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

Nigellas, I haven't yet seen really manky ears, interdigital cysts or lip fold dermatitis in working cockers, all of which are not all that uncommon in show type cockers. It remains to be seen whether the incidence of autoimmune conditions such as dry eye are as common in the working type as they are in the show type- I guess we'll find out as the numbers of working type ones increases. Having said that, I have seen a good few healthy show types (a good friend has one - he has a great temperament too and plenty of energy to enjoy loads of running around. Needs clipped out every couple of months though, whereas mine has never been to a grooming parlour in her life).

Most of the cockers I deal with are working dogs noddingoff - loads of ear problems but otherwise much better eye and skin health than show types. However, lots of IOHC :(

Noddingof and beagleof I practice in a area with lots of shoots so working cockers are my bread and butter in fact I have a cross (long story). The main thing I find is that are grass seed magnets and not in the normal places. We don't see much IOHC, but IMHA is really quite common we have 5 on the go currently and two of those needed blood transfusions.

Oh pants I was hoping they wouldn't have the same incidence of IOHC that springers have and as much IMHA as show cockers get! I suppose the autoimmune stuff is not surprising as a lot of working cockers have a high coefficient of inbreeding. I fear inhaled grass seeds when I watch mine belting along through mature grass at nose height- I try to steer her back to shorter grass or woodland!

Anyway, back to the original topic - small non-yappy healthy family dogs for OP. Parson Jack Russell?

Not so many inhaled ones, I have removed several large portions of flank due to nasty de granulating grass seed abscesses.
Despite the immune stuff I still have a working cocker cross, he is fab and I wouldn't change him for the world. Though next time I will have poodle, but that's another story.
Back to the original question I do like pugs, but wouldn't own one for all the above reasons and the slobber.

Would you get a Pug mix maybe? I have a rather adorable Jug ( Jack Russell x Pug) who is the apple of my eye
She's 9 months old and while she is extremely high spirited, she is a very soppy and cuddley little thing and thus far, in perfect health
No pug related ishoos!

This is she!

ive read that some pug mix's like a puggle or one mixed with jack russells are much healthier - i think they are trying to breed out the bad breathing problems
could be wrong but think they might be worth looking at

I'd be very, very careful with pug crosses.

I've yet to see a breeder of "jugs", "chugs", "puggles", etc. who is actually breeding with any kind of plan for producing a pug-like dog with better conformation beyond picking any random dog with a longer nose whose breed name will make a cute portmanteau when combined with pug.

It's entirely possible for such a cross to end up with dreadful conformation. I met a puggle a while ago which had a beagle sized body on bowed little pug legs. He was extremely brachycephalic with severe stenotic nares and was wheezing and gasping just pottering along on a cool day

As I said, mine seems to be in very good health currently. She does seem to be more JR though, with a quite lean body.

As upsetting it is to read that my pug (7 months) will have a miserable existence, I feel that I have to defend him. He is the sweetest, cutest thing. Loves everything and everyone: adults, children, other dogs. He has brought so much joy to our house that we just can't imagine life without him.

He did develop an eye ulcer, which is quite common in this breed because of their bulging eyes, and that was a very scary time for us but so far that's the only health problem he has had. His breathing is not loud; I think it's a combination of him still being young and we researched our breeder very carefully.

I do agree that they are being overbred. This seems to happen with whatever breed is in fashion at the time, and pugs and Frenchies lately seem to be it.

However, we do love our little smooshie face and don't regret a thing.

ds was desperate for a pug and after not that much research we got a Labrador instead and a pug calendar for his wall.

Pugs are very very cute, but I cant understand fully researching this breed and all the health issues, then, actually buying one as cuteness wins over the dogs health issues and quality of life

noddingoff
Ah yes i get you regarding the grooming - my show type has to have regular grooming and as I'm fussy about it, has to go somewhere to be handstripped. But it's a fun enough trip! (less fussy people just get them clipped).

He did get something on the outsides of his earflaps which the vet had no idea what it was, it gave him no trouble but seemed a bit odd. She sent a bit of it off to be tested but it was inconclusive and she said it was just a kind of "cradle cap" of the ears! It has not come back.

He had a bit of a problem with his lip folds as a puppy which I understand is a common problem but since changing to raw feeding it has never come back, touch wood.

I adore working type cockers - they just have a crazy look about them and they are like dynamite compared to my show type. But I chose a show type for a good reason - that his exercise requirements are more suited to my lifestyle than a working one. I would love a working type some time, but not until I am able to give him or her the exercise required.

Anyway I guess I'm saying that I believe the show type cocker is an ideal family pet if you can give him or her lots of exercise and opportunities for sniffing games etc. and even maybe gundog training which we are doing ATM. Basically, activities which satisfy their interests! I'm not so sure about a pug - I would say chose a breed that suits your lifestyle etc. I was going for a terrier originally, but after research, decided a show-type cocker would be perfect for us they do bite loads as puppies but that's just a phase

Thanks for all the replies. MrsCSoprano I do want a pug I admit that ot another small dog. But what I don't want as has been suggested on here is a lurcher, whippet or staffy. I don't want a large dog either. I'm not irresponsible and wont rush into getting any dog just for the sake of it. It's a massive commitment and I have to be sure we do the right thing so please don't say that I don't seem to have any dedication towards the commitment of owning a dog.

BecauseIsaidS0 your pug is adorable