We are currently accepting applications for our 2025-26 planned litters. 

Application Process:
1) Complete Puppy/Pug Online Questionnaire to be added to our Interest List
2) Complete follow-up virtual interviews and chats. If it seems we will be a good fit for you after these initial interviews, you may be added to our Wait List, which is different than the Interest List. A copy of the contract is available at this time for review. (The contract will be signed in-person on "gotcha day" after reviewing together.)

A few things to note:

• Prospective owners are required to read The Pug Bible e-book which we wrote specifically for new Pickwick owners. It is a fabulous reference for any pug owner filled with tips on training, grooming, vaccinations, food, nutrition, illness, surviving teenage months, caring for seniors, and more.
• Updates on prospective/future litters are added to the webpages and we invite those on our Wait List to keep in touch and ask any questions they may have during this wait period or with regard to The Pug Bible.
• A deposit is not required to secure a place on the Wait List and, in fact, we do not accept deposits until puppies are born and thriving. At that point, a deposit of $750 is required which is applied toward the final cost of the puppy/pug.
• Pickwick Pugs chooses the puppy/pug for the new owner.  Why? Every pug will have unique strengths which will compliment the unique lifestyles of their future forever homeowner(s). This is why we want to get to know each prospective owner as much as possible, starting with the rather lengthy questionnaire followed by multiple conversations, virtual chats, and more. It is simply not possible for a prospective owner to size-up a puppy's true core personality and strengths in one meeting. A puppy may have just awakened from a nap, just eaten, or perhaps be entering the witching hour (think 2 year old toddler). A puppy might be distracted because of a new perfume or cologne the visitor is wearing, or a bird that just flew by outside the window. Honestly, the only way to truly know which environment and home the puppy will ultimately thrive best in, is to have lived with the puppy for weeks and weeks. We have trained each puppy daily, we have observed how each puppy reacts to new environments on our outings. We hire a professional dog behaviorist/trainer to evaluate each puppy's temperament and provide objective feedback. As the puppy's breeder, we know what motivates, or challenges, delights, or frustrates him/her. To determine this, much time is required with solo interactions with us, other people, other dogs, group interactions, and in all sorts of environments. There are so many factors involved in determining the best fit for each pug or puppy. For example, a pug who will be living in a large city negotiating loud public transit, or living with a family with young children, will need to have passed the sound sensitivity test with flying colors. There are some puppies who would thrive in a home as an "only child" and others who would thrive as a performance pup, doing agility or rally or other activities. 
• No puppy leaves us before they are at least 12 weeks of age. Typically, we have a strong idea of puppy assignments by the time the puppy is around 10 weeks of age. Sometimes, when we are trying to choose the best show prospect for ourselves and a new addition to our breeding program, it is necessary to let certain puppies grow-out and mature a few more weeks before making decisions. While most puppies go to their new homes between 12-24 weeks of age, we sometimes have retired-pick-of-the-litters or retired-champions who need an amazing companion pet home. These pugs, usually 6 months - 2 years of age, were our pick-of-the-litter and sometimes even become AKC champions but, for some reason, we decided not to include them in our breeding program. Reasons for this can vary -- possibly, they grew longer than we had hoped for, or did not end up with enough length of leg, or perhaps they just were not cut out to live in a larger grumble of pugs (which is usually the case ... where they would thrive better in a 1-3 dog home etc.)During the final weeks the puppy is with us, we focus on specific skills during training sessions with the new home environment in mind and the daily training sessions are custom tailored for each owner/puppy.

• We must meet new owners in person. We do not ship with a 3rd party or puppy nanny. We can deliver personally in some circumstances if our work schedule allows. As a Pickwick pug owner, you become a part of our family and it's important that we meet as many of the future family members as possible. This is important for us and why we do not use flight-nannies, or allow a "friend-of-a-friend" to pickup on gotcha day. We are located outside of Birmingham, Alabama, USA. There is an international airport in Birmingham and even a larger airport 3 hours away in Atlanta, Georgia. In some circumstances, (if our job schedule allows etc.), we can deliver the puppy to their new owners for additional fees which are comparable to a pet flight nanny (to cover pet passport, airline fee or mileage if driving, one night hotel and minimal expenses, health certificate, airline fees). 
• What makes a Pickwick Pug puppy special?
• We are not a puppy mill. If immediacy is your primary objective, consider visiting sites such as puppyspot.com but know that you will be supporting backyard breeders who do not complete important health screening (Note: A breeder taking their pugs to their vet for a checkup is NOT genetic health screening. Screening should be done through UC Davis. Only UC Davis VGL/BB meets all of the goals of a breed's genetic diversity testing program. By comparison, Embark only meets one of 6 goals and neither of the most important.) When you are looking for a reputable breeder, make sure they
  • breed to the standard (no exotic colors, with at least one parent having been proven through AKC championships etc.) and
  • are members of The Pug Dog Club of America
  • register puppies with AKC
  • complete all recommended genetic health screening (read more)

​For a list of reputable breeders, visit https://www.pugdogclubofamerica.com/.  You can read more in this blog post addressing the importance of working with responsible, ethical breeders who are members of Pug Dog Club of America? 

Please do not hesitate to keep in touch and checkout the latest developments with our upcoming Planned Litters.  

We look forward to hearing from you. 
​Jeff and Amy McLelland, Alabama, USA

Poldark Litter

Would you like to visit a Pickwick Pug? Pickwick Pugs live all over US with a few in Europe, so it might be possible that there is a Pickwick pug near you if you would like to contact the owner to inquire about the possibility of scheduling a meetup. Click here to read owner testimonials. We truly cherish all the updates and photos of our puppies and pugs!

Jeff with Tory (CH Pickwick's Worship the Ground I Walk On)

(Cover photo = Myles, "Pickwick's Even the Moon is In On Our Scheme" from the Stars Fell on Alabama Litter - Myles lives in Long Island)