Our goals, philosophy, and hopes for the future.
Thoughtfully raising pugs for a lifetime
At Pickwick Pugs, everything we do is guided by a simple idea:
that a truly exceptional pug is not only beautiful, but healthy, confident, and a joy to live with.
Our program is built on careful selection, ongoing education, and a deep respect for the breed. As AKC Breeders of Merit, we are committed to preserving the pug with integrity—always placing health, temperament, and long-term well-being at the center of every decision.
💛 Health Comes First
No matter how accomplished or beautiful a dog may be, health is never compromised.
Every dog in our program completes the full panel of health testing recommended by the Pug Dog Club of America—along with additional screenings for genetic and structural soundness. We work closely with board-certified veterinarians and specialists to ensure that each dog meets our highest standards before ever being considered for breeding.
Each puppy is examined multiple times throughout development and is placed with a health guarantee, giving families confidence and peace of mind from the very beginning.
Thoughtfully raising pugs for a lifetime
At Pickwick Pugs, everything we do is guided by a simple idea:
that a truly exceptional pug is not only beautiful, but healthy, confident, and a joy to live with.
Our program is built on careful selection, ongoing education, and a deep respect for the breed. As AKC Breeders of Merit, we are committed to preserving the pug with integrity—always placing health, temperament, and long-term well-being at the center of every decision.
💛 Health Comes First
No matter how accomplished or beautiful a dog may be, health is never compromised.
Every dog in our program completes the full panel of health testing recommended by the Pug Dog Club of America—along with additional screenings for genetic and structural soundness. We work closely with board-certified veterinarians and specialists to ensure that each dog meets our highest standards before ever being considered for breeding.
Each puppy is examined multiple times throughout development and is placed with a health guarantee, giving families confidence and peace of mind from the very beginning.
Health screening
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 all the tests recommended by the Pug Dog Club of America (the AKC parent club for pugs) plus additional ones such as:
Some of these health tests must be completed after a pug is 2 years of age thus usually long after they have completed their AKC championship. However, 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 health testing. We will not breed a pug who has a very poor hip score (moderate or below and the pug is out of the program). We will not breed a pug who is S/S. We will not breed a pug who has any sign of luxating patellas. 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 have an appropriate temperament. 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.
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 all the tests recommended by the Pug Dog Club of America (the AKC parent club for pugs) plus additional ones such as:
- Hip Dysplasia - OFA Evaluation (Imaging with Blue Ridge Veterinary Imaging)
- Patellar Luxation - OFA Evaluation
- OFA or CERF Eye Examination - by ophthalmologist
- Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) - DNA test for Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis
- Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) - DNA based PKD test results from an approved lab
- DM (Degenerative Myelopathy)
- Spine Xray
- Cardiac Evaluations with a board-certified veterinary cardiologist
- BOAS testing
Some of these health tests must be completed after a pug is 2 years of age thus usually long after they have completed their AKC championship. However, 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 health testing. We will not breed a pug who has a very poor hip score (moderate or below and the pug is out of the program). We will not breed a pug who is S/S. We will not breed a pug who has any sign of luxating patellas. 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 have an appropriate temperament. 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.
🧠 Temperament & Early Development
We believe that who a pug is matters just as much as how they look.
From the earliest days of life, our puppies are raised using Puppy Culture and Avidog protocols, beginning with Early Neurological Stimulation at just days old. These early experiences help shape puppies who are resilient, curious, and able to adapt confidently to the world around them.
At 6 weeks, the puppies enjoy their first formal socialization -- a Puppy Party! At approximately 7.5 weeks, a professional behaviorist joins us for the temperament evaluations where each puppy enjoys a series of activities to help us understand their unique personality and to thoughtfully match them with the right home.
Puppies are introduced to new environments, people, textures, sounds, and experiences in a safe and structured way—developing into puppies who are confident, adaptable, and eager to learn.
We believe that who a pug is matters just as much as how they look.
