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Post by ellieraga on Jun 21, 2012 19:42:46 GMT
Just looking for a bit of advice really
Looking into getting a Pug and wondering peoples views on the breed as heard some stories stating they cant breathe very well and are lazy etc.
Have children, ponies and a cat, so would a pug fit into this sort of enviroment, someone at home most of the time so will have lots of love and company, also not sure to try and re home an older dog or to start afresh with a puppy,
Any views/advice most appreciated
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Post by nia2311 on Jun 21, 2012 19:57:36 GMT
I can't answer your health question, but I have also heard pugs suffer from breathing problems due to the shortened snout. I would ask a good local vet for advice on that. I would personally try to rescue an animal - there are so many in rescues, I personally could not go out and pay hundreds, even a thousand pounds for a new puppy, knowing so many nice, some pedigree dogs, are sat in shelters all around the country. That's my view though. The centres do match animals to the household, so if you didn't want something with "issues" they would keep to that. Many dogs in shelters are perfectly good, well trained pets, who have simply been abandoned. I rescued two rabbits, both adults, who have become excellent housetrained pets who use litter trays, eat from their bowls and who do not chew the furniture ( wallpaper has been done though!)
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Post by TooManyColoureds on Jun 21, 2012 20:21:05 GMT
Hello
We have a pug and have bread them and they are brilliant family dogs !!we have 2 cats at home that she lives with and they are fine together. Our pug is our lorry dog how comes everywhere with us and has since she was a puppy. They are fab with children aswell my sister has
D one of the puppies we bred and she is her daughters best friend!! Our pug has not got any breathing problems but we do keep her on the slimmer side and she is far from lazy ! I would avoid any that are very closley bread ie have the same grand parents as this can cause them to have problems .
I would say go for it as we love our pug to bits and we will be getting another one ! X
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Post by blueskyes on Jun 21, 2012 20:43:41 GMT
We have had many pugs too!
My boyfriend has just bought me a pug, however she is 1/4 puggle but is the splitting image of a pug!
Our dog trainer has told me that this is more appropriate as she is able to breathe easier as she has a tiny little nose that pokes out a little!
She is extremely energetic and by far the funnest puppy I have ever had!
We have horses, a cat, tortoises, sheep, chickens and is great with kids too.
When she went to the vet for injections, the vet said that if pugs have issue with thier palets (breating issues) they can now have operations to help!
I would seriously recommend getting one, they are a lot of fun!
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idalia
Junior Member
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Post by idalia on Jun 22, 2012 11:06:10 GMT
I love Pugs, unfortunately I don't think one would fit in with the other dogs I currently have, one day maybe.... I have several friends who have Pugs and have no problems whatsoever with them. There are pros and cons with all the options you have. If you buy a pedigree pup be sure to look for a breeder who has bred from dogs who have had all the relevant health tests for the breed, without looking that up I'm not sure what they currently are. You could perhaps contact The Kennel Club, I've always found them very helpful, in fact I phoned them a few days ago for a friend, they were brilliant. Obviously a top class pedigree puppy, from healthy parents, registered etc. is going to be expensive, although often a breeder will sell pet quality puppies for less, sometimes with endorsements to say they cannot be bred from for example. Rescue is another option and very rewarding, two of mine are rescue dogs, one privately, one from welfare. Obviously it is unlikely that a rescue dog will come with any paperwork or test records, although as the dog is likely to be an adult any health issues may well be apparent ie. patella luxation, breathing or eye problems (incidently Pugs do sometimes have eye trouble due to their large prominent eyes getting injured). There are lots of people breeding Pug crosses, a lot of them are IMHO just cashing in on the popularity of the breed and that of designer dogs  I'm not saying they're all bad, I'm sure a lot of them care for their pups and where they go, I did however go to see a few litters of poodle crosses with a friend who has an allergy, to say I was disgusted at how some of the pups were cared for is an understatement. Whilst crossing Pugs with other breeds MAY reduce the risk of health problems it is also possible that the parents may have lots of health issues of their own which may or may not be inherited by the pups. Have fun looking for a dog and let us know what you decide with photos of course  |
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Post by pipkin1 on Jun 22, 2012 12:47:25 GMT
PUGS!! fantastic family pets, comical little characters who think they can get away with murder cause their so cute!! they dont miss a trick and are never more than 2 feet away from you!! I have pugs and have had 2 litters, although they are short nosed it doesnt seem to bother them (mine anyway!), they do breathe noisily but its the warm weather that affects them most. They have such thick coats they can easily overheat, so we avoid walking them far on a hot day and have a fish box full of water for them to lay in.
Have come across some jugs, fab little things but saw one the other day and it had the top jaw of a pug and the bottom jaw of the jack. Dont know how the poor thing managed to eat and i think this is the problem with x breeding you really dont know what youll end up with!!
