, a rubber grooming mitt for the shedding, a cozy sofa blanket, a keepsake engraved with the breed motto multum in parvo, and a short video of their own pug dancing.
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Key takeaways
- The AKC says pugs live to eat and are prone to obesity, so puzzle feeders beat treat boxes.
- Like all flat-faced breeds, pugs do poorly in sunny, hot or humid weather, according to the AKC.
- The pug's short coat still sheds, and the AKC suggests weekly brushing with a rubber mitt or hound glove.
- Pug people love those human-like expressions, so keepsakes of their own pug's face go over best.
How to choose a gift for a pug owner
Pugs have a short list of passions: food, people and the sofa. Most good pug gifts touch one of them, or deal with the heat and the hair.
| If their pug... | Get them... | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Inhales every meal | A slow feeder or treat puzzle | Pugs love food and gain weight easily |
| Owns the couch | A soft, washable blanket | Pugs will snuggle on the sofa for much of the day |
| Pants on warm days | A cooling mat | Flat-faced breeds do poorly in heat and humidity |
| Leaves hair on dark clothes | A rubber mitt and lint rollers | The short coat still sheds |
| Makes the best faces | A portrait, calendar or video | Pug expressions are the main event |
For a pug lover without a pug, choose a multum in parvo keepsake, pug socks, or a donation to a pug rescue.
15 pug gifts
- 1.
A slow feeder or puzzle bowlUnder $25
The AKC says pugs live to eat and are prone to obesity. A slow feeder turns dinner into a game and makes it last longer.
- 2.
A treat puzzle that uses their regular foodUnder $25
Fill it with part of the daily kibble so playtime adds no extra calories.
- 3.
A cooling mat
A cool spot indoors for warm days. The AKC says pugs do poorly in sunny, hot or humid weather and are better off in air-conditioning when it's warm.
- 4.
A rubber grooming mittUnder $25
The pug's short coat needs little care but it does shed. The AKC suggests weekly brushing with a rubber mitt or hound glove.
- 5.
A stash of lint rollersUnder $25
For the owner whose black pants show every fawn hair, or whose light couch shows every black one.
- 6.
A soft sofa blanket
The AKC notes a pug will happily spend much of the day snuggling on the sofa. A washable throw keeps the couch, and the pug, cozy.
- 7.
A multum in parvo keepsake
The pug's motto is the Latin phrase multum in parvo, "a lot in a little." Have it engraved on a bracelet, a tag or a small frame with the dog's name.
- 8.
An orange bandana or collarUnder $25
A nod to pug history. The AKC says the pug was the official dog of Holland's royal House of Orange after one saved the life of a prince.
- 9.
A quiet nail grinder
The AKC says a pug's nails should be trimmed regularly, since overly long nails can cause discomfort.
- 10.
A gentle, reward-based training class
The AKC says pugs live to please, are generally easy to train, and have feelings that are easily hurt. A positive class suits them well.
- 11.
A video of their pug dancingFrom $39
See this videoWe turn 5 to 10 photos of their pug into a short video of that dog dancing on a lit-up floor. It comes in vertical, square and widescreen versions with a movie-poster still, and we can deliver it on the day you pick.
- 12.
A custom portrait of their pug
Ask the artist to capture the black mask and the wrinkled brow.
- 13.
A calendar of pug faces
Twelve months of their pug's best expressions: surprised, happy, curious and fed up. Print it from their own photos.
- 14.
Pug socks or a funny pug shirtUnder $25
A safe pick for a gift exchange or a pug fan without a pug.
- 15.
A donation to a pug rescueAny amount
Give to a breed rescue in the dog's name.
What pug people love about them
The AKC says pugs "live to love and to be loved in return," and that sums up why their owners are so devoted. The pug was bred to be a companion, with an even temperament, great charm and an outgoing, loving disposition.
Pug owners tend to love:
- The faces. The AKC says the large round head, big eyes and wrinkled brow give pugs a range of human-like expressions, from surprise to happiness to curiosity.
- The history. Pugs were once companions of Chinese emperors and later the mascot of Holland's royal House of Orange. The AKC calls the pug one of the oldest breeds, traced back some 2,000 years.
- The motto. Multum in parvo, "a lot in a little," fits a small but muscular dog.
- The colors. Pugs come in silver or apricot-fawn with a black face mask, or all black.
A gift that captures one of these, like a calendar of faces or a portrait that gets the mask right, feels made for that owner.
Pug gifts for food, heat and comfort
Food
The AKC is direct about this: pugs enjoy their food, and care must be taken to keep them trim. Treats help with training, but too many can lead to obesity. That makes a slow feeder or a puzzle toy filled with regular kibble a better gift than a big box of treats. If you do want to send treats, ask the owner first.
Heat
The AKC says pugs, like all flat-faced breeds, sometimes have breathing problems and do poorly in sunny, hot or humid weather. They shouldn't exercise hard when it's warm out, and are better off in air-conditioning. A cooling mat and a collapsible water bowl suit warm-weather homes.
Comfort
The AKC says daily walks or yard play keep a pug fit, and the rest of the day often belongs to the sofa. A washable blanket and a rubber grooming mitt cover most of the routine.
The AKC also notes the pug's eyes are a vulnerable spot. Leave eye care products to the owner and their vet.
A pug gift that shows off the face: their own dancing video
Our Dancing Dog template gives a pug owner a video of their dog doing more than napping. You send 5 to 10 photos of their pug, including a couple of full-body shots and clear face shots, and we make a short video of that exact dog dancing on a lit-up floor.
A person checks every video before it goes out, and it's ready within 24 hours. One video is $39. The Pet's Year pack is $79 for 3 videos of the same pug, so you can give one now and save two for the pug's birthday and the holidays within 12 months, with no new photos needed. Every order includes vertical, square and widescreen versions, a movie-poster still, and free gift delivery on the day you pick. If it doesn't look like their pug, we remake it, and if the remake still misses, you get your money back.
Prefer a talking pug? Our Talking Pet template gives their pug a voice. For a pug birthday, see dog birthday videos.
Put these ideas into action
See how it works →More breed gift guides
Love flat-faced breeds? Our French bulldog gifts guide covers the Frenchie. See also dachshund gifts, corgi gifts and golden retriever gifts. For the person behind the pug, try dog mom gifts or dog dad gifts.
Questions
What do you get a pug lover?
For a pug owner, try a slow feeder, a cooling mat, a rubber grooming mitt, a soft sofa blanket, or a keepsake of their own pug like a portrait, a calendar of faces or a dancing video. For a fan without a pug, pug socks or a multum in parvo keepsake work well.
What does multum in parvo mean?
It's Latin for "a lot in a little," and the AKC calls it the pug's motto. It makes a sweet engraving on a bracelet, tag or frame for a pug lover.
Are treats a good gift for a pug?
Go easy. The AKC says pugs live to eat and are prone to obesity, and that too many treats can cause weight gain. A slow feeder or puzzle toy filled with their regular food is a safer pick.
Do pugs shed?
Yes. The AKC says the pug's short, smooth coat needs little maintenance but does shed, and suggests weekly brushing with a medium-bristle brush, rubber grooming mitt or hound glove.
Sources
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The PetVids team · Editors at PetVids
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