We tell each of our puppies the night before gotcha day, "you have been blessed to be a blessing, so go into this world and be a blessing". Typical pugs, though, they must have heard us say "you are blessed so go be blessed" because that's what is happening. We are so tremendously grateful for the incredible care and love that each puppy's owners offer, and we look forward to each and every update. Thank you everyone for treasuring these precious babies and offering them such amazing homes and families. From Colorado to Florida, New York to Virginia .... wherever you are, blessings to ALL our Pickwick family!
Here are a few testimonies and updates from Pickwick pug owners around the country and a few reasons why we think Pickwick Pugs are special.
Here are a few testimonies and updates from Pickwick pug owners around the country and a few reasons why we think Pickwick Pugs are special.
Your ears must've been burning on Saturday because so many people at the festival were asking where did you get such a beautiful pug from and we said from an amazing breeder in Alabama, Pickwick Pugs"
The vet was impressed that his nostrils were completely open." (owner of Buddy, new name Murphy, from the Christmas Stars Litter - North Carolina)
Wherever we go someone always comments on how handsome he is" (owner of Myles from the Stars Fell on Alabama Litter - New York)
Can’t believe she’ll be 2 next week!! Words can’t even describe how much we love her....She absolutely loves people and also likes being the center of attention. She is a certified therapy dog and she has so much fun when we go on visits.... We take her everywhere we possible can which is pretty much everywhere but the grocery store. She is also very smart! We’ve done quite a few training classes and the trainer can’t get over how smart she is. She also loves training. I can’t even say the word without her going crazy! Her coat is very soft and people comment about that all the time. ETA: Piper is from the Diamond litter."
Great news! Petunia did great at the airport and on the plane. She met a lot of people and got praised for being so well behaved 🥰"
Petunia flying from Atlanta airport to San Diego, then onto her new home in Tijuana Mexico.
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Bumi was star student at his puppy class today and has been pretty much bomb-proof in the world so far. You definitely set him up for success!" (owner of Whitaker, new name Bumi, from the Adirondack litter - vet tech and agility competitor and instructor - Georgia)
She’s so dang smart!! all your work is so evident- she’s basically bomb proof- nothing scares her. Everyone was really impressed at work." (owner of Holly, new name Rosalina, from the Christmas Stars Litter - vet tech, and mother of amazing human boys and 4 legged children, Georgia)
These pugs are smart and have amazing temperaments. Thank you!" (Mom of a puppy from the Jane Austen Litter)
I am watching your T-bone training and whenever you say puppy puppy come Myles his head goes like ....and he comes running lol still remembers your voice" (owner of Myles from the Stars Fell on Alabama Litter - New York)
Everyone loves Winston. He’s so sweet and cuddly but the minute he’s on his own so playful. Best pug ever!! We love him so much. Thank you!" (Owner of Winston - Florida)
His coat is soooo soft! He blew his puppy coat out about 2 weeks ago. It’s one of the first things people say. What are your thoughts on a friend for him? Definitely looking for a purebred pug…. and if it’s trained as well as he [Teddy - Pickwick's Marquise D'Amore] was by you…..sold! " (owner of Teddy from the Diamond Litter - vet tech from Auburn, Alabama)
Amber has little or no separation anxiety ... She is also very clean and not mess up her area. If she is in her pen she lets us know when she wants out ... So, yes she does puppy things, and when she gets too much out of control she goes into her pen and immediately calms down." (Owner of Pickwick puppy after first 2 days in new home, after flying from Alabama to Colorado.)
