Considering getting a pug puppy - any advice?

[OldEvilOwl]

Hi we are looking at getting a puppy in the next few months. We had our 15year old JRT put to sleep before Xmas, and my first dog was also a JRT. As children we had border terriers & labradors. I would love a pug, but understand they can have health issues from the way they are bred. Does anyone have much experience of them?

Just to step in and give another side of the coin - I would never, ever get a pug puppy as I hugely disagree with the way pugs have been disfigured for money.

However, there are many, many pugs cast aside by disreputable breeders after having terrible lives - they need love and deserve the very best despite their various inclinations to ill health. I adopt old pugs from pug specific charities, someone needs to love these old guys and girls who simply only ask for love after a difficult start.

So don't dismiss a pug in your life, there are many older pugs who are the 'waste' cast aside by the cruel breeders. They deserve love as much as any dog.

I have had JR'S all my life but currently have a Border Collie rescue. She is fab! If you have the time and space for one then I highly recommend them. Otherwise a JR is a good shout for a family dog. A friend of mine has a spaniel who is a lot of fun, really well behaved and loves long walks and kids.
My Mum has a Staffy who is amazing with kids and also loves playing and long walks, they get a bad press but i have never met a nasty staff. Sony needing homes too.

*so many

I am not normally a fan of cross-breeds, but I make an exception for pugs. Cross them with anything with a functioning nose.

You might want to look at puggles - pug/beagle crosses. The ones I've known have been generally good natured, if untrainable, and able to breathe.

Otherwise, as you like terriers, I'd suggest looking at borders. Again, in my experience, good-natured healthy little beasts.

Poor pugs, such lovely dogs, gorgeous personality often, but suffering so much

Like the pics of the ones crossed with JRs though!

I love my pug. His breathing was fine up to a year ago and I got him nose and throat surgery (on pet insurance) and he's perfect. Very cuddly, loves a walk and sleeps on my bed.

Cleo your Pug is gorgeous 😍

Yes, mine is 100% pug - he was abandoned in the town centre at 10 months (we didn't know why as he's socialised/well mannered/cuddly/toilet trained. We now think it's because they had a baby as he barks distressedly when a baby cries on the tv

Anyone interested in a Pug rescue must look at prodogsdirect.co.uk as there's a Pug puppy on there who's having cleft palate surgery soon - and then will be adoptable. The videos of her (Penelope) are adorable - she was hand fed as a tiny puppy and is doing well for 12 weeks.

@cleowasmycat

I love my pug. His breathing was fine up to a year ago and I got him nose and throat surgery (on pet insurance) and he's perfect. Very cuddly, loves a walk and sleeps on my bed.

He's not perfect- he's had to have painful, invasive surgery in order to allow him to breathe - he has been bred for a look that is incompatible with normal life. If you cannot see that is a massive welfare issue then there's no helping you.

He also has exophthalmos and dental overcrowding. These will likely cause issues later in life.

Honestly I despair of people that actively finance the breeding of dogs with significant lifelong welfare issues by buying these puppies. It's animal cruelty funded by people who value how their animal looks over how it feels.

veterinari my pug was 2 when I got him from someone who could no longer keep him. It's not his fault his face is like that, he needed a family and now he has one.
FYI I wouldn't buy any breed from a breeder, always rescue regardless of breed.

My advice would be not to buy one!

I have a pug, we got her as a puppy thinking we had done lots of research and chosen a good breeder. Wrong on both counts. She’s had an eye ulcer (common), one lot of surgery for her breathing and needs another (common), and now has problems with her spine (also common). She snores a lot and farts a lot and is obsessed with food.

However I would never get any other breed of dog now as I’ve never known a dog like them in terms of friendliness and cheerfulness. My vets describes pugs as perpetual toddlers! But I would also never get another Pug puppy as there are so many pugs in rescue centres as people have no idea of the costs involved with all their health issues. Some of the rescue centres have ones rescued from Chinese meat markets :(

Only get one if you have deep pockets or very good insurance and if you want the kind of dog that always wants to be with you. On your lap, in your bed, like a little shadow. They aren’t for everyone, it’s also tricky walking them near other dogs as their faces mean other dogs don’t interpret their expressions well, and also their belief that every human and dog in the world wants to be their friend, means a few near misses with unfriendly dogs.

