(Update: Follow along with Lexi's photo updates. 4/26/25-7/26/25 approximately, and beyond .... at bottom of this blog).

We are so excited about a new product that we had to share it with a blog post in hopes others will enjoy the same success we've had.

It's one tasty chew (we give it with some other food) which the pugs actually like and will eat as a treat (natural bacon flavoring) daily. No daily brushing of teeth, no yucky water additives, no dental chews that are often filled with things like corn, sugar, wheat, soy and other ingredients which can trigger allergies. Best of all, our vet might just have to admit with their next checkups that there is no need for an expensive and scary dental!

Instead, just a yummy treat for your pug each day. (And, yes, all of our pugs -- even finicky Lilibeth -- loves these.) It's that simple! Seconds in the mouth, and 24 hours of fighting plaque.

We will look at before and after photos plus delve into the science behind this revolutionary product that veterinarians and animal nutritionists developed, but if you are busy and just want to go ahead and order now, here is the link - Pawtree Plaque Control Chews.  (Remember, pawTree offers a 90 day money back guarantee so there is no risk.) But, read on if you have the time because you'll want to understand why this product is so effective.

So why do pet owners need to deal with oral hygiene? Why not just let your vet pull a bunch of your pug's teeth in a few years. Why not just pretend that you love that nasty smell of your pug's nasty breath when he pants and sneezes in your face?

Because lots of bad things can result from bad oral hygiene. If the plaque and tartar is not removed, your pug might end up with gum disease (which causes overall discomfort, bleeding gums, loss of teeth, organ damage – liver, kidney, heart disease – decreased appetite because it’s painful to eat, bad breath, bone infections, blood infections like sepsis which is deadly, diabetes.)

Pugs as a breed are notorious for having horrible teeth. (In fact, all brachy breeds of dogs and cats can deal with dental challenges). Pugs' teeth are crowded or rotated -- there is simply less room for all the 42 teeth a dog should have. When teeth are crowded there is no space for gum between the teeth and each root has less support from the bone in the jaw. The lack of space between the teeth makes it easier for plaque and bacteria to accumulate and it is more difficult to keep the teeth clean. That, plus the little bone support, tends to lead to inflammation and loss of teeth. Additionally, a pug's underbite can cause abnormal contacts of teeth to other teeth and/or to tissue in the mouth. Compare this palate of an Australian Shepherd (on left) with a pug's (on right):

Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria, food particles, and saliva, and it develops within hours after your pet eats. If you brush your pug's teeth after every meal or anytime he has snacks it's not that hard to remove. But, tartar will form within 24-72 hours if plaque has not been removed. Tartar is hardened plaque that becomes calcified and firmly attached to teeth. Often professional cleaning (the dentals under anesthesia at your vet) is required to remove tartar.

80% of all dogs (and cats) show signs of poor dental health by the time they are 3 years old. 95% of pet dental health is left untreated.

Said a different way, only 5% of pet parents have compliance in the dental health of their pets because there aren’t a lot of good, easy methods available and they are too costly.

These statistics are not surprising given the fact that pet owners have not had many effective options available .... at least not until now.

• Brushing teeth? Well, this only works if you do it every single day. And that's assuming you can actually get your pug to cooperate and that you can reach those teeth to truly clean them. Honestly, we've never had success with this over 3 decades of owning pugs .... plus, we have multiple pugs. It's not realistic.

There is no denying that anesthesia can be risky with brachycephalic breeds, like English Bulldogs and pugs, who have a higher overall perianesthetic mortality rate than other breeds. You can read more in this article, but studies have shown that brachycephalic dogs may have a higher risk of death compared to non-brachycephalic dogs, according to BMC Veterinary Research and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  We are blessed to have a vet who is an expert with brachy breeds but, even then, we know there is always a possibility of complications anytime any of our pugs -- young or old -- undergo a surgery.