But you wont go wrong with a pug as a pet !! they are fab with kids and other animals!!
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Post by huggybear on Jun 22, 2012 14:52:48 GMT
Okay so ill probably get shot down for this post but people ought to know..... Yes theyre cute yes theyre friendly yes theyre cuddly BUT ............. Pugs are brachysephalic basically meaning they have a squashed face making it difficult for them to breathe they can also have skin problems due to the folds of skin on there face these skin conditions can become chronic very quickly if gone un-noticed One of the worst complaints for me is the awful spine curvature that ha been bred in to them to produce that d@rn curly tail ! I have worked within veterinary practices and have seen and dealt with first hand the health issues that these dogs come with the above mentioned problems are only some of the issues that are a result of breeding these poor dogs there was a documentary on tv not long ago outlining the health issues of some breeds of dogs including pugs, boxers , cavalier king charles spaniels theres a link to it below topdocumentaryfilms.com/pedigree-dogs-exposed/ |
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Post by Simcris Stud on Jun 22, 2012 18:01:06 GMT
We have 2 pugs - one is 9 years old & one is 4 years old - we live on a farm with ponies/cats/hens & sheep....they are fantastic little dogs always on the go so would fit in very well with a busy active family.
Yes some can have problems - but can't any animal/breed? so please do not let the comments made by huggybear put you off this wonderful breed. Do go to a good reputable breeder - have a look on champdogs or go to a local show.Good luck in your search!
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Post by quintet on Jun 22, 2012 18:10:06 GMT
After watching the documentary mentioned by huggybear, I would never have a pug! Surely the more that are bred then the worse their health issues become? Most mongrels will have far less health issues and a longer life expectancy and can also fit in very well with an active family!
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Post by Simcris Stud on Jun 22, 2012 18:27:59 GMT
Any breed can have health issue - but as per the media pick on certain breeds - its a shame you feel that way as you are missing out on a fantastic breed of dog. We have a few dogs here & to be totally honest the only one's without any problems have been the pugs - the key is a good breeder - not some back street breeder in it for the cash.
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david
Full Member
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Post by david on Jun 22, 2012 19:02:44 GMT
my friend had a pug and it used to run round the stables all day long i mean obviously it grunted because of the shortened snout etc but every breed of dog has its own problems etc an i have very rarely seen a lazy pug haha, they alway look happy an full of life, they are god family dogs as they like alot of company and really as-long as he/she doesn't get too fat like with most animals they tend to live a happy life, but as CMB said make sure you get one from a good breeder because although they may be more expensive at first they will be more likely to be healthier in their lives have fun |
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Post by Buzzbee on Jun 22, 2012 20:26:13 GMT
After watching the documentary mentioned by huggybear, I would never have a pug! Surely the more that are bred then the worse their health issues become? Most mongrels will have far less health issues and a longer life expectancy and can also fit in very well with an active family! I have owned pugs and bred 2 litters and in my experience had no health issues whatsoever, they were far from lazy and amazing little dogs in all respects, in the house, on the yard etc. As far as the documentary goes I wouldnt let this put me off, I have 3 staffordshire bull terriers and if I believed everything I heard in the news or read in the papers I wouldnt have them, the fact is people with none or little experience of a specific breed choose to believe what they will. If you have decided on a breed then do your homework, decide if this is the breed for you and buy from a reputable breeder. Good luck in your search, Im sure whatever you decide will bring you many years of happiness ;D |
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Post by huggybear on Jun 22, 2012 23:30:19 GMT
After watching the documentary mentioned by huggybear, I would never have a pug! Surely the more that are bred then the worse their health issues become? Most mongrels will have far less health issues and a longer life expectancy and can also fit in very well with an active family! I have owned pugs and bred 2 litters and in my experience had no health issues whatsoever, As far as the documentary goes I wouldnt let this put me off, I have 3 staffordshire bull terriers and if I believed everything I heard in the news or read in the papers I wouldnt have them, the fact is people with none or little experience of a specific breed choose to believe what they will. If you have decided on a breed then do your homework, decide if this is the breed for you and buy from a reputable breeder. Good luck in your search, Im sure whatever you decide will bring you many years of happiness ;D Not sure of this comment was aimed towards myself or not however i would just like to add that i myself do have a pedigree dog who is a dobermann i also when i got him entree the absurd world that is dog showing you think horse shows are facey !!!! As for owning and breeding pugs and not seeing health issues if curvature of the spine isnt a health issue then what is ? If a dog struggles to breathe due to a short snout is this not also a health concern ? And the pressure that is inevitably put on the heart to function as near normally as it can ?? Sorry this is one of my bug bears people say they dont SEE any health problems yet its staring them in the double curled tailed face ! |
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Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
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Post by Milliesmum on Jun 23, 2012 18:23:05 GMT
It never fails to amuse me how the dog snobs will slate a cross breed and defend a pedigree breed that is notorious for bred in health issues!!! At the end of the day its everyone's own choice whether they want a pedigree dog or a cross - just accept that there can be problems with either!
