AKC (American Kennel Club) Bred with H.E.A.R.T Program

As members in the AKC (American Kennel Club) Bred with H.E.A.R.T., Good Dog Good Breeder programs, and other organizations, Pickwick Pugs provides health tests on our breeding stock in accordance with the recommendations of AKC and The Pug Dog Club of America.

​Pickwick Pugs are:
  • Health Tested
  • AKC Registered
  • Champion Pedigrees
  • Temperament-Tested by Professional evaluator
  • Microchipped​
  • Vaccinated with vet wellness checks (appropriate vaccinations for age and pug puppy)
  • Socialized and trained (yes!)  following the incredible Puppy Culture protocols infused with important skills we've learned through our studies with such important experts as Ian Dunbar, Victoria Stillwell, and others. Unique to Pickwick Pugs is our comprehensive training program, Star Puppy Academy. We invest a tremendous amount of time with each puppy on a daily basis. The training actually begins while the puppy is still in the womb and continues through daily, individual sessions with Early Neurological Stimulation exercises at day 3, puppy stimulation exercises and individual, daily training sessions until they go to their new home at 12 weeks of age. Pickwick Pugs uses positive, clicker training techniques and once Pickwick puppies go to their new home, they've worked daily on important skills such as "attention" ("watch me"), “leave it”, “drop it”, "sit", "down", “wait”, come, loose leash walking, potty training, and even some fun tricks like touch, shake, bow, spin, and hi-five.  The puppy will have worked for many weeks on crate training and the crate will be happy and comforting place as he has played "crate games" and enjoyed meals and quiet time in the crate. The puppy will also know how to use a litter box (with rolled paper litter) and be very comfortable being in a crate for short periods of time, having enjoyed meals inside a crate and playing fun "crate games" from early on. 
  • Socialized - Pickwick Pugs believes strongly that what is accomplished, and how it is accomplished, during the first critical 12 weeks of a puppy's life is paramount to its success, happiness, and health (physical and emotional) throughout its lifetime.  Through special puppy parties, outings to hardware stores, restaurants, banks, churches, stores, and all sorts of novel environments, meeting, and being handled and trained by all sorts of people from children, to women with walkers or men with beards and hats, our puppies have truly been socialized following scientifically based protocols taught by such important animal behaviorists and veterinarians as Ian Dunbar, (often called "the grandfather of positive dog training") and Jane Killion's Puppy Culture,  Click here to read more about the importance of socialization during the first critical 12 weeks of a puppy's life.
 
​Membership in the AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. program involves:
  • HEALTH: Pickwick Pugs must certify that our breeding stock is health tested in accordance with the recommendations of the National Pug Dog Club of America.
  • The Pug Dog Club of America recommends all dogs used for breeding and exhibition be screened for health issues. To that end, the Pug Dog Club of America recommends the following tests:
 
  • EDUCATION: Pickwick pugs promises to pursue AKC provided or AKC approved continuing breeder education so that we stay educated on the best breeding practices, including advances in canine health.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: Pickwick Pugs agrees to comply with the AKC Care and Conditions Policy, including inspections by the AKC, and promises to share with AKC health testing and continuing education documentation.
  • RESPONSIBILITY: Pickwick Pugs accepts responsibility for the health and well-being of the puppies we produce and for complying with all laws regarding the ownership and maintenance of dogs.
  • TRADITION: Pickwick Pugs upholds the AKC’s tradition of breeding purebred dogs that are happy and healthy.

Pickwick Pugs Health Guarantee