| How to Identify a Pug Posted: 22 Jul 2020 01:00 AM PDT Pugs are the largest of the toy dog breeds,[1] with a unique appearance and lovable personality. They can easily be confused with other dog breeds, however, such as a French bulldog or Pekingese. If you take a closer look at a dog's physical characteristics and temperament, you can more easily discover whether or not the dog is a pug. [Edit]Recognizing Body Structure - Pay attention to the dog's size. Being a member of the toy group, the pug is a smaller dog breed. They tend to weigh around , standing tall.[2]
- Look at the tail of the dog. A pug's tail is known for being curled. The tail of a pug should be curled (preferable double-curled) over the dog's hip tightly.[3] The tail lays upward on the edge of the back in its curled position.
- Notice the dog's head shape. The AKC standards state that a pug's head shape should be "large, massive, [and] round".[4] Pugs also have deep wrinkles on their short and flat muzzles, between their eyes, and around their faces.
- See if the dog has dark, prominent eyes. Pugs have round, bold eyes. Their eyes are usually a dark color, such as brown. They are large and noticeable in shape,[5] and sit across from the dark black nose.
- Look for small ears that rest atop the dog's head. A pug's ears are either classified as "rose" or "button" type ears. "Rose" ears refer to small, folded ears with edges touching the side of the head. "Button" ears are not as short and are folded more forward rather than on the side of the head.[6] The AKC standards describe a pug's ears as being similar to "black velvet".[7]
- See if the dog's build fits the motto multum in parvo ("a lot in a little"). A pug's build is small, square, and muscular.[8] They have stubby and short legs. Their legs are also straight and sturdy, with shoulders that are slightly laid back and feet that are neither too round nor too long. The overall body shape of a pug is thick and stocky.[9]
[Edit]Identifying the Coat - Look at the dog's fur color. A pug is usually an apricot/fawn color or has an entirely black coat. However, pugs can also be seen in silver, white, or a brindle pattern[10], which are more rare fur colors. Keep in mind that the AKC only recognizes the fawn and black variations.[11]
- If a pug is of the fawn variety, it will have a black or brownish "mask" around its eyes and muzzle. Fawn pugs are also seen with black dots on their cheeks and may have a black outline across their back.
- Notice silver or grey markings near the muzzle and face. As a pug ages, the area around its mouth and muzzle may become lighter and appear as a silvery color. This occurs not just in solid black pugs, but in pugs of all color varieties. The back, ears, or other black-colored areas on a pug's body may also lighten.
- Assess how the fur of the dog appears and feels. Pugs have sleek fur that sheds consistently.[12] Their coat is "fine, smooth, soft, short, and glossy", according to the AKC.[13] Some dogs of this breed have double coats.
[Edit]Paying Attention to Temperament - Look for playfulness and an overall attention-seeking, "goofy" personality, especially from younger dogs. Pugs love being the center of attention. However, as they age, their energy may slowly decrease. A pug puppy will be after your attention and may make some trouble. They are curious and love to express their energy, and they are very eager-to-please.[14]
- Notice if the dog is stubborn. Pugs don't always have the easiest time listening to what they're told. If the dog likes to do what they want rather than obeying, understand that this breed of dog is naturally stubborn. Giving a pug proper training can help it to learn how to obey commands with more ease.[15]
- Watch for a guarding ability. Pugs make great watchdogs. They are attentive and will do what they can, despite their small size, to remain loyal and protecting of their owners. This is a desirable trait found in a dog.[16]
- Pay attention to the dog's intelligence. Along with being protective, pugs are smart dogs. They are fairly intelligent, which helps them with their guarding abilities. See how clever the canine is to help determine if they may be a pug.[17]
- See if an older dog appears more docile. If the dog is older, rather than being energetic, it may be more willing to follow your directions. As they age, a pug may become more accepting of human control.[18]
[Edit]Being Aware of Similar Breeds There are several other dog breeds that have similarities in appearance to a pug. However, if you are aware of the differences between the breeds, you can obtain a better understanding of whether or not a dog is a pug. - Know the differences between a pug and a Pekingese. A Pekingese can seem exactly like a pug, especially if it has a short coat. Most Pekingese, however, have quite long fur. Both breeds have wrinkles and flat muzzles, but a Pekingese's tail won't be curled like a pug's - instead, it hangs over the dog's back. Pekingese can also come in different coat colors than pugs, though both can be seen in fawn and black. Despite having longer fur, Pekingese don't shed as much as pugs, but still a moderate amount.[19]
