Pugapalooza Alberta

Introducing a new pug puppy to your home is a very big and exciting step! First things first,there are a few things that you will need to buy for your new pug puppy.

Most breeders or shelters will send you home with some of the dog food that your puppy is accustomed to.

Be sure to stick with this food for a week or so, at least, so as to not cause any stomach issues.

If you want to change your puppy's diet,do it slowly.

Mix the two brands half and half so you can ween them off of the food the breeder had.

 

​Things You Will Need 

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-Collar with id( more of a necklace then using for walking, pugs tend to pull which will cause resporatory trouble and eye problems if you use a collar for walking, )

-Harness( to put the leash on for walks , safer for pugs)

-Stainless steel food and water bowls.

- Bed

-Dog Food

-crate (if you are crate training which is recommended)

-collar (preferably a harness)

-leash

-Odor neutralizers (specifically made for use in homes with pets are safer and more effective than standard cleansers.)

-Toys 

 

A Pug puppy isn’t much different than any other puppy…except that Pug puppies have shorter bursts of pure energy than some other breeds. No matter how long these bursts are, a Pug puppy will dart around, run, explore and do all the things a puppy does. And, like any other puppy, Pug pups do all these things at warp speed, so it’s a good idea to pug proof your home before he or she arrives

 

PICKING OUT PUPPY

We hope that you've done your homework and learned the necessary information about Pugs so that your decision to get a Pug is an informed, and educated decision.

 

If so, you're probably ready to begin your search for a Pug,There are several "sources" from which you can purchase a Pug, and while this section is devoted primarily to finding Pugs through reputable breeders, and the next section to finding Pugs through Pug Rescue, we would be remiss if we didn't talk about finding Pugs through local animal shelters.

 

LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS:

 

Being Pug People, or future Pug People familiar with the breed, we don’t often think about being able to find a Pug in an animal shelter. They are, after all, lovable and precious dogs and we can barely imagine anyone giving up their Pug. But the fact is that people do give up their Pugs, and not all Pugs manage to get lucky enough to end up in a foster home of someone associated with a Pug Rescue group. Some people, poor breeders and owners alike simply don’t care enough about their dog(s) to seek a good home for their dog if they themselves cannot place or care for them. As a result, even Pugs end up in animal shelters…awaiting the same cruel fate as any other breed.They do get puppies in with moms sometimes, so If you are certain you dont want an older pug and set on a puppy, Dont worry they probably have one for you.

 

Not only do you have the chance to find a Pug, but you also have an opportunity to save the life of one in the process. Shelters are of course, an ideal source for families who want a Pug, and can manage the cost of caring for one, but not the cost of buying one outright from a reputable breeder.

 

So how do you do this? It’s easy! Open your phone book, get the addresses of all the animal shelters in your area, and pay each of them a visit. When you arrive, ask to speak to someone who can make arrangements for you to be called when a Pug arrives. Yes, you could simply call them, but meeting the people working at these shelters will leave a more lasting impression and increase your chances of getting called when a Pug happens to land in the shelter. You’ll find that most of the people working in animal shelters share your love of dogs, and care deeply about the work they do. They’re often volunteers who give of themselves, and are eager to help find as many homes for as many dogs as possible. Because of their mission, if a shelter you visit gets a Pug, you can pretty much count on getting a call from them.

 

We urge you to use this option in your search for a Pug. It may take some time or very little time at all. In the process, as you continue searching for a Pug, please remember to notify the shelter if you happen to find a Pug elsewhere. It’s common courtesy, and will also help the animal shelters stay organized and up to date on the waiting lists they maintain.

 

Also Here at Pugapalooza Alberta we help Shelters and rescues find homes so if you want to go this way just send us a message and we will help you locate one.

 

BREEDERS:

 

If you’ve decided on buying a Pug from a breeder, your goal is to find a reputable one.

 

Breeder Referral List: Obtain a list of reputable breeders in your geographic region from the Pug Dog Club of America’s Breeder Referral List Contact Person. These breeders are registered with the PDC of A and generally are a good place to begin your search. The great benefit of using this list is that even if the breeders you call do not have an puppies available or due, they often know which breeders do and can point you in the right direction. Best of all is that they’re a great bunch of people who will go out of their way to help you.

 

Referenced Breeders: If you know people who have Pugs, and have had good experiences dealing with a particular breeder, you’ve got a good resource. References from people you know are always useful, but be wary of word of mouth…what your neighbors-cousins-sisters-friends-son says to you may not be worth very much.