From the earliest days of life, our puppies are raised using Puppy Culture and Avidog protocols, beginning with Early Neurological Stimulation at just days old. These early experiences help shape puppies who are resilient, curious, and able to adapt confidently to the world around them.
At 6 weeks, the puppies enjoy their first formal socialization -- a Puppy Party! At approximately 7.5 weeks, a professional behaviorist joins us for the temperament evaluations where each puppy enjoys a series of activities to help us understand their unique personality and to thoughtfully match them with the right home.
Puppies are introduced to new environments, people, textures, sounds, and experiences in a safe and structured way—developing into puppies who are confident, adaptable, and eager to learn.
Socialization
Emotional resilience/inquisitive puppies & Puppy Culture
We believe that overall health, sound temperament, and sociability are just as important as outward looks when meeting breed standard. The puppy protocols we follow provide the right environment that interacts with genetics to create a stable, inquisitive puppy
The time in every puppy’s life, from 3 to 16 weeks, is often referred to as “the sensitive period.” The things that breeders and new puppy owners do, or do not do, are important and have the power to greatly influence the kind of dogs their puppies will become. During this time the puppy's human caretakers literally have the ability to grow the pup’s brain in size and complexity, making it smarter, healthier and more confident. That's why we invest so much time in each puppy -- from as early as the first days of the puppy's life we work on things like Early Neurological Stimulation exercises, scent work, tactile stimulation, new experiences and challenges every single day at the appropriate age and stage of development. We teach each puppy how to think, process, and learn; Pickwick Pug Puppies are intelligent but, most importantly, they have been taught HOW to learn so they will have the greatest success in their new homes.
Having studied with Ian Dunbar, Victoria Stillwell and many other amazing behaviorists and trainers, we apply what we have learned by safely introducing each puppy to novel experiences, places, and all sorts of different types of people. Starting at 6 weeks of age, we hold puppy parties where the puppies can meet and safely interact with all sorts of people. Once they are old enough, we start going places with them (beyond the vet). The pups are used to traveling in the car and traveling in their baby stroller. At first, we do outings with all the siblings together then, eventually, (after the puppy temperament evaluations), graduate to solo outings to build confidence away from litter mates. We meet tall people, elderly people, young toddlers, other friendly dogs, people in uniform, people wearing hats or sunglasses, drive-through bank tellers, piano students, choir members, shoppers at Home Depot or sporting goods stores. The puppies discover new scents and sights (balloons, bubbles, etc.) every single day. Beginning as early as day 14, the puppies enjoy sound protocols and a puppy playlist of Classical music. Through the startle-response protocols beginning toward the end of their 2nd week of life, to all of their exciting socialization parties and outings and training, we work to develop bomb proof puppies with a "so-what" response who will thrive in life and adjust more easily to their new homes.
We believe that overall health, sound temperament, and sociability are just as important as outward looks when meeting breed standard. The puppy protocols we follow provide the right environment that interacts with genetics to create a stable, inquisitive puppy
- who learns well (we teach each puppy how to think, problem solve, learn)
- is resilient after surprised, or when faced with novelty
- and is affectionate to both people and dogs.
The time in every puppy’s life, from 3 to 16 weeks, is often referred to as “the sensitive period.” The things that breeders and new puppy owners do, or do not do, are important and have the power to greatly influence the kind of dogs their puppies will become. During this time the puppy's human caretakers literally have the ability to grow the pup’s brain in size and complexity, making it smarter, healthier and more confident. That's why we invest so much time in each puppy -- from as early as the first days of the puppy's life we work on things like Early Neurological Stimulation exercises, scent work, tactile stimulation, new experiences and challenges every single day at the appropriate age and stage of development. We teach each puppy how to think, process, and learn; Pickwick Pug Puppies are intelligent but, most importantly, they have been taught HOW to learn so they will have the greatest success in their new homes.