- See how French bulldogs and pugs differ. French bulldogs are another popular breed with wrinkles and a flat muzzle. They are slightly bigger than pugs (and therefore not a member of the toy group), and have short, stubby tails. Their ears are perked, rather than the pug's folded ears. A solid black or tan and black Frenchie may have white markings on the chest or stomach, differentiating it from a pug.[20]
- Understand the differences between pugs and bulldogs. Two stubborn, flat-faced breeds, pugs and English bulldogs have a lot in common. For example, both have faces coated with wrinkles. However, bulldogs have short, stumpy tails, while pugs have longer, curled tails. Bulldogs can come in many more color varieties, such as brown or brown with white markings. Pugs are smaller than bulldogs, as bulldogs are members of the non-sporting group. Bulldogs also have different ears than pugs.[21]
- Spot differences between Boston terriers and pugs. These two breeds are roughly equal in size and body structure. However, Boston terriers usually have perked up ears and stubby tails, and tend to be black and white, while black pugs aren't seen with white markings. They also have completely different origins - Boston terriers originate in the United States, while pugs date back to Ancient China.[22]
- Notice how pugs and boxers differ. Boxers are medium-sized dogs and larger than pugs, but the two both tend to have flat, black muzzles. A boxer can have either cropped or uncropped ears, along with a natural or docked tail. A boxer's natural tail is longer than a pug's and isn't curled, while the docked tail is very short. Boxers are usually brown or black in color, but also are seen in white, brindle, and more color variants. Pugs aren't typically seen in a brown coat.[23]
- Be aware of how pugs and mastiffs differ. Pugs and mastiffs may look a little similar in appearance, but mastiffs are much larger dogs. Pugs are small dogs (generally lap dogs) while mastiffs are large dogs. Mastiffs have long tails that don't curl over their backs. Both dogs have wrinkles, but mastiffs have usually larger muzzles.[24]
- If you want to verify that the dog you own is a pug, consider using a DNA test. This will confirm your dog's breed.
[Edit]References |
| How to Grow Citronella Posted: 21 Jul 2020 05:00 PM PDT The citronella plant, also known as the mosquito plant or pelagonium, is actually a type of geranium. Interestingly enough, it does not produce citronella oil, which actually comes from lemongrass. The citronella plant is often touted for its ability to repel mosquitos, there's no actual evidence that it keeps them away.[1] However, the citronella plant's lovely lemon scent makes it an excellent addition to your garden. It's also a perennial, which means you'll be able to keep it around for years to come! [Edit]Planting Your Citronella - Pick up some potted citronella cuttings to keep things simple. You can grow citronella from seeds or juvenile plants, but it takes much longer to grow. Without a doubt, the most popular way to grow a citronella plant is from a cutting. You can either buy a pre-potted cutting, or clip a healthy branch off of an adult citronella plant to take a cutting yourself. If you do this, be sure to take at least of any branch with a leaf on it.[2]
- The potting process is the exact same for juvenile citronella plants if you really want to go that route. Citronella is one of the easiest plants to grow from a cutting though, so it's the best choice if you don't want to wait a year or two for you plant to grow.
- Find a sunny part of your yard with no shade cover or obstructions. Citronella requires a lot of direct sunlight, so you can't plant it near any trees or overhangs. Choose an area at least away from other plants if you're growing it directly in your yard. Otherwise, choose a sunny location to place your potted plant.[3]
- Citronella plants tend to grow more vertically than horizontally, and they aren't particularly competitive with other plants. Still, it's better to plant it at least away from other plants.
- It's exceptionally difficult to grow citronella indoors, strictly because it requires so much sun. You can try if you'd like, though. Pick an east-facing window that gets plenty of sunlight if you're going with this option.
- Plant your citronella in the spring when it's around . After the last frost has passed, wait 1-2 weeks for the soil to warm up. Wait for a day when it's a little warmer to pot or plant your citronella. Citronella is a perennial, but it still needs to be planted in the early spring so that the roots have time to develop before the growing season.[4]
- You can plant or pot your plant in the autumn or late summer if you live in an area with especially warm winters if you prefer.
- Plant your citronella in a deep pot if you're growing it in a container. Citronella will grow up to in a pot, so it's important to grab a pot that's at least deep and in diameter. Choose a pot that has plenty of drainage holes at the bottom. It doesn't matter if your pot is plastic or ceramic.[5]
- If you do want to plant the citronella in an indoor pot, do it early in the spring to give it a lot of light in the early growing stages. It's really better if you can plant it outside, though.