Oh and as soon as the weather gets too warm you can’t walk them, unless very early in the day. So if you want a dog to take out for long summer walks on the beach etc then they aren’t a good choice.

Ds did his English folio persuasive essay on flat faced breeds such as the pug and French bull dog. Even a 15 year old can research and see how barbaric these extreme dog breeds are. Shame on anyone who buys them.

This is daisy my mum's pug she's 10 and Roxie my pug X staffy. Daisy has been through her fair share of health issues, breathing issues, eye ulcers, tumours. She's a lovely natured dog. The sound of them breathing is very loud. Only thing I would say is definitely insure. Despite health issues- there amazing dogs.

How about a Westie , they are lovable & playful & great with children.

Get a rescue dog. There are so many unwanted animals abandoned and left to rot by people who think animals are dispensable accessories.

Don’t get a pug. I’ve got one - I rescued him - and he has a lot of health issues. Overcrowded teeth leading to him having most removed, skin allergies in his folds, I think he has mild sleep apnoea and in summer he has to go out either stupidly early or really late because he gets heatstroke. He’s a handful but I love him, but I’d NEVER buy a pug puppy. I would rescue another pug - look at Bubblebeccapugs - an independent pug rescue if you really want one. But I agree with others saying avoid squashed face breeds

Please don’t, last time I went to the emergency vet during summer the waiting room was full of brachycephalic dogs who couldn’t breathe.

@OtterInDisgrace have you checked recently?! No rescues available at all

We have not been able to “qualify” for a rescue dog despite having experience with rescues (we have one already), a fenced secure garden, someone working from home (even pre-pandemic) and kids over 16, and lots of time for testing/working through issues.

These magical rescue dogs that are supposed to be available are only available in MNers imaginations

However, if you know of any sighthounds/lurchers needing homes please point me in the right direction

(Not even got a reply back from any of the rescues so far )

The sound of them breathing is very loud.

The sound of them struggling to breathe is very loud.

Only thing I would say is definitely insure. Despite health issues- there amazing dogs.

🤦‍♀️ So despite the guaranteed health issues this breed is cursed to live with every day the OP should go ahead and get one cos they are "amazing". There is nothing amazing about buying a dog that will suffer throughout its life.

[quote ThenCatoJumpedOut]@OtterInDisgrace have you checked recently?! No rescues available at all

We have not been able to “qualify” for a rescue dog despite having experience with rescues (we have one already), a fenced secure garden, someone working from home (even pre-pandemic) and kids over 16, and lots of time for testing/working through issues.

These magical rescue dogs that are supposed to be available are only available in MNers imaginations

However, if you know of any sighthounds/lurchers needing homes please point me in the right direction

(Not even got a reply back from any of the rescues so far )[/quote]
That's because there's been a huge drop in the number of dogs signed over to rescue and like a 50% increase in calls to rehome. The rescues can pick and choose from a huge number of perfect homes for their easy dogs, they're usually only online for a day then have a hundred applications and are taken down. The ones left are the challenging ones who need more specific homes, but even they are finding homes.

Wait until after lockdown to find a rescue dog. When everyone goes back to normal working hours out of the home, when kids are going back to school, when people are allowed to go on foreign holidays, then there's going to be a huge influx of rescue dogs.

Thanks for replies. I will not be getting a pug! My last two dogs were actually given to me as they needed homes, but not through a rescue. I'm not in a rush to find one but am furloughed at the moment so it would be a good time to train one. Will keep looking, and follow up on some of your suggestions. I really like the long haired JR but don't seem to be many of those around

Poor inbred creatures that struggle to breathe.

JRT are the best, can't beat them

Do you mean these OP?

www.masajackrussells.co.uk/

They aren’t what I would consider ‘long haired’ but they aren’t the smooth coated jacks I’m familiar with either.

From the breeder linked above ^
I’m not a terrier fan at all but there is something really irresistible about the dogs the Kennel Club now considers ‘Jack russell’
They bear very little resemblance looks wise to the jacks I’ve seen and known over the years but that breeder has a working farm so I’d hope they are still jack in temperament at least

Another vote for a Parson Russell Terrier. Lively dogs, full of fun but also happy to sit on your knee watch telly. Ours has totally transformed our family 😊