Hi Amy! Just wanted to give you a quick report on how Murphy/Buddy is doing. We were in Savannah this past weekend for my daughter's graduation and my best friend here in Hickory kept Murphy at their home. They are so smitten with him that they are all depressed since we picked him back up! They couldn't get over how well-behaved he was and he never had a single potty accident in their home. Her husband even told us to name our price! Haha!! My friend wanted to make sure I shared with you how impressed they are with him, and with you as his breeder/trainer/socializer/etc." (Owner of Pickwick puppy from the Christmas Stars Litter - North Carolina)
Amy she did so well yesterday! Peed on her pee pad twice in the airport and slept the entire plane ride, didn't make a peep! She slept peacefully in her pen all night too, I slept on the couch so I could listen for her. Adjusting well and making friends with Isis! She is just beautiful, I love her so much already! It was great meeting you and the grumble yesterday. She's adjusting so well, eating and playing. We're going to meet friends this afternoon so I can show her off! I texted you a couple pics. I'm in puppy heaven! We got so much attention going through the airports everyone was admiring her cuteness! I'll definitely be in touch and send you frequent updates." (Owner of Bell/Luna, puppy from New Year's Eve Litter - Colorado)
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And you do such a good job training/preparing them. Rosalina is the best trained dog in this house...everyone at work is always blown away how incredible she is ... Socialization, confidence, obedience ... And, well, she’s really pretty." (Owner of Holly/Rosalina from the Christmas Star Litter - vet tech, Georgia)
Some "gotcha day" photos of puppies meeting their new amazing owners!
Why is a Pickwick Pug special?
Breed Standard Champions
At Pickwick Pugs, we only include exemplary representations of the pug breed in our breeding program as evidenced by our AKC championships, grand championships, and awards such as "Best of Breed", "Best in Show", "Best Bred By" "Winners Dog" and "Winners Bitch" and AKC titles in Rally Obedience, Trick Dog, Canine Good Citizenship, and even an AKC Achiever Dog title.
Important Pedigrees
When you look through each puppy's pedigree you will find a sea of AKC champions (the prefix "CH" stands for Champion, "GCH" for Grand Champion) and you will also recognize some very important pugs such as the sire of the 2018 #1 Toy in the nation who also won the Toy Group at Westminster and more Best in Shows than any pug in history, other Top 10 pugs in the US, the 2016 #1 Pug in the nation who was picked to win Westminster, or winners at Crufts International. Important kennels are represented in our pedigrees such as Tangetoppen, Double D, Coral Bay, Winsome, Mianda, Diabolbric, and Hill Country.
Health+Beauty+Brains
We believe pugs can do more than just sit on a couch, (although they should also excel at this), and we love for our own pugs to get the most out of life as possible. Working for an active lifestyle for our own canine family, this philosophy influences our emphasis on health testing and scrupulous selection process for our pugs in our breeding program. We strive to breed strong, healthy pugs for future generations to come … pugs who can enjoy a jolly hike or walk in nice weather, dance, compete in scent work, agility, or rally obedience, and savor life to the fullest! If any of our pugs -- even our AKC champions and Grand champions or very expensive European imports -- do not meet our high health and temperament standards, they are spayed or neutered and not a part of our breeding program.)
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
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. 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 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.
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.
Extensive Training
Every Pickwick Puppy receives daily training in both manners and life skills as well as fun tricks -- in fact, they will have mastered enough skills to earn an AKC Novice Tricks title by the time they go to their new homes at 12-24 weeks of age! 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:
Socialization
Having studied in person 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 4 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.
Temperament and Conformation Evaluations
Diet
Pickwick puppies have been fed the highest-grade food available including Ross Wells Raw Rations, organic Raw Goat Milk, Green Beef Tripe, other raw selections from PetCarnivore.com and RawPawsPetFood.com, probiotic Yogurt, Calcium, Colostrum, organic Pumpkin, Lamb, chicken paws, homemade chicken broth, Esther C, Kelp, Probiotics, Origen or Farmina N&D Ancestral grains, Life's Abundance treats, and NuVet Vitamin Supplements.
We are not backyard breeders
Our pugs are our children. They live in our home with us and even have their own bedroom next to ours (unless they are sleeping with us) complete with their own tv and special beds. They watch TV with us, go to work with us (sometimes), help us cook dinner, laundry, go on vacations with us, and they participate in conformation and other sports such as rally obedience, canine freestyle, tricks, and scent work. Because they live with us in our home and not in a detached kennel separate from our house, we are able to truly examine each dog's temperament, learning curve, and intelligence quotient. We breed only to find our next show prospect. We do not breed simply to sell puppies.
Memberships in Professional Organizations
We believe in ongoing continuing education and research in all things related to the pug breed, health testing, training, behavior modification and are members in numerous organizations and programs such as:
AKC Registration
Pickwick Pugs pays for and registers each puppy with the American Kennel Club (AKC). AKC registration affords complementary services and care to make sure the dog is healthy and happy.