- Use a well-drained soil comprised of loam and chalk or sand. Any neutral or slightly alkaline soil will work so long as it is peat-free and has a pH of 6-7. Either mix 2-parts loam with 1-part chalk or sand, or pick up a premixed bag of soil at your local gardening store.[6]
- You can tell if a soil is well draining or not by pouring a little water on it. If the water takes a few seconds to drain and there's a small pool on the surface, it's not well-draining. Well-drained soil will immediately drain when you pour water on it.
- Don't use anything with peat. Citronella won't grow well in soil that has peat in it.
- Dig a potting hole if necessary and add a thin layer of soil-based compost. Take your empty pot or dig out a hole in your garden. Add a layer of soil-based compost to the bottom of the hole or container. You can use a store-bought compost that lists soil as on of its main ingredients, or make your own compost using a peat-free soil as the base.[7]
- Fill in the remainder of the hole with soil and add your citronella plant. Pour your loam-based soil directly into the container or hole. If you're planting a cutting, simply fill the hole or container all the way and push the cutting into the soil. If you are potting a juvenile citronella plant, leave a hole in your container or garden and gently lift the plant out of the original pot. Place it in the center of the hole.[8]
- Fill in any gaps with additional soil. You do not need to compact the soil or anything.
- Give the plant a gentle spritz of of water. It doesn't need a lot of water to get going.
[Edit]Watering and Caring for Your Plant - Water your citronella every 1-2 weeks in the summer months. Citronella does not require a lot of water. Starting a few days after you first plant them, water the soil surrounding the plant for 5-6 seconds until the surface of the soil is damp. Do this once every 1-2 weeks depending on whether your plant appears healthy or not.[9]
- If the leaves are dried out or the plant isn't growing, stick with watering once a week. If the plant is doing fine with less frequent watering, only water the soil sparingly. Citronella doesn't tend to need a lot of water.
- Give the citronella fertilizer every 10-14 days in the spring. Pick up a balanced liquid fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the container to give the citronella a healthy dose of nutrients and minerals. This will encourage growth as the plant develops its root system. Any [10]
- Any fertilizer with a near-equal distribution of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium will work just fine.
- Switch to a high-potassium fertilizer after flowers start to form. Once the plant begins flowering, switch to a high-potassium fertilizer. Tomato fertilizer works great for this, but any mixture around 15-20-28 will work. Follow the directions on the label to continue feeding your plants every 10-14 days.[11]
- Stop using the fertilizer in the fall.
- If you don't have a flowering variety of citronella, swap to the potassium fertilizer in mid-summer when the plant has grown considerably.
- Cover the citronella in compost or take cuttings before winter starts. Citronella is a perennial, meaning that it will live for more than 2 years. If you live in a tropical climate or an area with warm winters, you can simply cut it back and cover it with a thin layer of compost. Alternatively, you can trim the plant down and take some cuttings. Repot your cuttings indoors using the same method you used to plant your citronella originally.[12] under the soil. You can re-plant the cutting in the early spring and continue this process all over again. This is also a great way to turn a single citronella plant into an entire garden!}}
[Edit]Controlling Pests and Protecting Your Plant - Prune the citronella flowers and leaves whenever they begin to wilt. If any of the leaves or flowers begin to lose color or wilt, trim them off. Trim any branches that begin losing color or drying out entirely. This isn't typically an issue during the summer months, but you may need to prune the plant in the autumn when the plant is ready to go dormant.[13]
- If your plant requires constant pruning in the summer, you're likely not watering it enough.
- Cut back on water if you notice dark spots on the tops of leaves. If you see dark dots popping up all over the tops of your leaves, your plant is likely developing leaf spots. Don't worry, this is manageable. Remove any destroyed leaves or branches, begin watering the soil every 2-3 weeks, and avoid directly watering the leaves until the condition clears up.[14]
- This is a common issue for citronella. The plant is pretty resistant to disease, but it can attract bacteria.
