Amy attended, along with Mr. Drysdale, Emma, and Eliza, the Pug Dog Club of America National Specialty in Virginia Beach October 1-8, 2023. It truly was a magical week filled with health seminars, conformation shows, agility and obedience trials, health screening, and amazing PUGS from around the US and Canada. We learned SO much. Mr. Drysdale received a "0" on his BOAS health screening (which is the best score possible ... no indication of any breathing issues such as elongated soft palate).  Here's a video with some hi-lites of the week . . .  And another video compilation from ea ..read more

We recently added "Risa's Revisions" to our application process for prospective buyers. The process was thorough before, but with a few additions it will help make the transition for both the puppy and the puppy's new owner smoother, more successful, and rewarding. It will help the pug and the pug's owner(s) thrive, not just survive, and prevent many surprises and frustrations. In addition to a few additions such as requiring the name and contact info for the trainer/facility who will be teaching the Puppy K (or basic obedience/manners classes), actually requiring 3 levels of in-class instruc ..read more

Very often owner-handlers in the show ring blame losing on the fact that a judge might choose a professional handler over an owner-handler. Perhaps there are some judges who tend to recognize a familiar face and might just assume that a dog is worth awarding simply because a famous professional handler is showing it. However, after watching some amazing, truly experienced handlers for many years now, (some who have helped me when I have ring conflicts with Rally, or conflicts with work, or simply too many dogs at a show with me so I need some extra hands), I honestly have to say that I think t ..read more

Pending AKC verification, we have a new champion at Pickwick Pugs! Our beautiful, amazing, incredibly sweet and balanced Tory (Pickwick's Worship the Ground I Walk On) out of the Coffeehouse Litter deserves this championship not just based upon conformation, but she also has one of the best, if not the best temperaments of any pug we have owned or bred. She also has a very special pedigree with Uncle "Biggie" who won more best in shows than any pug in history, grandfather Reese and great grandfather Noble ... all top pugs in the country.  Tory was our pick of the li ..read more

Go Mr. Drysdale! He is definitely living up to his show name, "Pickwick's Mr. High Falutin" and rocking the show ring! At his very first official dog show, in the 6-9 puppy class, Drysdale scored BOTH of his majors plus 8 points toward his championship. Now that's a way to start off a show career. Now, we can just relax and have some fun! (Perhaps learn to hold a stack on the table a bit better ;) and not give the furry eyeball look when the judge examines him HA). He is young and this is that age when they can go through a fear phase (just in time to start a show career, eh?) so I have no dou ..read more

Tory, (Pickwick's Worship the Ground I Walk On) from the Coffee House litter has been the best little show girl. Truly, she has the best temperament of any pug we've ever owned, yet alone bred. What a bombproof, fun, sweet pug. We can't wait to get started on some new fun things like Rally and her Pugiano act now that we got that conformation championship out of the way. It was also tough finding majors (on the weekends we were able to get away to a dog show etc.) but, along the way, we managed to find 2 shows with majors -- Hattiesburg, MS and Greenville, SC -- and she managed to score some n ..read more

It was Pickwick Pugs turn to shine at the Carolina Foothills Dog Show cluster in Greenville, South Carolina. Pickwick's Worship the Ground I Walk On (Tory), Pickwick's Captain of Nampara (Winston), and Pickwick's Mr. High Falutin' (Mr. Drysdale) won all sorts of ribbons and had a blast. Tory finished her championship and Mr Drysdale picked up 2 major wins (one was a 5 point!) so he now has 8 points towards his championship, both majors, all from 6-9 puppy class at his FIRST SHOW! Winston won Reserve Winners Dog and actually beat out Mr. Drysdale too.  Winston and Mr Drysdale re ..read more

Preserve: "To keep from harm, damage, danger, evil, etc.; protect; save." (Webster's New World Dictionary) or "To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged." (American Heritage Dictionary). Using these definitions then, to "preserve" a breed standard would be to keep the breed standard from harm, damage, danger, evil, etc.; protect; save." Or "to keep the breed standard in perfect or UNALTERED condition; MAINTAIN UNCHANGED." The term Preservation Breeder refers to those breeders who are working to preserve the breed standard and breed type. They complete all health test ..read more

Pickwick Pugs does not recommend early spay/neuter. We recommend neutering males after growth stops (so average around a year of age). With females, never before the first estrus, (even better, waiting for 2 cycles). Most females have their first cycle around 6 months of age, so, waiting until a bit over a year of age for the spay will allow for the possibility of 2 cycles before the spay. There is much controversy in the profession but we feel more data is needed (specifically regarding pugs and other stocky smaller breeds) before making breed-specific recommendations. Why are we so aga ..read more

"Pugs are not German Shepherds." Two very experienced and knowledgeable breeders recently said this when discussing a concern Jeff and I see in the pug show rings lately . . . . over angulated rears, (or working dog rear, or a European rear) or, an acute angulation of the hock joint than is normal for the breed. ​(I'm not an artist and the 2nd thigh is a bit too long in this drawing, but you get the gist) . . . This is unnatural and dangerously compromises the pug breed (or any breed). I recently saw a pug in the ring who was free stacked (standing naturally) but, when turning its head ..read more