Hi, I am looking to start breeding my pug bitch when she reaches atleast 18 months. She is 100% pug and is KC registered. I am researching to make sure I do this 100% properly and in my pugs best interest. Can anyone give me some helpful information please.?

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/89071.html

Have a read of this link first.
Aileen

I take it that you pug is doing well in the show ring and that the breeder has not put a restriction on your breeding her. First things to do is speak to her breeder to make sure that they are on side, check with them about any health problems in the lines of both the dam and the sire. Find out what health tests you need to do and make a start on that and when you are at shows look round for the sort of stud you would like and then research the back ground of the stud to make sure it will fin in with your bitches lines.

If you have not bred dogs before you will need a mentor who is near enough to help you with the whelping particularly as Pugs can be difficult and are not really a good idea foe a first time breeder, so make sure you have lots of back up.

I believe Pugs need to be x-rayed first to check for hemivertebrae. Personally I would not breed from any bitch of any breed without having had her eye tested by a specialist -whether it is breed club recommended or not. I gather from the Pug breeders on here that caesarian sections are common and that the breed often are poor mothers, so you need money set aside for emergencies (a c-section out of hours at the vet's can cost well over £1000) and be able to handrear the litter if needs be.

First step first though -show the bitch to ensure she is of good enough quality to pass on her genes.

Hi, If she is just a pet i really would'nt, There are so many poorly bred pugs around and it is really affecting the way the breed is thought of. However if she has done well in the show ring or is of exceptional quaility and true to type do proceed but with caution they should have health tests and yes they are prone to c-sec's, we have had to have two on our bitches, and it does really take it out of them as it takes them quite a while to come round. After all this if you choose to proceed then my advice will be do your research, find the best stud you can, which could cost you up to £500, and find yourself a good mentor. And at the end of the day is there a market for what your breeding, show kennels can always sell pups but its not so easy for so called home bred pups as the market is flooded with them and buyers are now very aware of the lack of quaility of some of these litters.

There is now a DNA test to see the percentage of likelihood the dog will suffer from pug dog encephalitis two copies of the normal gene n/n but if my research is correct to dismiss the n/s would causes greater harm than good by decreasing the gene pool dramatically as a high % of pugs are carriers.. Similar to DNA tests run by aht but I think the kit has to be ordered from the US. Putnum patella scoring, heart scoring and xrays for hemivertabrae. Eye testing for HC and conformational eye or corneal disorders.

http://www.jessygaff-pugs.co.uk/PDE-Information.html apologies to the site owner but its a clear and consice description of the condition.