Part art, part science, and 100% total devotion, breeding dogs has been a passion for people for many centuries.
Breeding purebred dogs is time consuming and expensive but justified in the end by the rewards of the underlying purpose = to improve the breed, not just increase its numbers.
To this end, reputable breeding should begin with knowledge. We devote so much time to learning as much as we can about the pug breed, canine health, and training. We attend shows and dog events. We watch the top pugs in the country and the world in action and we study the pedigrees of the pugs we find to be stellar and worthy of preservation. We visit the PDCA (national parent club) website regularly and attend healthy symposiums and workshops.
And we study (or, rather, regularly devour) the pug breed standard which is the official version of the "perfect" breed specimen. The Pug Dog Club of America recently updated an amazing breed standard which has quickly become an important resource not only in America but around the world.
The motto of the responsible breeder of purebred dogs is "Breed to Improve." Every dog is the best dog in the world to its owner. Responsible breeders, however, know to avoid “kennel blindness” — in other words, they take a step back and honestly evaluate the good and bad points of their dogs before making the decision to breed. The goal of breeding, after all, is to produce a better dog and a quality pet.
This is one reason we participate in AKC conformation shows to see how our pugs measure up against the best specimens of the breed. We also consult with longtime experienced breeders, judges, vets, behaviorists, handlers, groomers, and trainers for things like our puppy evaluations and feedback on our adult pugs ... this most often involves travel across the country. We are constantly looking for a mate for each of our pugs in our breeding program who will eliminate or balance any flaws and improve our line.
But the starting place for it all is ALWAYS the Breed Standard.
Breeding purebred dogs is time consuming and expensive but justified in the end by the rewards of the underlying purpose = to improve the breed, not just increase its numbers.
To this end, reputable breeding should begin with knowledge. We devote so much time to learning as much as we can about the pug breed, canine health, and training. We attend shows and dog events. We watch the top pugs in the country and the world in action and we study the pedigrees of the pugs we find to be stellar and worthy of preservation. We visit the PDCA (national parent club) website regularly and attend healthy symposiums and workshops.
And we study (or, rather, regularly devour) the pug breed standard which is the official version of the "perfect" breed specimen. The Pug Dog Club of America recently updated an amazing breed standard which has quickly become an important resource not only in America but around the world.
The motto of the responsible breeder of purebred dogs is "Breed to Improve." Every dog is the best dog in the world to its owner. Responsible breeders, however, know to avoid “kennel blindness” — in other words, they take a step back and honestly evaluate the good and bad points of their dogs before making the decision to breed. The goal of breeding, after all, is to produce a better dog and a quality pet.
This is one reason we participate in AKC conformation shows to see how our pugs measure up against the best specimens of the breed. We also consult with longtime experienced breeders, judges, vets, behaviorists, handlers, groomers, and trainers for things like our puppy evaluations and feedback on our adult pugs ... this most often involves travel across the country. We are constantly looking for a mate for each of our pugs in our breeding program who will eliminate or balance any flaws and improve our line.
But the starting place for it all is ALWAYS the Breed Standard.
Here is a wonderful article from a 1997 magazine. This is the older breed standard but still relevant.
