We strive to produce pugs who are beautiful inside and out.
We believe that overall health, sound temperament, and sociability are just as important as outward looks when meeting breed standard.
We believe that overall health, sound temperament, and sociability are just as important as outward looks when meeting breed standard.
Health Tested:
Once you have been owned by a pug, it becomes quite obvious why they are one of the oldest breeds of dogs and have flourished since before 400 B.C. Our goal at Pickwick Pugs is to keep this breed flourishing. To that end, we fully support and promote PDE susceptibility testing and other important health scheme testing of our pugs to be bred.
Health-Testing
We believe strongly in the importance of health-testing and utilize every tool possible when choosing our breeding stock. If any of our breeding stock, including those who have completed AKC Championships, do not satisfactorily meet our high standards and pass important health tests, they are spayed or neutered and not part of our breeding program. If a pug does not sufficiently pass an important test, they are out of the breeding program and spayed or neutered. We include the tests recommended by the Pug Dog Club of America (the AKC parent club for pugs):
Health Guarantee
Once you have been owned by a pug, it becomes quite obvious why they are one of the oldest breeds of dogs and have flourished since before 400 B.C. Our goal at Pickwick Pugs is to keep this breed flourishing. To that end, we fully support and promote PDE susceptibility testing and other important health scheme testing of our pugs to be bred.
Health-Testing
We believe strongly in the importance of health-testing and utilize every tool possible when choosing our breeding stock. If any of our breeding stock, including those who have completed AKC Championships, do not satisfactorily meet our high standards and pass important health tests, they are spayed or neutered and not part of our breeding program. If a pug does not sufficiently pass an important test, they are out of the breeding program and spayed or neutered. We include the tests recommended by the Pug Dog Club of America (the AKC parent club for pugs):
- Hip Dysplasia - OFA Evaluation
- Patellar Luxation - OFA Evaluation
- OFA or CERF Eye Examination - by and opthalmologist
- Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) - DNA test for Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis
- Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) (Optional) - DNA based PKD test results from an approved lab
- Pickwick Pugs also includes additional health screening which is not required such as
- Cardiac Evaluations with a board-certified veterinary cardiologist
- Spinal x-rays to rule out Hemivertebrae
- Degenerative Myelophathy (DM) (DNA swab testing)
- BOAS testing "graded" by veterinarian
- All of these health tests must be completed after a pug is 1 years of age (and 2 years of age for the hip Xray). No matter how beautiful a pug may be, or how many championships he or she may have earned, we will not breed a pug who did not satisfactorily pass all of these health tests. We will not breed a pug with a hip score of moderate or worse. We will not breed a pug who is S/S. We will not breed a pug who has any sign of luxating patellar. We will not breed a pug with hemivertebrae. We will not breed a pug who is not a good breather. We will not breed a pug who does not satisfactorily "pass" a temperament test. We will never breed a pug who has not been deemed by our board-certified veterinarians to be in good health and worthy of being bred.
- 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.
Health Guarantee
It is important to note that buying from a reputable, conscientious breeder does not guarantee perfect health for life. Therefore, it is important to research all of the challenges you may face when owning a pug. In general, the pug breed often deals with hip dysplasia, elongated soft palates, PDE, PK, other eye problems, and other issues. A good starting source is the Pug Dog Club of America. Prospective puppy buyers and pug owners might also speak with a vet who has dealt with pugs to learn what you might possibly expect throughout a pug’s lifetime. All breeds, including poodles, golden retrievers, labradors, and even All-American mixes and Doodles, have their unique health challenges and it is important to research these and plan accordingly.