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As soon as PawTree came out with these plaque control chews we ordered some. We have been using them (yes, on all our pugs) over the past several months. After about 2.5 weeks we started noticing fresher breath. After about 90 days we started noticing whiter teeth and pinker gums (reduced plaque and tartar). There is no bleeding of the gums with our old senior (with the few teeth he has left ha!) which we were starting to see around Christmas time.  Similar results from other pet owners (dogs and cats) are pouring in. Here are some real life before and after photos . . .

So we have found that you need to use these chews for at least 90 days and be consistent and administer daily. (Again, pawTree recommends offering them along with some food -- a treat, snack, or meal). This supplement is now going to be an ongoing staple for our pugs. Doing the math, even with the amount of pugs we have, it is still much more cost effective than yearly dentals. It is so worth the investment. I regret not having taken before shots. But, we have not given these chews to our big rescue dogs, so I think we will start these Lexi and share the photos periodically, updating this blog post. Thankfully, other pet owners have been taking regular photos, however, so let's look at some of these before and after shots:

While the pugs think it's a "treat", it is actually controlling plaque and tarter. Scientifically, it works from the inside out through the bloodstream via their saliva.

Easy peasy! They chew it. They ingest it. Then it works from the inside out! Seconds in the mouth …. then it works for hours! Basically, seconds in the mouth for 24-hours of cleaning.

Yesterday I attended a zoom conference call with executives and experts from PawTree and I learned a lot about why this product has helped our pug's teeth. I want to share some of these specifics with you.

The key ingredient is 100% organic kelp. Pawtree searched high and low for the right product and ingredient because sourcing is key. The kelp in the PawTree plaque control chew is sustainably sourced from the pristine waters of Scandinavia. Kelp is rich in iodine and other minerals. Kelp supports oral health and overall health in our pets. (Incidentally, did you know that kelp can also help the pigment to develop and darken on the pug's mask and ears? We have given puppies who seem to be lighter -- some develop pigment more slowly, while others are basically born with it -- kelp as a supplement for years now.)

I took the time to write this blog post because I know pet owners (and especially pug owners) needed to know about this product. Once again, order now at http://pawtree.com/pickwickpugs

I was honestly reluctant to order these plaque chews initially because I figured they would be just like all the other brands we’ve tried in the past. I figured the pugs would turn their “noses” up at them, not eat, and that it would be a waste of money. Or, that they simply would not work. But, I felt like I should try them since I believe in all their other products so much. I am glad I did.

Many pet owners think that because they feed kibble, their pet will “clean its teeth” through the chewing. They think ‘the kibble is hard, and it will scrape the teeth, so I don’t need anything to control plaque and tartar.’. This is a fallacy, however, and perhaps why 95% of pets have poor oral hygiene. Does chewing cereal help you clean tartar off your own teeth? No. Neither does your dog chewing kibble.

Thinking your dog eating kibble will clean his teeth is like me telling you, “hey, don’t brush your teeth … just eat pretzels everyday … they’re hard and crunchy … they’ll scrape and clean your teeth.!”

Well, I hope you wouldn’t believe me if I said that. Don’t go out and buy Costco sizes of pretzels. It won’t work.

However, IF your pet uses the PawTree plaque control, the hard crunchy kibble (or raw bones or ?) that he’s eating will then help remove the plaque and tartar, because the plaque and tartar softens and it will start to break off.

Once again, these chews contain no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, fillers, or preservatives.

It is made in the USA, developed by Veterinarians and Animal Nutritionists for both dogs and cats.
Before we close, let’s look at one more before and after set of photos (there are hundreds of these).

This product is quite simply a game changer and amazing. You have to allow it time to work. If you think about weight gain … it took 9 months to get the weight on, so you aren’t going to lose it in one week. The same with the tartar build-up. But if you are consistent and give it a few months, you will be thankful you added this into your daily routine. Your vet might not like it … he will be losing money … not just with the dentals, but with treatment and meds for all the diseases caused from gum disease and poor oral hygiene (liver, kidney, heart, bone infections, blood infections, sepsis, and diabetes.)

