Not All Pug Breeders Are Alike

You know you want a Pug and are compassionate enough not to by a Pug from a pet store of online puppy broker that sells Pugs all year round. You know that these places get all of their puppies from inhumane puppy mills, where adult dogs live their lives in torment. You know that there are other, more humane options for getting a Pug puppy, most notably from an American Kennel Club licensed Pug breeder.

Pugs have great personalities, but are notorious for being unhealthy. In order to get a healthy and sane Pug puppy, you need to skip any backyard breeders who breed for quantity and not quality. They often have classified ads in the local paper. You need to choose your Pug breeder carefully, as they will greatly affect the health and temperament of what Pug you get. One way to sort good Pug breeders from bad is to ask them questions.

You should also ask your potential Pug breeder about how long they've been breeding Pugs, what their show records are and what they strive to produce in their Pug puppies. If you are contacting a website of a Pug breeder, ask if the Pug puppies are from European bloodlines. Usually the site will say. If there is any mention that all of the puppies are from Europe, run away. You are not dealing with a legitimate Pug breeder, but a puppy broker who serves as a middleman for puppy mills of America and Europe. Never buy a puppy sight unseen.

You should also ask a Pug breeder who their vet is and if they have any references from past customers. This is not rude to ask. Usually, you won’t have time to ask, because you will be inundated with photos and stories about past Pug puppies and their lives now, much like a proud grandparent will shower you with photos of the grandkids.

You also need to ask the Pug breeder about why they are breeding Pugs, since it is such an unnatural breed. Hopefully, you will get answers from breeders hoping to promote healthier longer-nosed Pugs rather than one who win ribbons and trophies. Coupled with their Persian cat-like faces, Pugs also have incredible personalities. They might have just been enchanted more by the Pug's companionship than their looks.

They also should be asking you lots of questions about your store of Pug information and any past Pug experience you may have. There should be a waiting period and a contract, which states very clearly what medical conditions the Pug puppy is warranted for. The final say as to who gets what Pug puppy is the Pug breeder's – not yours. You should also ask if you could call for training advice in the future at no extra cost. Knowing all of this now, please reconsider a puppy and adopt an adult Pug from your local animal shelter.

Jenny Donaldson has interviewed many dog owners, vets and shelter workers about what make a good Pug breeder. Use common sense when choosing between multiple Pug breeders. Reading a lot of Pug information will make you a better pet owner.