THNKING ABOUT GETTING A PUG.... advice please.

[bigknickersbigknockers]

Myself and DH are considering getting a pug as a family pet. We have 3 children ages 14, 10 and 8 and feel we are ready to commit to a small dog. Im aware they can have health issues but is there anything else we should know before we make a massive decision. tia

Don't. They must lead really miserable lives not being able to breath properly.

Make sure he is insured as many need airway surgery so they can breath. I am a vet and I wouldn't.

Something like a border terrier or schnauzer much healthier.

My sister has one. It cant run or walk far. It overheats even in milder weather. Even playing in the garden with the kids can be too much for him
Insurance is expensive because most of them will have very serious health problems at some point.

My sisters pug is 5 and its cost over £5k in vet bills so far.

Pick another breed thats not been tampered with so much

Pugs aren't what they were, when I was a child, my parents were good friends with a couple who bred pugs, many of whom were champions, they were pretty active things, playing endlessly with us in the garden and going for long walks.

Pugs now are ridiculously rectangular as a rule and just stupidly unhealthy, this is one case when I wouldn't even advise a rescue as they are likely to be so badly bred and just a little packet of heartbreak.

If you must (and I wouldn't) contact the breed club secretary for your area, find a really good breeder, and be prepared to wait I would think at least a year and be looking to pay in the region of £1500+ for a puppy.

Personally I would just go to you local rescue and get yourself a nice little dog/pup, but it's your decision :)

Don't. Some breeds should be allowed to die out, either that or change the breed standard completely so they can live healthy pain free lives.

Get a little patterdale mix from a rescue, lovely little dogs. Rescues have more puppies than you would think too, you just need to register your interest with some and keep popping in/ phoning up so you get in there quick! The puppies rarely make the website or even the public kennels

I really don't think the world needs more severely brachycephalic dogs (and there is no such thing as a pug that isn't brachycephalic), but if you insist, then make sure you keep it lean, get life cover insurance with a high limit, don't be surprised when the monthly premiums skyrocket, and don't complain when you have to find the time to go back to the vets again and again and again and again for rechecks of its eye ulcers/dental work/luxating patella surgery/airway surgery. Don't expect it to come on long brisk family walks with you, since as well as not being able to breathe properly like normal dogs, 60% of them have hip dysplasia. Oh, and plan what you would tell the children if it develops Pug Dog Encephalitis or paralysis due to complications from hemivertebrae, and has to be euthanased at a young age.
I'm a vet and saw one today that was diagnosed with kennel cough a little while back.. A dog with a normal-shaped head would be well on the way to recovery now, maybe not even needing antibiotics; this one was gasping and going blue every time it had a bout of coughing. Just because it's a pug- it's tiny airways and all the extra tissue flubbering around at the back of it's throat mean that any bit of upper respiratory inflammation, that a normal dog would cope with, spells trouble.

Get a dog which can live a life without being plagued by health issues just because they have been bred to look a certain way. They are a walking disaster

I'm also a vet. I agree with everything above. Pugs are truly delightful little dogs, and if I ever had a brachycephalic dog it would be a pug, so I can see why you want one.

However, it's demand for them that perpetuates their existence, and most of them lead pretty miserable lives, punctuated by painful or distressing health problems, surgical corrections and heatstroke. They deserve better - choose another breed.

A family member has two.

Both bought from top breeders upwards of £1600 each.

One is mental. I mean actually crazy. Spends its days snorting, barking and running in continuous circles.

The other has just lost an eye due to another condition.

They both constantly snort, sniff and breath heavily. It makes my chest tight just looking at them.

OK, let's have some fun suggesting dogs for the OP.
Already suggested:

• border terrier - great, don't know if they need that handstripping grooming though, perhaps somebody could advise?
• schnauzer - good, a fair few of them are yappy though, need regular grooming/clipping
• rescue: great and you can get an idea of temperament; something like a small collie cross perhaps
• patterdale - great; some of them are a bit sharp/need a very firm hand but some have great temperaments

My own dog is a working cocker which I think is a good family dog and a lot lower maintenance coat/healthier than typical show cocker, but only get one if you can cope with a turbocharged energetic dog that needs to belt around in woodland, dive into every watercourse it can find, and retrieve stuff for at least an hour a day and preferably twice a day.

Breeds I wouldn't consider:

• anything brachycephalic, and that includes Lhasas and ShihTzu - so popular now that the breeds are pretty much wrecked, and we see more and more with joint and back problems as a lot of them have awful bandy legs (due to a cartilage defect which can also affect the discs in the spine)
• Cavalier, unless I could find one whose parents had been heart and CM-SM tested, and was at least-brachycephalic end of the scale with a decent mouth and non-sticky-out eyes

Thankyou for the advice. I wont be getting a pug, as cute as they are. Id love one but if they have a miserable life I don't want to go through with it.
I don't really like yappy dogs. I will have to do without

What about a whippet or a small lurcher, or even a smallish greyhound? Healthy, gentle, friendly, usually low shedding, and rescues often have pups and family friendly young adult dogs. Try Hounds First Rescue, Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, Scruples Whippet Rescue or the Retired Greyhound Trust. All reputable rescues with good national coverage.

And I know I will probably be shot down in flames, but what about a nice Staffy? Usually have great temperaments, and are healthy, fun and friendly. I see a couple of staffies at our obedience classes and I've also seen them competing at Rally and they are great at it.

You don't have to do without! Honestly, have a look at your local rescue, bet you'll find a lovely small dog there that can fit into your family. Don't give up.

Oh yes staffs are GREAT dogs. Brilliant personalities, nothing like you'd imagine. I'd love a staff. Have a huge greyhound at mo and they are fab but I know you want small

It's a sad truth that some breeds have been destroyed by popularity and greed.

I rescued a German Spitz 7 years ago and he is the most divine dog. Clever, funny and loyal he is an amazing dog. Rescue dogs don't have to be the typical terrier/ staff breeds. There are some great rescue forums where you can explore all sorts of breeds.
Dogs are such a wonderful addition to the family, your kids will love it when you find the perfect dog for you. Good luck x

good suggestions - lurchers/whippets and Staffies are usually quiet aren't they? I'm not a big fan of gripping dogs but if you get a Staffie from a rsecue that has tried it out well with all sorts of other dogs and made sure that it doesn't get arsey when it has to give up a tug toy, then you could have a winner.
Sheltie? If you can cope with the coat.
Medium sized poodle?

OP whereabouts are you?

Just going to leave this here ... www.manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=11580

Aw Lucy is cuuuute!

I'm going to disagree! I have a 9 year old Pug and he's fabulous. He's honestly never been ill and we flew him back from the USA with us when we moved back to the UK. Yes he can't do massive hikes but he loves playing in the garden and short walks on the moors where we live.
Other than his annual vaccs I've only had 2 vet trips with him- one was for a cut paw and the other was a stomach virus, both of which could happen to any dog.
He's super friendly and great with kids. His one issue is the doorbell- he does go nuts when it goes and barks like mad and despite a lot of work with him, we can't seem to stop it!
He's a great character and I wouldn't be without him.

noddingoff why is a working cocker more healthy than a show type? Just wondering because I have a VERY healthy show cocker and he is a little love!

Scrap that, just read the update and it's no children.

HOWEVER

www.woodgreen.org.uk/rehome/dogs/11026_cassie what a sweet face!