- Discard the citronella and wash the soil if you find black spots under the leaves. If you see spots on the undersides of the leaves, you're running into blight. This condition is unrecoverable, so you must cut your plants down, throw them out, and wash the soil thoroughly with water. Wash all of your tools, hands, and clothes with soap and water to avoid spreading the blight.[15]
- Use an organic insecticide oil to protect your plants from pests. Citronella is an attractive target for whiteflies, caterpillars, mealybugs, and other pests. To keep them off of your citronella, fill a spray bottle with neem or horticultural oil and gently mist your plants every month during the growing season. This oil will keep annoying bugs off of your plants and do a great job of treating any current infestations.[16]
- Neem or horticultural oil will coat the plant in an organic oil that will suffocate any bugs already on the plant. If a pest does land on a treated plant, it won't stick around for long since the oil will dissuade them from settling down there.
- These oils won't harm your plants since they're organic and don't impact the growing process. Avoid synthetic insecticides whenever possible.
- There are plants that repel mosquitos, but citronella isn't one of them. Lemongrass, lemon thyme, and eucalyptus are much more likely to scare the mosquitos away.[17]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Loamy soil
- Trowel or spade
- Fertilizer
- Water
- Compost
- Neem or horticultural oil
[Edit]References |
| How to Use a Magic Eraser Posted: 21 Jul 2020 09:00 AM PDT Magic erasers are a powerful cleaning tool that you can use to remove stubborn marks from hard surfaces all around your house. Magic erasers are actually blocks of non-toxic melamine foam that act like super-fine sandpaper, making it easy to scrub away dirt and other stains.[1] [Edit]Getting the Basics Down - Perform a spot test before you use the magic eraser on a surface. The sandpaper-like surface of a magic eraser can damage the finish on some surfaces, like varnished wood or glossy paint. Wet the magic eraser, then test it on a small spot before you start your project to make sure it won't leave any damage.[2]
- Wet the magic eraser when you're ready to use it. Magic erasers can actually be used dry, but adding a little water to the sponge will help it absorb dirt more easily, much like wetting a towel before wiping down counters.[3]
- After you wet the eraser, squeeze out any excess water, just like you would with a regular sponge.
- Wipe down the surface you want to clean. For most dirt and grime, you'll see a noticeable difference just by wiping the sponge across the surface. However, you might have to scrub stubborn stains like rust or mildew.[4]
[Edit]Cleaning Items around the House - Use a magic eraser to make shoes look like new. It can be hard to remove scuff marks and other stains from shoes, but a magic eraser can remove signs of wear from your favorite sneakers. Gently buff materials like suede with the sponge, then wipe down the rubber around the soles.[5]
- Clean your refrigerator inside and out with a magic eraser. Magic erasers are great at removing the grimy fingerprints that build up on the outside of your fridge, as well as food spills, mildew, and other stains that can accumulate over time.[6]
- Try using a small piece of magic eraser on the gasket around your refrigerator door to see a surprising difference!
- Remove paint or nail polish stains once they've dried. Dried paint and nail polish can be really stubborn, but a little scrubbing with a magic eraser will usually remove them completely. This is especially effective for paint that has dripped on hard floors and hinges.
- A magic eraser is a great way to remove nail polish stains from surfaces that might be discolored by nail polish remover, like carpet or linoleum.
- Clean up wall art left by kids around the house. If your little artists have drawn with crayons or markers all over your walls, use a magic eraser to wipe them away. Just remember to do a spot test, since the sponge may dull the glossy finish on some paints.[7]
- Magic erasers can even remove permanent marker stains! Just scrub a little extra until it's gone.
- Scrub away dried-on food from your stove or microwave. Once food splatters have dried on your stovetop or inside your microwave, they can seem impossible to clean, but if you scrub them with a magic eraser, your cooking surfaces will seem like new again.[8]
- Use a magic eraser to clean the drip trays under your burners to get your stovetop looking like new again!
- Remove mildew, mineral buildup, and soap scum from your bathroom. Whether you're tackling a stubborn ring around the toilet or a residue you can't seem to clean from your shower walls, using a magic eraser in the bathroom will make everything sparkling clean, without the harsh chemicals used in most other cleaning products.[9]
- Cut the magic eraser into smaller squares if you want it to last longer. As you clean with a magic eraser, it disintegrates, much like a pencil eraser. Using a smaller piece will give you the same cleaning power, but it will keep the whole eraser from wearing down.[10] Plus, it is useful when cleaning a tiny portion of walls, showers, microwaves, etc.
[Edit]Warnings - Even though magic erasers are nontoxic, they can still cause abrasions on the skin, and can still cause suffocation in toddlers and pets. Keep them out of reach of children.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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