To wonder if pugs really suffer?

[TreatTreat]

I've seen a few the last few days and all have sounded awful with really heavy breathing. Isn't it cruel to breed a dog like this?

They do

Yes, it’s genetic modification gone very wrong. Fake dogs.

Yes, of course. Do you really need to ask?

Yes.
Ask a vet.

They do, same as any flat faced dog.

It's well known. I thought it was.

I hate seeing and hearing them as it just sounds so wrong. Shouldn't be allowed to breed dogs that suffer like this.

Yes, it’s terrible. Breeding new ones should be banned.

They do, poor dogs. See also bulldogs. They're not cute and snuffly and snoring. They can't bloody breathe as their nose is too flat and all those folds get sore.

Yes, all flat-faced breeds have breathing difficulties.

Yes, it's qualzucht.

Yes.
Google BOAS
All brachy breed dogs are affected, some more than others.
Some will learn to sleep with their heads resting on something so that they can stretch out their soft palate and stop it obstructing their breathing. That humans have bred dogs like this is cruel and an abomination.

I know a couple of really good pugs - though they'd win no prizes in the show ring as they have open nares, far less flat faces, far less bulgy eyes and longer, better constructed legs.

They both run around and play with much larger dogs (and hold their own, keep up well. Not some pathetic wheezy attempt at play then collapse after a few seconds!!), go for multiple proper walks a day, one does scent tracking competitively (and does well!), the other does Rally - both belong to people who previously had much larger sporty/working breeds... so they are kept lean and fit, and trained nicely.

But generally, and the 'breed standard' type Pug - and French Bulldogs and all the other super brachy breeds. Yes, they are suffering every minute of every bloody day. The things their owners think are 'normal' are not - having to sleep propped up like a lazy slobby human, the 'cute' snorting noises... ugh!

They do suffer.

So do French bulldogs.

It makes me wince every time I see one, poor things.

Well of course they do. But sadly they are not alone. You can see dogs of all breeds suffering every day if you look hard enough. But people aren't willing, and often not able, to do anything about it.

Yes and there are so many along with breeds like French bulldogs because they’re Insta fashionable. Wish we had a qualzucht law in the uk.

We have 2 rescue pugs - adopted at 8 months and 6yo - people just don’t want them when they realise how expensive they can be at the vets. I have one with a longer nose who has had stage 2 boas surgery (since being with us) she has trachea collapse too. Which causes coughing and difficulties breathing.

We keep both of ours at a good weight, they are walked only in temps of 18 degrees or less (even if thats a 6am start!) and they love to play. My youngest pug will happily walk for 45 mins and play with other dogs etc, however he has been badly bred (has also had boas whilst with us) so we will need to be extra careful with him when he gets older.

I am watching both of mine now fast asleep, next to their floor fan and on a cool mat - no snoring or breathing issues, I think people really need to know how to care for these dogs especially those pugs who have been poorly bred.

Yes, they do. I would adopt one (there are so many in rescue because people don’t do the necessary research and have no idea of the cost of their medical needs) but I would never buy one, ever. They are bred for how people want them to look, with no regard for how that affects how they actually live.

I have a rescue one but he isn't a full pug, he's been crossed with another breed. He looks a lot like a pug but doesn't have bulging eyes, a flat-face, or bandy legs. He doesn't have any of the typical health problems pugs have - skin folds are healthy, breathing is perfect, joints are great, eyes are great. He does however have their obsession with food and has to have his meals weighed because just being slightly over makes him gain, we left him with a dog sitter once when we went on holiday and he was 3kg heavier when we got back!