 

Newspaper Ads:Most reputable breeders have a combination of reputation, repeat customers and registration with organizations such as the Pug Dog Club of America and thus have no need to advertise puppies for sale in newspaper ads. They have a limited number of litters per year, and little difficulty selling their pups. In fact, it’s not at all uncommon for reputable breeders to “promise” their upcoming pups months in advance. Given this fact, it’s no stretch to suggest that breeders advertising in the newspaper are either inexperienced or backyard  breeders…or both.HOWEVER sometimes you do get lucky and find a reputable breeder in the ads count yourself lucky. It has happened a time or two.

 

 I ask this question because we as people often have an uncanny ability to gather up information, process it, and come to some sort of feeling that seemingly defies logic. Call it intuition, a sixth sense, or gut instinct…But we call it the Vibe, and chances are, after meeting a breeder and doing all the requisite things, you’ve got a Vibe too.It’s a feeling you have that tells you to do exactly the opposite of what your heart is telling you to do.pay attention to your Vibe.

 

Buying a Pug puppy or any puppy for that matter is a process where one’s heart often interferes with one’s mind. You see those adorable little Pug pups and within 20 seconds your heart belongs to them. When that funny looking cute little helpless creature licks you, gives you a head tilt, snorts or wags it’s curly little tail, you’re gone! Sold!
 
Take a deep breath, count to ten, walk away if you have to…And consider your Vibe. What’s it telling you? Has the breeder answered one or several questions in ways that leave you uneasy or not fully satisfied? Did you notice something in the facilities that you weren’t exactly thrilled with? Is the breeder failing to meet one of the crucial must haves we discussed? Did you notice a limp in the pup you’re leaning toward buying? Or some other characteristic that got your attention in a negative way? If so, listen to your Vibe. Yes, we know it’s hard because those little creatures have a way of tugging at our heartstrings, but listen to it anyway.

 

 

 

When your Vibe is telling you something contrary to what your heart is saying, you really should go HOME…Not to another breeder just yet, but go home. Take some time, think about what you’ve seen and heard, and consider your Vibe. Don’t make any decisions if anything at all is nagging at you. Finding a Pug, whether from a breeder or elsewhere, isn’t easy. But it’s important remember that you want a positive Pug experience and you owe it to yourself, and your future Pug to do everything humanly possible to optimize the odds of having a positive experience.

 

Be careful! We’ve heard countless stories from Pug People who ignored their Vibe and experienced a great deal of heartache, grief, guilt, and difficult days. And we’re not even touching on the expense many of these people incurred after ignoring their Vibe.

 

MEETING THE BREEDERS/SHELTER/RESCUE:

 

the research done and have compiled a list of breeders/shelters/rescues to visit as you continue your search for your Pug. Here’s where the process becomes truly difficult, 

 

 -Health Certificate: This is probably the single most important item a breeder/shelter/rescue must provide for you. The health certificate, which should only come from a veterinarian, attests that the puppy you purchase is healthy and free of illness, defect or disease. If the breeder/shelter/rescue you’re visiting does not provide this, or hedges on the answer, move on to the next breeder/shelter/rescue on your list immediately.

 

-De-worming and Vaccination Records: Another must have. These records are your proof that the Pug you’re considering has been de-wormed and given the appropriate vaccinations thus far. If this isn’t there, or available, move on to the next breeder/shelter/rescue.

 

-Sales Contract: The sales contract should contain, at minimum, the following terms:

 

That you, the buyer must take your Pug to the veterinarian of your choice within a specified period (usually 2-6 days) after you purchase the puppy. If, during that examination by your veterinarian any pre-existing conditions are found, you will be able to return the puppy to the breeder/shelter/rescue and receive a full refund of the purchase price. Pre-existing conditions include Luxating Patella, irregular heartbeats, and others mentioned here.

 

If at any time during your ownership of the dog, you decide that you can no longer care for your dog, the breeder/shelter/rescue will receive the first opportunity to purchase the dog from you at the going rate for a dog that age. Most reputable breeders/shelters.rescues are concerned with the lives of the dogs they produce, and want this opportunity due to the fate that many dogs find in this circumstance…

 

The sales contract must contain the name of the dog or another equally acceptable identifying factor, the price, the required deposit for holding the puppy for you (with indication of refundability), the date the full balance is due, the amount of the balance, and the total cost. Your name, the breeder’s/shelter's/rescue's name or business name, and the dogs name should all be in the contract.

