Buddyz is pet business management software that helps grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding businesses, and multi-location pet service operators manage scheduling, check-in, pet profiles, customer communication, payments, and daily operations in one platform.

Who is Buddyz built for?

Buddyz is built for pet business owners and teams running grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and multi-location pet service businesses. It adapts to grooming-only shops, daycare-only operations, combined services, and multi-location businesses.

Is Buddyz free to start?

Yes. Buddyz starts with a free Core Platform that includes smart scheduling, pet intelligence, and smart check-in. Add-on capabilities for grooming, daycare, boarding, operations, customer communication, payments, and reporting are available as modular add-ons.

Does Buddyz replace scheduling software like Vagaro or MindBody for pet businesses?

Buddyz goes beyond scheduling. While it includes smart scheduling and booking, it also provides live operations workflow, pet intelligence (profiles, grooming notes, vaccine tracking), customer communication, deposit and payment processing, and business reporting — all in one platform built specifically for pet service businesses.

Can Buddyz track pet vaccine records?

Yes. Buddyz tracks vaccine records, expiration dates, and compliance requirements as part of each pet's profile. This is particularly useful for daycare and boarding businesses that require up-to-date vaccination documentation before accepting pets.

How does Buddyz reduce no-shows for pet appointments?

Buddyz reduces no-shows by enabling businesses to collect deposits at booking, save cards on file, and send automated appointment reminders to customers. This combination of financial commitment and timely communication significantly reduces last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Does Buddyz work for multi-location pet businesses?

Yes. Buddyz supports multi-location operations with shared customer and pet profiles across locations, location-level access controls, role management, team visibility, and consolidated business reporting.

What makes Buddyz different from traditional pet salon software?

Traditional pet salon software focuses on calendar booking. Buddyz is a full operating system that adds live workflow visibility, operations intelligence, pet profile management, grooming history tracking, automated customer communication, and payment processing alongside scheduling — giving pet businesses a complete platform instead of disconnected tools.

Do Pugs have breathing problems?

Pugs are a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed, and many have some degree of breathing difficulty because of their shortened muzzle and narrowed airways. This means they can't cool themselves efficiently and are at real risk of overheating, so exercise must be gentle and kept to cool parts of the day. Watch for noisy, laboured, or snorting breathing, especially in heat or during activity, and see your vet if it seems to be worsening. Keeping your Pug lean also makes a big difference to how easily it breathes.

How much exercise does a Pug need?

Pugs are a low-energy breed that needs only modest exercise: a couple of short, gentle walks a day plus some indoor play is plenty. Because of their flat faces, they overheat easily and can struggle to breathe during hard or prolonged activity, so keep exercise gentle and stick to the cooler parts of the day. Never push a Pug to keep up on a run or a long hike, and always carry water. Managing their weight through diet is far safer than trying to exercise a Pug thin.

Do Pugs need a lot of company?

Pugs were bred purely to be companions, and it shows: they bond intensely with their people and want to be involved in everything. Left alone for long stretches, many become distressed, bark, or turn destructive. They're best suited to homes where someone is around much of the day, or where you can arrange company or daycare for longer absences. In return you get an affectionate, comical shadow that lives for cuddles and time with its family.

China • Toy

Pug

A charming, comical clown of a dog whose whole world revolves around being with you.

Weight14–18 lbs

Height10–13 in

SizeSmall

Overview

Small, compact, and sturdy toy breed with a distinctive wrinkled, short-muzzled face, curled tail, and charming, mischievous personality

Best for

•People who want an affectionate, low-energy companion with a big sense of humour and don't mind a dog that follows them from room to room. Pugs suit apartment dwellers, families with gentle children, and owners who are prepared for their breathing and heat needs.

May not suit

•Owners wanting a jogging partner, a low-maintenance 'easy' dog, or someone away all day. Pugs need company, shed heavily, and — because of their flat faces — require careful management of heat, breathing, and weight, which can also mean higher vet bills.

History & Origins

Ancient breed originating in China as prized companions for Chinese emperors. Brought to Europe in the 16th century by Dutch traders, became official dog of House of Orange in Holland, gained widespread popularity in Victorian England

Characteristics & Traits

Apartment Living5 / 5

Families with Children4 / 5

First-Time Owners4 / 5

Other Dogs4 / 5

Alone Time Tolerance2 / 5

Shedding Level4 / 5

Grooming Needs3 / 5

Trainability3 / 5

Barking2 / 5

Prey Drive1 / 5

Energy Level2 / 5

Lifestyle

Apartment Living

5/5

Families with Children

4/5

First-Time Owners

4/5

Other Dogs

4/5

Alone Time Tolerance

2/5

Shedding Level

4/5

Grooming Needs

3/5

Behavior

Trainability

3/5

Barking

2/5

Prey Drive

1/5

Exercise

Energy Level

2/5

Exercise & Training

Aim for around 20–40 minutes of total activity per day. Gentle, low-intensity activity only. Short walks and light play in the cool of the day suit a Pug best — their flat faces mean vigorous or hot-weather exercise is genuinely dangerous.

