What to look for in a pug breeder you are considering buying from

When you’re in the market to buy a puppy of any dog breed, choosing a responsible breeder is really important. However, if you are considering buying a pug, it is even more important to make the right choice, because owning a healthy, happy dog that lives to a grand old age starts with choosing the right puppy.

Pugs can fairly be described as a complex breed, as well as one that has more than their fair share of potential hereditary health problems and conformation defects. Unfortunately, many pug buyers still don’t do enough research into the breed and its challenges before buying a puppy, which often means storing up a lot of potential health issues for further down the line that can have a huge impact on the health of the dog in question.

Buying your pug puppy from a responsible breeder can help you to ensure that you have the best possible chance of getting a healthy, well-bred dog – and have some comeback if things go wrong. But what should you look for when choosing a pug breeder to buy from? In this article, we will cover some of the most important things to look for. Read on to learn more.

Critically analysing puppy adverts

First of all, to find a breeder you’ll probably be looking at adverts for Pug puppies for sale (although you might also want to select a breeder first and wait for a litter from them). The adverts themselves can tell you a lot about the breeders you are considering – particularly if you know what to look for.

The pictures of the pups (and dam) should be clear enough for you to get a feel for their conformation and appearance, and you should check out as many pictures of the dam as possible – and the sire too, if available. This will let you get a feel for the potential appearance of the adult dogs, and whether or not they have exaggerated features that may be replicated in, and cause problems in, their pups.

The advert text should also be informative and open – not all breeders are great at writing slick copy to sell their dogs, but their written content should give a good impression and let you know that the breeder knows their dogs well, is open about sharing information on them, and is proud of their breed lines.

Also, look for adverts from breeders that mention health testing of their dogs, as this is a good start when finding a responsible breeder.

Checking out breeders before you visit

Before you begin ringing pug breeders and arranging a visit, check them out online. Look at things like how many adverts for litters they have posted in the last year or so – if someone claims to have bred from their pet pug but has already advertised multiple litters from other dogs, they may be a more large-scale breeder who is trying to disguise this fact – so ask yourself why.

If the breeder is a pro, Google their information and see what you can find out about them online, and if they name specific pedigree dogs, try to investigate their health and health test status using The Kennel Club’s breed health tests results finder.

Kennel Club registration and Assured Breeders

Pedigree pug puppies are registered by The Kennel Club, which places some limitations on dogs they will register – such as limiting the amount of litters any given dam can have, with further restrictions on litters delivered by caesarean section.

Pups that are eligible for registration but that aren’t registered may be unregistered for a reason – not always a good one. Additionally, choosing a member of The Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme provides a little extra reassurance – although this is no guarantee and is no substitute for doing plenty of your own research.

Health testing and improvement

Pugs can face a range of health and conformation issues, and many of these can be tested for or assessed prior to breeding, in order to prevent breeding from dogs who may have unhealthy pups. Always choose a breeder who performs all of the recommended health tests on their parent pugs, and make sure you ask to see the results of these tests before you commit to a purchase.

Conformation and temperament

Pugs are really popular today, and one unfortunate side effect of this is that pugs with ever-flatter faces and conformation exaggerations are being bred to meet the demand. The flatter the pug’s face, the more likely this is to result in health issues such as breathing difficulties and increased sensitivity to the heat – two things that can be very limiting, as well as deleterious to the dog’s health and quality of life.

Critically assess the conformation of any pug you might be considering buying and don’t select a pup that has one or both parents with a very flat face – nor a parent who has previously had corrective surgery for an issue of this type.

Insights and support

Your pug breeder should know the breed inside out, and of course, their own individual dogs too. If your breeder isn’t knowledgeable and willing to provide advice and support over making the right choice and caring for your prospective purchase, look elsewhere.

Aftersales policy

Finally, before you commit to a purchase, ask the breeder to show you a copy of their sales contract and policies, and take the time to read and digest them before you buy.

Look for information on what happens if your pup is found to be ailing or develops a health problem soon after sale, or further down the line – and ensure that the breeder’s policies stack up.