Been looking for a Chiuahua pup for some time now and have quite spontaneously decided to consider a Pug instead. Firstly, I'm having a LOT of trouble finding the Chi I want, and I'm being told I'll pay a VERY high price for a bitch at the moment. Secondly, I say spontaneously on the Pug front although this was the breed I considered prior to the Chiuahua anyway...

Obviously, I've read up about the Chiuahuas and decided that they were almost EXACTLY what I want. How do Pugs compare generally? Is their anyone here with a Pug that'd like to sing their praises? Obviously it's still just a thought, but any info would be appreciated... Should I stick with my Chi search, or have a second angle and track down some Pug breeders?

(Does anyone know if there are plenty of Pug pups about? Also, are the "non-standard" colours - ie. not tan with a black face - radically more expensive?)

Please be warned that the majority of members here already have their names down for retirement pugs off another member!!!
I really don't see much advertisement in the way of pugs and i really want one for when i retire!! (I have a Great Dane right now).

The best bet is to go to a show (Crufts is soon) and have a good look at both breeds and compare them, and see which one you like best. (Gotta be a pug! though)

Best of luck!

All I can say is Matt, one you Hug a Pug you will be hooked.  Very different proposition to the Chi - I love Chihuahuas, but the extreme smallness worries me to death!  Pugs, while still 'fully portable' are a lot more substantial.  They are very confident, bossy little folk, when they want to lap sit, they lap sit, regardless of what you are doing  at the time! :)  Whilst typing this I have one pug trying to sit on my shoulder (from the arm of the sofa) another acutally on my lap, and 2 at my feet.  Plus a manic Am. Cocker trying to play fetch! :)They are also a breed that get a lot of attention while out and about - you cannot walk pugs without being stopped time and again by people wanting to cuddle them and ask about them.    There is one major health concern, which currently does not have a central registry to record, so you really have to rely on info from breeders (Haemivertibrae).  And you do have to always bear in mind the extreme short nose, and take hot weather precautions when appropriate.

On the negative side, they are not easy to get hold of.  However, the litter size does tend to be bigger than Chis, so you have more chance!  Lewis the Pug actually mated 2 bitches last week and the week before, but we wont be hearing for a while if  either bitch has taken;)  And they are not cheap either.  Current "ball park figures" is somewhere between £650 to £1200.  As suggested by "mygirl" cant you make it to Crufts - Toy are on Thursday 4th March.  You will be able to meet loads of both breeds (I will have Mabel there, and Mike will have the Chis) plus there is discover dogs.  If you cant make it, let us know where abouts in the Country you are, and someone here will be able to point you in the direction of a show where you can meet a few.  Ah, just a though, at the end of March (27th) UK Toydog show is on in Stafford, will be there too, with loads of other Pugs, Chis  etc.  Any questions please feel free to PM me or e-mail.
bye
Gwen

"Hug a pug", "Fully portable" oooohhh it just gets better lmao

Hi Mygirl, perhaps I should have warned everyone that pugs do lead to their own kind of madness - Mike calls in "Pug Pottiness".  I actually have a pug brooch which says "Hug a Pug", along with various other items of pug jewellery, 2 pug handbags, and just started on the ornaments and pictures!
bye
Gwen

Hi Gwen, thanks ever so much for yet more wonderful info! :)

I have to agree, the only thing on my "negative" list for the Chiuahuas was their super-tiny size... although I want a small breed, I am quite wary of their minuscule frame. The fact that Pugs are so small, yet so chunky, is what initially attracted me to them!

The things currently on the negative list for Pugs are the fact that they supposedly shed a LOT and the fact that I've been told they can have random fits of disobedience! I'm also concerned about the hightened risks of medical problems, namely with their breathing and skin. (Plus the Haemivertibrae which you mentioned - how serious and common is this?)

What colour variations are available with Pugs, just black and black/tan? I'd love an all black one, or all tan perhaps, but I'm not sure if I'm disillusioned in my understanding of "how they come!"

Thanks again for your help, I'll call around a few breeders this afternoon and see what I can turn up! (p.s. I'm in Lancashire. Won't be going to Crufts - at least not this year - but hopefully will be able to attend the Toydog show, or some local club arranged ones!)

Hi Matt,
You can find out about the available colours in the Breed Standard. (I too have my heart set on a black one!)
:)

Thanks for that Jeangenie. Have you had any luck finding black puppies? I have a terrible feeling that they're gonna be a thousand times harder to find that regular fawn coloured pups!