Daily Walks by Living Situation

Apartment or Home Without a Backyard

2 walks / day

~15 min each

Two short, gentle walks a day plus indoor play keep an apartment Pug content — just keep exercise to the cooler parts of the day and the flat well-ventilated.

Home With a Backyard

2 walks / day

~15 min each

A shaded garden is lovely for gentle pottering, but always provide shade and water and bring your Pug indoors in the heat — they can't regulate their temperature outdoors.

Daycare or Park Time?

Pugs can enjoy calm, air-conditioned daycare with gentle playmates, but avoid facilities without climate control or that allow rough, high-energy play, which risks overheating and breathing trouble.

The Pug has a very short muzzle and cannot cool itself efficiently, so it is at serious risk of overheating and heatstroke. Never exercise a Pug in hot or humid weather, always provide shade and water, and never leave one in a warm car or stuffy room — heatstroke can be fatal quickly.

Because of their flat faces, Pugs can struggle to breathe during vigorous or prolonged exercise. Keep activity gentle, watch for noisy or laboured breathing, and stop and rest at the first sign of distress.

Pugs gain weight easily, which puts extra strain on their breathing and joints. Measure meals, limit treats, and keep them lean to protect their health.

Training

Clever and keen to please, but a stubborn streak and slow house-training mean they need patience and good motivation.

Motivate with food, but weigh it into their daily ration — Pugs live to eat and pile on weight fast, which worsens their breathing.
Keep sessions short, upbeat, and reward-based; Pugs are people-pleasers but bore quickly and can be stubborn about house-training.
Socialise early with gentle handling so their easy-going nature stays confident and friendly.
Train in the cool parts of the day and keep sessions calm — an overheated Pug can't concentrate and can genuinely struggle to breathe.
Use their love of being near you as the reward; a Pug will work hard for cuddles and praise.

Keep sessions short and food-rewarded, and stay consistent — Pugs learn well when it's fun and worth their while.

For Pet Parents

The Pug's short, smooth coat looks easy — and the brushing is — but this is a breed with very particular needs. The signature facial wrinkles must be kept clean and dry, the big eyes need protecting, and the coat sheds far more than you'd expect.

Difficulty: Moderate

Grooming Commitment

Pugs look low-maintenance thanks to their short coat, but they need specific daily care: cleaning and drying the facial wrinkles to prevent infection, managing surprisingly heavy shedding, and protecting those prominent eyes. Add regular nail, ear, and dental care and you've covered a Pug's routine.

At-Home Basics

Difficulty: Moderate

Caring for Your Pug at Home

Clean the face folds

Gently wipe out the wrinkles on the face several times a week (daily if they get damp or dirty) and dry them thoroughly. Trapped moisture and food quickly cause sore, smelly skin infections in the folds.

Brush to manage shedding

Brush two or three times a week with a soft brush or rubber curry to lift the loose hair — Pugs shed far more than their short coat suggests, and fawn Pugs shed even more.

Protect the eyes

Their big, prominent eyes are easily scratched and dry out easily. Wipe away discharge gently and watch for squinting, redness, or cloudiness, which need a vet quickly.

Trim nails and brush teeth

Trim nails about every four weeks and brush the teeth several times a week — Pugs' crowded little jaws make them prone to dental disease.

Mistakes to Avoid

Neglecting the facial wrinkles until the skin becomes sore and infected — they need cleaning and drying regularly.
Assuming the short coat means little shedding, then being surprised by hair everywhere.
Over-feeding treats — Pugs pile on weight fast, which worsens their breathing and strains their joints.
Leaving the face folds damp after cleaning or a bath, which traps moisture and causes irritation.

When to Call in a Professional

Most Pug grooming is easily done at home, but a professional groomer can help with a thorough de-shed, careful nail trims, and a proper bath and dry. See your vet promptly for any sore, infected skin folds or eye problems, which are common in the breed and best treated early.

Coat & Colors

Type: Short and smooth
Family: Short coat
Undercoat: Yes
Shedding: High
Seasonal Change: Moderate
Matting Risk: Very low

Common Problem Areas

Facial wrinklesAround the eyesTail curlEars

Frequently Asked Questions

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