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Post by Simcris Stud on Jun 24, 2012 14:38:19 GMT
Milliesmum - i would never slate a crossbreed - just annoys me when people jump on a band wagon about pedigree dogs - yet have never owned or lived with that breed.Its not about being a 'dog snob' its about knowing a breed having lived with them for 10 years.
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Post by huggybear on Jun 24, 2012 17:02:04 GMT
^ if this was aimed towards myself i have not joined any band wagon i have just stated facts if unhappy with these fact theni would suggest taking them up with the kennel club as they produce the breed standard and i as i previously stated i HAVE had previous experience in TREATING these poor dogs for the some of the conditions i mentioned.
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Post by huggybear on Jun 24, 2012 17:07:03 GMT
^ if this was aimed towards myself i have not joined any band wagon i have just stated facts if unhappy with these fact theni would suggest taking them up with the kennel club as they produce the breed standard and i as i previously stated i HAVE had previous experience in TREATING these poor dogs for the some of the conditions i mentioned. Also i dis not single out this breed there are others bred with abnormalities created through breeding. this discussion is beginning to get far beyond what the op actually enquired about so would apologise to op for digressing x |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2012 17:16:23 GMT
I love pugs and always will whatever anyone's opinion.
Weve had many and they have lived very long lives and have never died due to breathing issues!
Go for it and enjoy it!
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Post by Simcris Stud on Jun 24, 2012 20:39:05 GMT
It wasn't directed at you huggybear - i was just stating my opinion as everyone else has been doing. My experience of living with pugs has been nothing but a positive one - they have brought me & my partner hours of laughter. All animals no matter what breed -x/breed - heinz 57 they are can have health issues - i find it sad that people have such poor opinions of these fabulous dogs. The world is full of do-gooders who are quick to spout their opinion but rarely have the experience to back it up!. That said i hope that ellieraga finds her perfect companion be it a pug or any other breed!
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Post by viking on Jun 24, 2012 20:58:54 GMT
I would suggest going to a reputable breeder for any breed of dog.
There are few that will go through life totally problem free, be they pedigree or mongrel.
As long as they are loved and looked after properly, the choice is yours. Go for it ellieraga if that's what you fancy.
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Post by pipkin1 on Jun 24, 2012 22:10:06 GMT
Sorry Huggybear!! I know where you are coming from but there are so many breeds including x breeds (PROBS THAT HAVNT EMERGED YET)that suffer from diff probs and its brachicephalic!! ( short nosed breeds) cavs suffer from hydrocephalus (water on the brain) golden retrievers cancer, I CAN GO ON!!!! but how many do you come across on a daily basis. are we inter bred ? god how many diseases and cancers do we humans suffer from ? Yes buy from a reputable breeder but weve seen crufts dogs with problems!! I have also bred boston terriers ( which i love with a passion) and had one pup with a palette problem which i`ve kept, having doctored and also having the op! i am sensible and would never have sold this pup with her breathing probs ! but she is one out of a line of umpteen show dogs on both sides!! so yes we are not all born perfectly even us humans!! I do know as a ¬brechicaphalic¬ owner there are probs and i own one, but ive also owned ` years ago a golden retriever who had cancer and so did a friend of ours! so take your pick unless you buy a purebred wolf expect A PROB SOMEWHERE!! SORRY IF IVE UPSET ANYONE BUT IYS MY EXPERIENCE!!!
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Post by Buzzbee on Jun 25, 2012 9:07:53 GMT
It wasn't directed at you huggybear - i was just stating my opinion as everyone else has been doing. My experience of living with pugs has been nothing but a positive one - they have brought me & my partner hours of laughter. All animals no matter what breed -x/breed - heinz 57 they are can have health issues - i find it sad that people have such poor opinions of these fabulous dogs. The world is full of do-gooders who are quick to spout their opinion but rarely have the experience to back it up!. That said i hope that ellieraga finds her perfect companion be it a pug or any other breed! Very Well Said  |
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fin
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Post by fin on Jul 30, 2012 12:15:10 GMT
Once you have had a pug you will never have anything else. Mine has no health problems and was the runt of the litter. They are a character in their own world. Once you have one you will want more.