You get 90 small chews per jar. There’s a one sized jar which is for both dogs and cats. The directions and ingredients are on the bottle and on the website as well.

It's soft, so our senior pugs have no issues chewing it.

NOTE: We do not have any pugs with hyperthyroidism but, if we did, the iodine in the kelp would not be good for that pug.

Order now at http://pawtree.com/pickwickpugs.com 

I do have one favor. If you have time to take photos and document the results -- or any feedback at all -- I would love it if you could share and email.  The only reason I became a PawTree petpro is because I believe so strongly in their products and I see the positive results. We feed pawTree (kibble plus freeze-dried raw, and treats) each day. Our dogs also use many of their supplements daily (and have tried all of them). If I didn't believe in these products 100% I would not be feeding them and using them on our pugs (we also regularly use the Shed Shampoo/Conditioner, the Fresh Cotton Spray, the Flea/Tick Spray, the ear cleaner, and the supplements, with specific dogs: Gastroplus probiotic, aches away, bladder health, joint support, chillax, CBD, and feed pawTree kibble + pawTree freeze-dried raw, fish oil, treats daily, and broth and pawPairings seasonings on occasion.)

It makes me happy to hear when others have fabulous experiences as well. Thank you for considering pawTree for your pugs. Recently, the owner of one of the pugs we bred mentioned how healthy his boy is doing at 18 months. He feeds pawTree and follows our suggestions. He attributed his boy's health and athletic build and shiny coat to this nutrition plan -- plus some nice magic in the genetics ;) (thank you Mother Nature).

I took the time to write this blog post because I know pug owners needed to know about this product. With their 90 day money back guarantee, there is no risk to order! http://pawtree.com/pickwickpugs

Since I didn't get photos of the pugs' improvement, I will start taking regular photos of my big dog rescue, Lexi so folks can follow along with the progress. I will update this blog adding photos below regularly. Again, 90 days is the goal to really notice the difference. I will not be changing anything else in her diet. (kibble, fish oil, daily vitamin powder, and misc treats, and chews like occasional dehydrated chicken paws etc.) Here she is gobbling it up. It's no wonder the pugs eat it ... the "natural flavoring" is bacon flavoring!

Every pug owner and lover needs to own this helpful and entertaining e-book "The Pug Bible - A Guide to Your Pug's Health and Happiness." It received a major overhaul just this past month and is kept relevant and updated regularly thanks to the e-book format. From nutrition, health, grooming, pug history, training, shopping lists for new puppy owners, how to puppy proof your home, vaccinations, grooming, to nutrition, how and what to feed, care of senior pugs, teenage trials and tribulations, the history of the breed, and articles by veterinarians, input from AKC judges, breeders, trainers, behaviorists, and important pug experts, this 425 page e-book is an invaluable guide for all pug owners.  Order here. A 2nd e-book "The Pug Puppy Primer" (training book) is included in the price, and includes step-by-step instructions with videos on how to train all of the important behaviors and skills, and even fun tricks. Here is a sneak peak of both e-books:

The engaging videos and photographs will entertain all pug lovers and owners. Here is a sample video, History of the Pug Part 2 (of 3 videos).

Or this video about vaccinations, worms, parasites and other gross things you never wanted to know . . .

Check it out!   Order here

Wow! Cindy, Lola, and Umberto traveled with Amy to Perry, GA to compete in the Peach Blossom Cluster. A few ribbons are missing in this photo, but there is still plenty of "purple" we brought home . . . .

Our biggest win of the cluster was Cindy's Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex for another major. If our math is correct, this finished her championship.