Microchip
Every Pickwick puppy is microchipped with AKC Reunite, (paid for by Pickwick Pugs). With AKC Reunite, you can enroll any brand of microchip and they registered not only dogs, but cats, horses, and over 35 species! There are no annual fees or renewal fees or hidden fees. AKC Reunite offers 24/7/365 protection and you can always speak to a live agent. The pet's information can be updated throughout its life and owners even receive annual reminders and a "Happy Birthday email"! Finally, AKC Reunite provides a HUGE network of dog loving community. We actually used the service once when we thought our Lilibeth had escaped. (It turns out she was in our bathroom, but we just missed her somehow. We searched for 8 hours, hiked the woods at the end of our street, put up signs, contacted shelters and vets, and reported her to AKC reunite. It was the AKC reunite report which led to people from ALL OVER the country contacting us to offer assistance.)
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.
- AKC Registered - Every Pickwick puppy is registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) paid for and completed by Pickwick Pugs.
- Microchip - Every Pickwick puppy is microchipped with AKC Reunite, paid for by Pickwick Pugs)
- Breed standard - Every pug in our breeding program has been proven to be a beautiful example of the pug breed standard having received such recognitions 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Health - Every Pickwick puppy is examined by board certified veterinarians at birth (if C-section), and then again at 4, 8.5-9, and 10.5-11 weeks of age. Pickwick pugs offers a Health Guarantee with all puppies. All pugs in our breeding and exhibition program are screened for health issues for PDE, CERF, Patella, Hip, Spine, Tracheal Hypoplasia, PKDef, DM, Cardiac evaluation, and temperament. We will not breed a pug who is not deemed to be of superior health verified by multiple board certified veterinarians.
- 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 using Strongid at 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks of age. Heartworm prevention tablet (usually Heartguard) is administered around 10 weeks of age.
- Diet: Pickwick pug puppies eat high quality, human-grade food including raw meat, organic raw goat's milk, Origen or Farmina N&D Ancestral grains, vitamins, Esther C, Kelp, Probiotics, Life's Abundance treats and NuVet Vitamins and supplements.
- 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.
Breed Standard Champions
At Pickwick Pugs, we only include exemplary representations of the pug breed in our breeding program as evidenced by our AKC championships, grand championships, and awards such as "Best of Breed", "Best in Show", "Best Bred By" "Winners Dog" and "Winners Bitch" and AKC titles in Rally Obedience, Trick Dog, Canine Good Citizenship, and even an AKC Achiever Dog title.
Important Pedigrees
When you look through each puppy's pedigree you will find a sea of AKC champions (the prefix "CH" stands for Champion, "GCH" for Grand Champion) and you will also recognize some very important pugs such as the sire of the 2018 #1 Toy in the nation who also won the Toy Group at Westminster and more Best in Shows than any pug in history, other Top 10 pugs in the US, the 2016 #1 Pug in the nation who was picked to win Westminster, or winners at Crufts International. Important kennels are represented in our pedigrees such as Tangetoppen, Double D, Coral Bay, Winsome, Mianda, Diabolbric, and Hill Country.
Health+Beauty+Brains
We believe pugs can do more than just sit on a couch, (although they should also excel at this), and we love for our own pugs to get the most out of life as possible. Working for an active lifestyle for our own canine family, this philosophy influences our emphasis on health testing and scrupulous selection process for our pugs in our breeding program. We strive to breed strong, healthy pugs for future generations to come … pugs who can enjoy a jolly hike or walk in nice weather, dance, compete in scent work, agility, or rally obedience, and savor life to the fullest! If any of our pugs -- even our AKC champions and Grand champions or very expensive European imports -- do not meet our high health and temperament standards, they are spayed or neutered and not a part of our breeding program.)
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
- 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. 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 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.
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
- 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.
Extensive Training
Every Pickwick Puppy receives daily training in both manners and life skills as well as fun tricks -- in fact, they will have mastered enough skills to earn an AKC Novice Tricks title by the time they go to their new homes at 12-24 weeks of age! 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 dremmel 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
Socialization
Having studied in person 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 4 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.
