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An elderly man in a brown sweater vest holds a happy black pug in his arms at the bottom of wooden porch steps. 6 / 36

Mochi Made It Most of the Way Around the Block. Grandpa Handled the Rest.

AI imagepugwalksfront porch

Mochi made it most of the way, and Grandpa is happy to handle the last stretch. Standing at the foot of the wooden porch steps, Grandpa cradles the black pug against his brown sweater vest and plaid shirt, one arm under the dog's chest and the other supporting his back legs. Mochi's tongue is out in a tired, contented grin, his curly tail tucked against Grandpa's hip. Autumn leaves are scattered across the steps and lawn, a pair of muddy boots waits by a potted plant, and the porch door stands open behind them.

The way Grandpa holds Mochi is a good model for lifting any small dog. Supporting both the chest and the hindquarters keeps the spine level and helps the dog feel secure. Picking a dog up under the front legs alone, like a toddler, can strain the shoulders. Pugs are sturdy but compact, and on longer walks they can tire out faster than people expect, especially in warm weather, since their short muzzles make cooling down harder. Watch for heavy panting, lagging behind, or a dog that keeps lying down, and take those as cues to slow down or head home. Shorter, more frequent outings often suit pugs better than one long trek.

Some days the walk is about miles, and some days it's about a ride home in the arms of someone who loves you. Mochi clearly isn't complaining about the second kind.

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