To be honest I'm not seriously looking for one yet, but I reckon I'll have to start putting my name down at least 2 years before I want one!
:)

Neighbours across the road have an 8 month old - very cute :) But I don't like the snuffling :(

Daisy

Hi Matt, only come in 2 colours, the fawn which is always black masked, and black.  The degrees of black masking varies, of course, Mabel has an extremely black mask and ears, Patsy just has a smudged look to her face.  There is also an apricot, but a lot of disagreement about how warm a cream your fawn colour is before it becomes Apricot :) ,  the "Holy Grail" colour is Silver, but from what I can gather, no one in living memory has actually seen one!  Obedience is not a Pug trait at all! ;)  , they are very individual and strong minded.  Havinhg said that, mine always come to call when out for off lead excercise, but there the obedience ends.  they simply do there own thing!  Mabel, for instance, made quite an impression when she first hit the show scene by specialiasing in sitting right on the base of her tail then doing backward somersaults just while the judge was looking at HER!!!  They are not yappy, but can be vocal in expressing an opinion - they do 'converse' a lot.

Yes, you are quite right about the shedding - but it is manageable with regualr brush through, and one of those sticky roller things for clothes and furniture :) .  Health issues, never had skin problems.  You have to be careful about nose rolls, frequent wipes (at leastg weekly) followed by a moisturiser (I use coconut oil) keeps nose rolls and noses in tip top condition.  Are a little prone to teenage acne, we use sudocreme.  Breathing, take care in hot weather not to let them get overheated, overexcited.  Some of able to cope better than others, rough rule of thumb, the shorter the nose the more care you need to take.  It is hard to give firm guidelines, some of my bunch can run for ages, even in very warm weather, without any problems whatsoever, others have to be kept in the shade and cooled down with chill coats, electric fans and ice cubes to prevent distress.  (Although I sometimes wonder if Mabel just loves all the extra attention).  The Haemivertibrae problem seems to be a bone of contention.  There is some research going on into it, and  there is a sort of database of X ray results being compiled by Dr Andreas ?  (forgot his surname).  Can give you some URLs to research if you want (from the USA).  Problem is, X ray is the only way to see it before aproblem occurs, and a whole lot of Pug popel dont want to put them at risk from a GA just for the Xray, so dont get it done until they need a GA for another reason.  It is impossible to say how extensive the problem is without proper record keeping, I can only say I have not yet met a Pug affected, but then our first born pug will onlly be 3 in May.

If you dont have any success you would be more than welcom to come and meet the gang in Blackpool, both Chis and Pugs, at Michaels.  No pups available, but you could get "up close and personal" with bigger pups, young adults and adults and compare the 2 in their home enviroment.  There is also a Pug class the last Thursday of the month  not far from the M6.  Good lluck in the search
bye Gwen

Pug Handbags!! :p
I think maybe you should bring me down your waiting list by about 20 yrs (I can't wait 30years till retirement!!)

Thanks again Gwen, you're a star! I spoke to Michael on the phone for about 15 minutes the other day. He's expecting a few Chi pups over the next few months apparently, so I'll be calling him back about those next month. I also just realised this morning that he breeds and keeps Pugs, too!

I'm having a REALLY hard time trying to decide between Pugs and Chis. Ideally I'd still like the Chi, but if the right Pug came available, I'd jump at the chance... I'm just worried that I'd get a little tear-away Pug instead of the well-behaved Chi that I'd been imagining!

If the Blackpool gang are having any get-togethers or are visiting any shows, I'd love to tag along! Hopefully I'll be a fully-fledged member of the Chi/Pug owning public shortly. Thanks again! (I'm off to call around some breeders... AGAIN!)

*cough, cough* pug *cough, cough* pug :D

Unlike my dogs which have random fits of obedience ........... :D  ;)

M.

Hello all, I saw and when I saw I feel in LOVE :)
On a walk today I saw a lady with two Irish Wolfhounds and she stood calling into the "heather" I looked for another Wolfhound and eventually a pug pottered out removed the ball from the biggest wolfhound and carried on. The woman shrugged her shoulders to me as if to say "what can you do" and all four of them just walked on, seemingly unware of the looks they were getting from others in the park. Little and Larger

I love pugs :)
Karen

LOL @M Thats a rough for you :D Gillian