Pug?!

[Stormzythecat]

Just looking for peoples experiences with pug puppies really. I've looked after an older adult pug in the past and know they are mad (in a good way) but we have found a pug boy that seems perfect for us he's 15 weeks,housetrained and doesn't nip,he is kc reg and coming straight from the breeder.

So I suppose what I want to know is are they hard and very hyper as pups? More so than any other puppy I mean. We have had a puppy here we looked after for 2 weeks but that was a shih tzu and very chilled so was fine with young kids.

I think I'd be worried about it's health. Now they're so popular I think their 'quality' has been compromised.

They are really popular around here but you can hear them before you see them

Yes I'm aware of health issues etc which is why I'm sticking to kc so there may be less issues.

KC registered really means nothing nowadays , that's if it ever did .

Mmm I suppose but at least you know where the pup has come from and that it's not been cross or inbred.

kc doesn't always means the pup comes from good lines or is even health checked. For a breed like a pug you really need to do your homework. Good breeders will have long waiting lists and no pups left over.

Regarding genetic health, there is no guarantee that KC registered puppies will be any healthier than those not registered. In fact the KC have a disclaimer to this effect on its website. The main advantage of KC registration is identity and traceability of a puppy’s ancestors and the breeder’s details.

Being KC registered does not guarantee less health issues.
I would also have a look at what insurance will cost for a pug as I believe it is a lot more than for more healthy breeds.

I'd be asking why a kc registered breeder has an unsold 16w puppy...

Most decent breeders have a wait list before they breed...

Ok well he is only left over as he was reserved and then let down. I suppose I could have issues with any dog then so won't win whatever I do!
I choose this breed as they seem to be the friendliest and most suited to our lifestyle.

Chose I mean

So unhealthy I would be feeling guilty listening to the poor thing struggling to breathe. They aren't bad dogs, but all puppies are difficult and ones with health problems are obviously harder to care for. Get him neutered when he's old enough, both for behavioural reasons and ethical ones (these breeds shouldn't exist).

What Nancy said.

Ah my friend has a pug and she is the most adorable little thing ever, and so funny, they have been around for centuries. Yes they have health issues, as do many dogs ever tried to stop a lab eating or dealt with a German shepherds hips but if you are aware of these, then I'm sure you can give the dog a happy and healthy home,

Well they're a biological abomination aren't they? I wish the flat face could be bred out of them, poor little buggers.

Everything Nancy said plus be prepared for potentially high vet bills. Brachycephalic dogs suffer with respiratory issues and quite frankly, the breeding of them is abominable as much of the veterinary world will tell you.

I know but not buying him isn't going to stop the problem. I've known shih tzu's to have worse breathing issues, and German shepherds and labs with awful hip problems, I think whatever dog you have you could have an issue with, or they could turn out to be fine and live a lifetime with no problems. We just want a family dog that will suit everyone and be happy.

I'd also add pugs have been around in their current state since rhe 16 th century. This isn't a new breed and suggesting we eradicate them is not ok.

Pugs gave multiple chronic health problems and generally brachycephalics breeds have poor quality of life - it is recommended that the general public doesn't buy them:
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/sep/21/vets-ask-prospective-dog-owners-to-avoid-pugs-and-other-flat-faced-breeds

A KC registration is no indication of breeder quality and a reputable breeder would not have a 16 week old puppy left over due to buyers pulling out - they'd have a waiting list as long as your arm. I'd be concerned the previous buyers had found a problem.

I suspect from your posts that at you'll go ahead and buy the pup as it's cute and you clearly like it. Good luck. I hope that you get it insured.

Being reserved and let down is a very common story.

The only dogs MNetters want people to get are poodles or retired greyhounds

OP I walk some French Bulldogs so similar with the health and breathing issues. Have to be really careful to make sure they don't overheat. I don't walk them if it's hot, we just stay in the garden. Personally I wouldn't get a pug for the various issues with them but I do have a Scottie, a breed that comes with their own health issues. I casually went to see a litter and fell in love with him. He's devoted to us and us to him and I have no regrets. I hope you get him and he makes you very happy.

KC registration alone is no guarantee of health, the KC is simply a registry and they make very few requirements (in fact none, other than for ABS members) of people registering their dogs.

You do need to be very careful with pugs as they are extremely prone to quite a list of health problems. The main issues are those associated with the shape they've been bred into; the compromised breathing, skin fold issues, spinal problems and injury-prone eyes all relating to either their extremely short faces or screw tail. Unfortunately both show and pet breeders are still, for the most part, producing dogs with pretty much no muzzle and tightly curled tails which drastically increases the likelihood of them suffering health issues. It's really worth reading the UFAW pages about these health issues if you're considering a pug.

As well as the conformation related issues there are a number of other heritable conditions for which DNA tests should have been done on both parent dogs prior to them being used for breeding. These are Degenerative Myelopathy, Pug Dog Encephalitis, May-Hegglin Anomaly, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency and Primary Lens Luxation. Although it's not a clear cut as a DNA test there is also a screening programme for Hemivertebrae (the spinal condition relating to the screw tail) which the breeder should have made use of.

I'd be suspicious of a breeder who has a puppy "left over" at 15 weeks. A decent breeder will have a waiting list filled well before the puppies are anywhere near ready to go to their new homes (in fact many will have waiting lists going before the litter is even born) and if a home falls through for whatever reason will have others keen to have a puppy. Also bear in mind that the socialisation window closes at around 16 weeks old so you would need to be absolutely sure the breeder has been socialising the puppy appropriately.

Not buying them and therefore not creating a demand for them actually will help the problem.

I wonder if the people who pulled out did their research or maybe noticed something in particular wrong with this puppy? Poor boy!

I'd also add pugs have been around in their current state since rhe 16 th century. This isn't a new breed and suggesting we eradicate them is not ok.

No one is suggesting we eradicate them but suggesting that the deformities shown by the modern pug standard have been around for hundreds of years is wilful ignorance - Henery Bernard Chalon's pug in 1802 shows significantly different conformation from the modern breed
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pug#/media/File%3AHenry_Bernard_Chalon_-A_favorite_pug(1802).jpg

As do many other depictions of the time

Selective breeding of pugs deformities characteristics has changed the pug considerably since the 16th centuary.

Eradicating the breed is not ok, but the "cute" deformities should be breed out

Xpost

I wish the flat face could be bred out of them, poor little buggers.

It absolutely could be, some French Bulldog breeders are making excellent progress even without outcrossing (Hawbucks and Honey Marsh for example) but the sad thing is breeders just aren't selecting away from the exaggerations which cause the health problems.

Extremely brachycephalic dogs are still winning in the show ring and they're still the most popular with pet buyers so that's what the vast majority of breeders are producing whilst sticking their heads in the sand about all the health problems.