They are brilliant with people, kids and love everybody and other dogs. They can be tricky to house train and i can guarnatee they will be no more than a footstep away from you at all times. Mine follows me everywhere and i mean everywhere. They are energetic dogs and like walks despite what you may read and they do get a bit more docile later on in life. Mine would walk ten times a day if i took her. I swear once you have one you will never look at any other breed again. As for the folk who have commented about bredding problems its like humans and horses all animals can have problems no matter what they are. I would just make sure you buy one from a KC breeder and you will be fine.
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Aug 1, 2012 5:48:22 GMT
Just a few points:
I believe it's the individual breed societies that set the breed standard for their breed rather than the KC.
Most breeds have a breed rescue organisation, details on their website, if you want a particular breed.
If you buy a pedigree you will know what to expect, what potential problems to look out for and what health checks should have been done etc, but if you buy a cross bred you don't know what will turn up, for example the one with mismatched jaw lengths mentioned above.
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Post by brindlerainbow on Aug 1, 2012 8:00:44 GMT
I think as long as you do your homework and make sure it is the breed suitable for you and then go to a reputable breeder you will be fine no matter what dog you choose. There are good and bad in pure breeds and crossbreeds. I have only ever had Boxers who are a breed that have heart problems,eye problems and are prone to tumours. I have only ever bought from reputable breeders and in 30 years of having the breed have had very few problems. My friend has a cockerpoo who is gorgeous, it had a seizure one day while playing in the garden but has been fine since,her friend bought one from the same litter who had a seizure and died at 14 months old. Both my boxers are heart tested and are from heart tested parents.One came out as a 0/1 which is no murmer or very very minimal and she would be suitable to breed from. The other scored 1/2, they always go with the higher score which means her murmer is slightly higher and therefore to select a husband carefully if I were to breed which I have no intention of doing.The dog with the higher murmer will run for hours without getting tired or even panting much whereas the one with the lower murmer will be lying down resting and panting!!My point is that any dog can have problems although they may not become apparent until the dog is older, but the breed that you are passionate about you take on knowing that it may get health problems but then again it may not. I love all dogs but there are some breeds that I wouldn't want because I dont think they would fit in with my lifestyle. Ellie I love pugs and the ones I have known have been fine. I think also to make sure its a breed that fits in with your lifestyle. If you want a dog to accompany you on long hacks then a pug isn't the one for you but as a family dog they are lovely. Not all pugs will have curvature of the spine, same as not all Boxers will have heart problems. I hate to see adverts for older puppies where the people are getting rid because it no longer fits their lifestyle or they have discovered its too big and boisterous for thier young children. People often get a dog without any forward thinking at all. Many don't seem to realise a dog is a life time commitment..... Very best of luck Ellieraga with your dog search please put some pics on here when you have got one |
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Post by jeanslater on Aug 1, 2012 8:28:51 GMT
Just a few points: I believe it's the individual breed societies that set the breed standard for their breed rather than the KC. . Was just going to say the same, breed societies have a lot to answer for, the decline of some breeds in my lifetime has been more than noticeable. |
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Post by sometime on Aug 9, 2012 11:13:16 GMT
I love pedigree dogs I have no issues what so ever with mixed breeds however the new designer breeds are not hybrids with vigour and strength they are a cross of two pedigree dogs with the inherited characteristics of both breeds of the parent so a labradoodle is as likely as a pedigree lab to have hip dysplasia as both labs and standard poodles have a high risk trouble is breeders of the crosses are less likely to have their adult dogs tested and there is no record of the BVA scores.
Pugs like all little dogs need protection from over enthusiastic kids I think again a personal opinion that anything smaller than a Springer is too small for small kids unless very carefully protected from the kids. Not saying they are temperamentally not suited just that kids and dogs both need to be well trained when they are mixing
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Aug 10, 2012 17:42:25 GMT
And puggles are bred on purpose but what if you get the hunting instinct of the beagle but the less than efficient breathing of the pug to try to fuel the hunting?
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Post by brindlerainbow on Aug 10, 2012 17:52:04 GMT
Im not particularly familiar with puggles, there seem to be very few advertised for sale in my area but I would imagine the hunting instinct will be diluted as only 1 parent is a hunting dog and I suppose with the nose being longer and the face not as squashed as a pure bred pug that breathing difficulties will not be so much of a problem......
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Aug 10, 2012 18:08:06 GMT
But the puppies will not necessarily be halfway between the parents in each quality, that's my point! You could get one with all the beagle hunting instinct but the face of a pug, and a full sibling with a long beagle nose that has no desire to chase anything. Second scenario fine, first one not so fine!
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I'm not saying they're all bad, I'm sure a lot of them care for their pups and where they go, I did however go to see a few litters of poodle crosses with a friend who has an allergy, to say I was disgusted at how some of the pups were cared for is an understatement. Whilst crossing Pugs with other breeds MAY reduce the risk of health problems it is also possible that the parents may have lots of health issues of their own which may or may not be inherited by the pups.