Temperament and Conformation Evaluations
- Temperament Testing (performed at around 8-9 weeks)
- Conformation Evaluation (performed at 8 weeks by master breeders of champion pugs from around the world)
- These evaluations keep us honest in our assessment of our pugs and prevent us from becoming "kennel blind" (a term for when a breeder do not notice faults in their dogs, thereby unable to seek out ways to improve certain attributes).
Diet
Pickwick puppies have been fed the highest-grade food available including Ross Wells Raw Rations, organic Raw Goat Milk, Green Beef Tripe, other raw selections from PetCarnivore.com and RawPawsPetFood.com, probiotic Yogurt, Calcium, Colostrum, organic Pumpkin, Lamb, chicken paws, homemade chicken broth, Esther C, Kelp, Probiotics, Origen or Farmina N&D Ancestral grains, Life's Abundance treats, and NuVet Vitamin Supplements.
We are not backyard breeders
Our pugs are our children. They live in our home with us and even have their own bedroom next to ours (unless they are sleeping with us) complete with their own tv and special beds. They watch TV with us, go to work with us (sometimes), help us cook dinner, laundry, go on vacations with us, and they participate in conformation and other sports such as rally obedience, canine freestyle, tricks, and scent work. Because they live with us in our home and not in a detached kennel separate from our house, we are able to truly examine each dog's temperament, learning curve, and intelligence quotient. We breed only to find our next show prospect. We do not breed simply to sell puppies.
Memberships in Professional Organizations
We believe in ongoing continuing education and research in all things related to the pug breed, health testing, training, behavior modification and are members in numerous organizations and programs such as:
- The Pug Dog Club of America
- Birmingham Obedience Training Club
- Good Dog Breeder Program
- American Kennel Club Breed with Heart Program
AKC Registration
Pickwick Pugs pays for and registers each puppy with the American Kennel Club (AKC). AKC registration affords complementary services and care to make sure the dog is healthy and happy.
- Did you know that AKC fights for your right to even own a pet? On a daily basis AKC intervenes for pet owners with Government Relations, lobbyists, programs for public education, research for health such as the Canine Health Foundation, among other programs.
- Registering a dog with AKC helps breed preservation. The not-for-profit AKC is the only purebred dog registry that offers these programs and services: kennel inspections, Canine Good Citizenship program, public education, Government Relations, among other programs. AKC is the only purebred dog registry in the United States that maintains a systematic and sustained investigation and inspection effort. The AKC conducts thousands of inspections each year to ensure compliance with standards that support the health, safety, and welfare of dogs and the environments in which they live. Thus, registering a dog with AKC helps breeders with record-keeping, resources for studying pedigrees going back generations upon generations, education, research, and so much more. AKC fights for breeders' rights.
- AKC registration opens up the world of AKC dog sports, from the wildly popular agility to canine good citizenship, rally obedience, scent work, tricks, and more. These sports and activities afford the puppy opportunities to bond with their owners and ultimately live happier and more fulfilled lives.
- Finally, registering with AKC provides a role in the future of ALL breeds and dogs. Over the last 7 years, AKC has allocated close to $30 million to fund invaluable programs for the betterment of dogs and communities.
Microchip
Every Pickwick puppy is microchipped with AKC Reunite, (paid for by Pickwick Pugs). With AKC Reunite, you can enroll any brand of microchip and they registered not only dogs, but cats, horses, and over 35 species! There are no annual fees or renewal fees or hidden fees. AKC Reunite offers 24/7/365 protection and you can always speak to a live agent. The pet's information can be updated throughout its life and owners even receive annual reminders and a "Happy Birthday email"! Finally, AKC Reunite provides a HUGE network of dog loving community. We actually used the service once when we thought our Lilibeth had escaped. (It turns out she was in our bathroom, but we just missed her somehow. We searched for 8 hours, hiked the woods at the end of our street, put up signs, contacted shelters and vets, and reported her to AKC reunite. It was the AKC reunite report which led to people from ALL OVER the country contacting us to offer assistance.)
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.
If you would like to become a part of the Pickwick Pugs family please contact us or, if you are interested in being considered as a future Pickwick pug owner, please complete the inquiry form so that we can get to know you better! We look forward to hearing from you!