Having studied with Ian Dunbar, Victoria Stillwell and many other amazing behaviorists and trainers, we apply what we have learned by safely introducing each puppy to novel experiences, places, and all sorts of different types of people. Starting at 6 weeks of age, we hold puppy parties where the puppies can meet and safely interact with all sorts of people. Once they are old enough, we start going places with them (beyond the vet). The pups are used to traveling in the car and traveling in their baby stroller. At first, we do outings with all the siblings together then, eventually, (after the puppy temperament evaluations), graduate to solo outings to build confidence away from litter mates. We meet tall people, elderly people, young toddlers, other friendly dogs, people in uniform, people wearing hats or sunglasses, drive-through bank tellers, piano students, choir members, shoppers at Home Depot or sporting goods stores. The puppies discover new scents and sights (balloons, bubbles, etc.) every single day. Beginning as early as day 14, the puppies enjoy sound protocols and a puppy playlist of Classical music. Through the startle-response protocols beginning toward the end of their 2nd week of life, to all of their exciting socialization parties and outings and training, we work to develop bomb proof puppies with a "so-what" response who will thrive in life and adjust more easily to their new homes.
🎓 Learning from the Start
Pickwick puppies are not simply raised—they are taught.
Through daily positive reinforcement and clicker training, each puppy learns essential life skills along with a variety of fun behaviors. Many even earn their AKC Novice Trick Dog title before going home.
Pickwick puppies are not simply raised—they are taught.
Through daily positive reinforcement and clicker training, each puppy learns essential life skills along with a variety of fun behaviors. Many even earn their AKC Novice Trick Dog title before going home.
Training
A Pickwick pug puppy does not simply hang-out in a puppy pen all day with a few toys for entertainment. Every day, beginning day 1, each puppy is given individual sessions and clicker training actually begins as soon as they can swallow gruel! They are clicker-trained, potty trained, loose-leash walking trained, trained to leave it, drop it, sit, stand, down, spin, crate trained, and socialized with car rides, outings, and multiple novel experiences. Each litter of puppies is a part of our life -- they hang out in the den with us while we watch TV, they help us in the kitchen when we prepare dinner, they go to restaurants and stores and work with us (at the appropriate age after vaccinations), they encounter a novel experience, object, scent, and adventure every single day of their life. From day 3, with the ENS protocols, to Week 4 and 7 puppy parties, to outings, to daily training sessions. Clicker training in earnest begins as soon as the puppy can swallow soft mushy food (gruel). Pickwick Puppies are trained so much that they will actually have worked on enough tricks to earn an AKC Novice Tricks Title by the time they go to their forever homes at 12-24 weeks of age. We believe these fun 'games' like spin, sit, down, bow, jump through the hoop, go through the tunnel, get on, get in, play the piano etc. provide a wonderful chance for the puppies to quickly bond with their new family which is why we provide a clicker and plenty of training treats with each puppy basket along with a checklist of all the skills we have worked on and suggestions of things to continue to improve upon. Here are some of the things each puppy practices/experiences at the appropriate age:
- watch me (attention)
- touch
- manding
- barrier challenges
- novel textures
- leave it
- drop it
- take it
- resource guarding
- bite inhibition
- sit
- down
- stand
- wait
- stay
- come when called (recalls)
- shaping games
- under
- over
- get in
- get on
- through
- spin
- twist
- bow
- fetch
- give paw
- shake
- hi-5
- paws up
- fit paws balance discs
- wobble board
- tunnel
- play the piano
- paint (yes, each puppy paints a canvas painting before leaving for his/her forever home which is included in the puppy basket)
- show dog (stand for examination or "stacking")
- litterbox (Each puppy is litterbox trained starting when it is just 2 weeks old! Puppies also work on crate-training and potty outside at the appropriate age upon completion of vaccinations)
- loose-leash walking
- crate-training games
- potty-training (every puppy is litterbox trained as early as just a couple of weeks of age; after the completion of the 2nd round of vaccinations, each puppy also works on potty-outside and crate-training)
- loose-leash walking
- crate-training
- puzzles
- car rides
- outings
- restaurant dog (sitting outside) as weather allows
- meeting strangers
- experiences new environments
- pool (with shallow water)
- swimming (in very shallow wading pool)
- scent work (a novel scent each day)
- toys (a novel item or toy each day)
- misc. experiences (a novel experience each day ... seeing a goat? chicken? woods? etc. ... always from safe view, being held or in stroller)
- trips to Home Depot, Bass Pro, and other stores
- trips to work (piano studio, meeting students of all ages or church, meeting parishioners and choir members)
- luring through obstacle courses and/or mazes
- wearing costumes, jackets, sweaters
- training with strangers (at 6 week Puppy Party and at 7-8 Week Temperament Evaluation)
- meeting a SAFE, stranger dog (at temperament evaluation and sometimes other opportunities)
- clippers and dremel for nails
- baths and blow-dry
- being combed and brushed
- having ears cleaned
- visiting vet (always receiving CERFS -- we bring beef and such for treats so very often they never even notice the needle or fecal swab etc.)