On the first day, it was Lola's turn to win big. (Thank you Judge Connie Clark for your kindness and grace in the ring and making it one of the most enjoyable conformation experiences I have had in these past 11 years of showing pugs.) Out of the Bred-by-Puppy class, Lola (Pickwick's Never Too Old, Too Wacky, Too Wild) was awarded Winners Bitch, Best Bred By Exhibitor, and  Best of Opposite Sex to the#1 pug in the USA, shown by a major professional handler. (The most recent competition stats for pugs - posted January, 2025 -- you'll notice that Cindy ranks 21, but she will most likely climb higher after her wins at this show in Perry.)

Before the 2nd day of shows, I made sure to cook some amazing bait (liver)! Perhaps it tasted better being cooked on a camp stove?!

The campsite was in a nice shady area and the weather was divine. It did get pretty cold at night in that tent, though, so I was thankful we had the "Buddy" propane heater. There was rain the night before so I made sure I brought the coffee maker and anything else needed into the tent. Fortunately, it stopped raining around 6:00 AM before we had to leave for the show. (Yes, every morning was a 4 AM wake-up call).

The 3rd day, Judge Richard D Albee preferred a different bitch, and pro handlers snatched the bigger wins that day, but Umberto still won Reserve Winners Dog and Cindy and Lola won their classes. The final 4th day of the cluster was a better day and Cindy's (Pickwick's Oh the Places You'll Go) won Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex with an important judge for pugs, Jason Hoke. Again, the BOS win was to the #1 pug in the USA and it was a 3 point major. When we were getting the win photo, Hoke complimented Cindy's pigment, and the black on the bottom of the paw (which is part of the breed standard) and dark nails, markings. He mentioned that so many pugs do not have this now, (to the detriment of the breed.) 

It is because of these beautiful headpieces of Pickwick pugs that we chose to focus on breeding only fawn pugs during our first decade. After a long conversation with Pamela Donaldson, (Highland Kendoric pugs), shortly before her unexpected and tragic death, she emphasized how she had mixed blacks and fawns in her breeding program with great success over the years. She learned these things from her mentor, the late Doris Aldrich, Kendoric pugs, a very important pug breeder of the 20th Century. Indeed, if you look back at Cindy and Lola's pedigrees, you will find several amazing black pugs (photos below). The sire of the Dr. Seuss litter, Maverick (GCH Felzar's When Stars Collide at Paradise) had a black littermate who was also a show superstar. In these photos of the grandparents, great, great great etc. ancestors of Cindy and Lola (and Pepper, who lives in Texas) you will find many magnificent black pugs. Yet, all 3 pups from the Dr. Seuss litter are beautifully clear and light ... not smutty at all ... with those feet pads deliciously "dipped in black." You also find a very famous pug in their pedigree, "Dermot", who won the toy group at Westminster in 2006.

One more show cluster next weekend in Montgomery, Alabama, then we are hoping that Stella's breeding took for her last "Galaxy" litter and we will be busy with puppies over the summer.

This was an especially fun show because hubby Jeff got to join me! He showed Cindy (who went on to win Winners Dog and Best of Opposite Sex!) and I showed Umberto and Lola. Umberto won Winners Dog and Best of Winners and Best of Breed Owner Handled. On Friday, Lola won Best Bred by Exhibitor and she won Reserve Winners Bitch both days, to her sister Cindy. (They like take turns beating each other ;)  Thank you judges Constantine-Amodei and Cindy Meyers for recognizing our beauties in the ring! They won't show Saturday because Amy is judging a piano competition out of town but they are entered Sunday, and in the cluster in Perry, GA the following week and in Montgomery, AL the week after that. Then, hopefully, puppies and a busy summer of raising and training. It probably will not be until Fall before we can get back in the ring but, if we are honest, dog shows are SO HOT in the summer (especially for pugs) so that's the best season for a break.

In Cindy's win photo the camera picked up some sort of odd glare so her eyes look weird. In reality, they are perfectly black with no white around at all, as you can see in this video of her. Also on this video is a shot of Lola gaiting (she is TOO happy .... a young soul still .... in the ring) and Umberto, also standing on the examination table. He has come such a long way in his confidence and jolliness at shows from when he first arrived in US from Serbia.