 

Parent of Premises: The breeder(rescues and shelters dont always have this opurtuinity) must make at least the mother of the puppies available for you to meet. By meeting the mother of the pups you’re considering you can get a better idea of the puppies possible temperament and health. In addition, you can also have the opportunity to evaluate how the mother is being cared for.

 

 

Free Reign of the Premises: The breeder/shelters/rescues should allow you to inspect and investigate their premises. Now this does not mean you are free to visit their bedroom, but rather their breeding facility…Where the pups and parent(s) live, sleep, feed and cared for. The breeder/shelter/rescuer shouldn’t have anything to hide, and thus should be more than willing to allow you this access.

 

Spend Time With the Puppies: While this may seem an obvious point, many people purchase Pug puppies sight unseen, and unless you’re having a Pug shipped form someplace out of your range, and from a breeder/shelter/rescuer you know you can rely upon, this is a no-no. The breeder/shelter/rescuer should allow you to spend as much time as you wish with any and all of the puppies available for sale. They should not rush you, hesitate in any way or limit you in this endeavor. If the breeder/shelter/rescuer does not allow this, has an excuse against it or hesitates for any reason, it would be wise to move on to the next breeder/rescuer/shelter.

 

You of course have the right (and you should exercise it) to ask the breeder/shelter/rescuer any and all questions you feel are relevant.

Remember, if it’s a concern to you, then you should ask…There are no stupid questions!

 

NOW FOR THE PUPPY:

The only major decision left to make now is which puppy to buy? You could very well find yourself looking at 3, 4 or maybe even 6 different pups, and they’re all cute, adorable and capable of making you say “awwwe” with just a wag of the tail, or look in the eyes.

Many people who have talked about this subject, say that when they chose their Pug pup, the pup actually chose them. Sometimes this happens...A pup will walk right up to a potential owner, curl up in her lap, lick him or do something else that immediately answers the question. When this happens, you know this is the Pug for you. But what if it doesn’t happen? To help you along in deciding which Pug pup to take home, here are a few little tips to keep in mind:

Three Types of Puppies

 

The Curious Investigator:

A puppy that runs right over to you as you’re visiting the breeders/rescuers/shelters and trying to decide which one take home fits into this group. They are well-adjusted puppies are curious about everything…they’re curious about things that move, new things, things they haven’t seen, heard or smelled before. This type of curious investigation is a good sign that the puppy is healthy, though it’s not a guarantee. These dogs are ideal for homes with children or even other pets because they won’t run or hide in fear prodding children, or other resident pets.

 

The Timid and Cautious: 

A puppy that either approaches something new (such as a potential owner) with caution, or one that backs away in fear fits into this group. Timid, Bashful Introverts are curious about things, but they don’t rush in to investigate. These Pups will check you out eventually, but they have to make sure you’re all right, and then approach with caution. These dogs are ideal for homes without children and other pets. They’ll do better, and adjust faster with less to be cautious about. An experienced dog owner can make these timid little dogs thrive in no time.

 

The Shy and Fearful: 

A puppy that simply runs for cover at the sight or sound of something unfamiliar. These pups won’t check you out, but instead run and hide…under a couch, into a crate, or someplace else. This type of behavior is a sure sign of a poorly adjusted puppy that didn’t get enough attention from the breeder during the socialization process. Does this mean the Shy and Fearful puppy should be passed over? No. These puppies need and deserve love as well, and in fact, they need more of it. They need to be helped along by an owner who has lots of time and patience to spend nurturing it. If you’re interested in getting two Pugs at once, then a shy and fearful pup is a great choice as it will do better with another Pug in the house. If you’re a stay at home mother or father (without kids, and without other pets), if you’re retired, or semi-retired, these dogs will be great for you, and you’ll be great for them!

 

All Pugs Need and Deserve Homes and Love

If you’re wondering which puppies get purchased first, second and third, the answer shouldn’t surprise you…The Curious Investigator gets picked first, the Timid and Cautious gets picked second, and the Shy and Fearful gets picked last. It’s only natural that the puppies that run right up to potential buyers to say hello get taken home quickly.

 

 

 

But it’s important to say here that all Pugs need and deserve good homes and love. If your home has no children, or they’re off in college, or married, please consider taking home a Shy puppy, or a Cautious puppy…They make great companions and wonderful pets too. The appropriate match between Pug puppy and Pug Owner is a two-way street that does indeed work both ways.

 

In the perfect Pug world, potential owners will not only consider which Pug is best for them, but also whether they are best for a particular Pug…