- vacuum cleaners, fridges, watching tv etc. as puppies "help" us in our home
🏆 Beauty with Purpose
Our breeding dogs are carefully selected not only for their health and temperament, but also for their ability to represent the pug breed at the highest level.
Our program includes AKC Champions and Grand Champions, recognized with awards such as Best of Breed, Best of Winners, and Best in Show. Our pedigrees reflect generations of thoughtful breeding, including some of the most respected lines in the world. But titles are never the goal—they are simply a reflection of doing things the right way.
🌿 A Life Well Lived
We believe pugs should be more than companions—they should be capable, joyful participants in life.
Our dogs enjoy a variety of activities, from conformation and performance sports to hikes, outings, and everyday family life. This philosophy guides our breeding program toward producing pugs who are not only beautiful, but vibrant, engaged, and full of personality.
🤍 A Lifelong Commitment
Our responsibility doesn’t end when a puppy goes home—it’s just the beginning.
We provide ongoing support to every Pickwick family and remain a resource for the life of each dog. And should circumstances ever change, every Pickwick pug will always have a place back with us.
Because to us, they are never just puppies.
They are part of our family—forever.
Breed Standard and AKC Championships - The pugs in our breeding program have been proven to be a beautiful example of the pug breed standard having received such recognition as "Best of Breed", "Best of Winners", "Best in Show", "Best of Opposite Sex", "Best Bred By", "Best Puppy in Show", and of course AKC championships.
- AKC Breeders of Merit
- AKC Registrations - We register and pay for the registrations of every puppy we breed with The American Kennel Club (AKC).
- Microchip - Our vet implants every Pickwick puppy with a microchip which we register and pay for through AKC Reunite. No puppy leaves us without being microchipped.
- Puppy Culture Raised pups. You can read more about these extensive protocols here.
- Extensive training and socialization of puppies - Puppies receive daily positive clicker training sessions and even master enough skills to earn an AKC Novice Tricks Title. Puppy Culture Protocols start as early as Day 3 with the Early Neurological Stimulation Exercises.
- AKC Novice Tricks title and certificate
- Litterbox trained - Puppies are trained to use the litterbox before they are even 4 weeks old
- Temperament Testing - Every litter of puppies is evaluated at approximately 7.5 weeks by a professional animal behaviorist/trainer.
- Conformation Evaluation (performed at 8, 10, and 12 weeks by master breeders of champion pugs from around the world) to ensure our pick(s) of the litter are superlative examples of the breed standard.
- Dew Claws are removed when they are born (or within the first day of life) making it easier to trim nails and prevent any risk of the dew claw becoming caught, ripped out, and injuring the toe or foot or leg.
- Vaccinations: Every Pickwick puppy receives all age-appropriate vaccinations (by 12 weeks = first 2 rounds of puppy shots; 16-24 weeks or older =3 rounds of puppy shots plus rabies)
- De-worming: Every Pickwick puppy has been de-wormed regularly using Strongid and heartworm prevention begins around 10 weeks of age and monthly thereafter.
- Diet: Pickwick pug puppies eat high quality food (PawTree) and supplements including fish oil, joint support, raw goats milk, and daily NuVet Vitamin We do not feed 'pet store' quality dog food.
- Ongoing support - Pickwick pugs offers unlimited, ongoing relationships with our puppy families. Any Pickwick pug, no matter the health or age or circumstances, has a forever home with us. The Pickwick family is a very special community of amazing pug owners and people!
Thoughtful Breeding
Our program is intentionally small and carefully curated.
We seek out exceptional pugs from around the world—drawing from proven, health-tested lines in the U.S. and abroad, including pedigrees rich in AKC Champions and Grand Champions, as well as some of the most respected kennels and influential pugs in the breed’s history. These thoughtfully selected lines help strengthen health, structure, and temperament for future generations.
But just as important as pedigree is how our dogs are lived with.
Our pugs are part of our daily life. They share our home, our routines, and our attention—allowing us to truly know each dog as an individual. This close relationship helps us make thoughtful decisions about temperament, trainability, and overall well-being.
We breed with purpose, always looking toward the future of the breed—not simply producing puppies, but thoughtfully raising the next generation.
Our program is intentionally small and carefully curated.
We seek out exceptional pugs from around the world—drawing from proven, health-tested lines in the U.S. and abroad, including pedigrees rich in AKC Champions and Grand Champions, as well as some of the most respected kennels and influential pugs in the breed’s history. These thoughtfully selected lines help strengthen health, structure, and temperament for future generations.
But just as important as pedigree is how our dogs are lived with.
Our pugs are part of our daily life. They share our home, our routines, and our attention—allowing us to truly know each dog as an individual. This close relationship helps us make thoughtful decisions about temperament, trainability, and overall well-being.
We breed with purpose, always looking toward the future of the breed—not simply producing puppies, but thoughtfully raising the next generation.
Diet
As a PawTree Pet Pro, we place a strong emphasis on thoughtful, high-quality nutrition from the very beginning. Pickwick puppies are raised on carefully selected, premium foods—including PawTree Freeze-Dried Raw—along with supportive supplements such as probiotics, fish oil, and essential vitamins.
We believe that proper nutrition plays a vital role in lifelong health. Diet can influence everything from digestion and immune function to more serious concerns—such as pancreatitis, which is often linked to inappropriate or overly rich foods. Because of this, we are intentional about what our puppies eat and how their diets are introduced.
To help make the transition home as smooth as possible, each puppy goes home with a supply of their food, treats, and supplements, along with guidance to support continued health and well-being.
As a PawTree Pet Pro, we place a strong emphasis on thoughtful, high-quality nutrition from the very beginning. Pickwick puppies are raised on carefully selected, premium foods—including PawTree Freeze-Dried Raw—along with supportive supplements such as probiotics, fish oil, and essential vitamins.
We believe that proper nutrition plays a vital role in lifelong health. Diet can influence everything from digestion and immune function to more serious concerns—such as pancreatitis, which is often linked to inappropriate or overly rich foods. Because of this, we are intentional about what our puppies eat and how their diets are introduced.
To help make the transition home as smooth as possible, each puppy goes home with a supply of their food, treats, and supplements, along with guidance to support continued health and well-being.
Amy at the Pug Dog Club of America's National Specialty in Indiana
Ongoing Support
Pickwick pugs offers unlimited, ongoing relationships with our puppy families. Any Pickwick pug, no matter the health or age or circumstances, has a forever home with us if ever needed.
Pickwick pugs offers unlimited, ongoing relationships with our puppy families. Any Pickwick pug, no matter the health or age or circumstances, has a forever home with us if ever needed.
