Welcome to CherubPugs.com

I hope the following will help answer some of your general questions about Pugs.I am not an expert, nor am I a vet, but I hope I can help impart some wisdom that I have accumulated through my own experience, or from info I have obtained from breeders who are much wiser than I. ~Anna Lohr, Cherub Pugs

Q. How long have you been breeding?

A. I have been breeding and showing Labradors since 1997. While at a show in 2003, my husband wandered over to the Pug ring. That is when he saw ‘Jumbo’ and fell in love. (‘Jumbo’ is CH Lazy G Sir John, who now resides with us as a guest of honor.) He was being beautifully handled by Kim Langlands, earning his points towards his championship title. Both Kim and ‘Jumbo’s” owners, Diana and Herman Geerling were extremely friendly and helpful in patiently answering our many questions about Pugs. Thus started our love affair with the Pug, and the beginning of our foundation bloodlines from Lazy G.

A. AKC standard for Pugs calls for a weight of 14 to 18 pounds, for male or female. Our Pugs range from 16 to 18 pounds, on the larger end of the scale. Per AKC, proper proportion should be square and cobby, not long, lean or leggy. Likewise, the head should be large, or massive, for it's size. For more information on the standard for Pugs, please refer to http://www.akc.org/ and click on 'Breeds', then search, by name, for Pug.

Q. At what age do you let your puppies go?

A. They are generally fully weaned by eight weeks of age, but may not be emotionally ready to leave their littermates until nine weeks or longer. This is determined on an individual basis.

Q. What are the differences between a boy or a girl, as a pet?

A. In my opinion, both boys and girls make equally good pets. It usually comes down to personal preference. With such great dispositioned breeds such as Labradors and Pugs, I don’t see a difference in the temperment of boys vs girls. There are some subtle differences: Boys will often look a little more massive, or have larger heads. Boys are generally less expensive to have fixed. And, yes, boys usually lift their leg to go potty, where girls usually squat.

Q. Do they get along with other dogs?

A. I would say, generally, yes. Of course, that must be determined on an individual basis and also depends on the other dog. Pugs cannot defend themselves well should a fight occur, so great care must be taken that they are not put in harm’s way. Likewise, puppies are vulnerable to injury while playing with larger dogs, especially to their eyes. Even when putting two pug pups together, care should be taken to ensure their nails are trimmed to prevent eye injuries.

Q. Are they good around children?

A. All my pugs are very good natured, and have exhibited great patience and tolerance during playtime with children of all ages. Any concern I would have would be more towards the pug than the child. Small children seem to be drawn to the pug’s bulbous eyes and may try to touch or poke them. They may also try to pick up the pug improperly. When playing with puppies, you should have your child sit on the floor level with the pup, for two reasons. One, you don’t want the child to accidently step on or fall on the puppy, and, two, you don’t want them to sit on the couch or the bed where the puppy might fall or jump off.

Q. What do they eat?

A. Most of my adults do quite well on 1 cup of high quality food, per day, such as Eukanuba, or Nutro’s Natural Choice. Their diet is tailored and adjusted to meet each individual dog’s needs, depending on whether they are still growing, or pregnant or nursing or on a weight control diet. Great care is taken to prevent obesity. Obesity in dogs is a major contributing factor in many health problems, such as heart disease and joint ailments.

Q. How much exercise do they need?

A. Pugs benefit greatly from moderate exercise, best done during cooler temperatures, like in the mornings or evenings. They cannot sustain prolonged stress during hot or humid temperatures, and must have access to a cool retreat and fresh cool water at all times.

Q. How much grooming do they require?

A. Pugs do not require a lot of grooming, but they do have some special grooming needs. They do shed, and should enjoy being brushed to remove loose hair during seasonal shedding. Bathe your pug with gentle shampoo only when needed. The nose wrinkle should be cleaned with warm water and soapless cleanser each week. Take special notice of your pugs eyes. If any injury or irritation is suspected, consult your veterinarian for treatment.

Q. Do they have any other special needs?

A. Pugs do not have great homing devices, and they love meeting new people. Please make sure they are securely fenced or under your watchful eye at all times. Micro-chipping is a great tool for permanent identification and can aid in recovery. www.Petco.com has a lot of helpful pet care articles on dog safety and travel/outdoors, including possible dangers in your own home & backyard.

Q. When should I spay/neuter my pug?

A. It is not recommended to spay or neuter your pug before one year of age, as younger pugs can be particularly sensitive to anesthesia. After talking over the special anesthesia needs of the pug with your vet, you should feel satisfied that they understand these needs. If you don’t, perhaps you should seek a second opinion. I recommend Dr. Butchko of Riverside, California. He can be reached at 951-686-2242. He is very well respected with his work with Bulldogs, Frenchies and Pugs.

Q. What genetic health problems do Pugs have?

A. All breeds have certain health concerns that seem to permeate throughout the breed. Pugs are no exception.One major health concern is Pug Dog Encephalitis, or PDE. It is essentially an inflamation of the brain. It tends to affect young to middle aged Pugs and seizures are it’s primary symptom. Lethargy or loss of muscle control may precede the seizures. There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatments to help control the symptoms.
Elongated Soft Palate is another condition that is common in short muzzled breeds. ESP is the obstruction of the dog’s airways. Many pugs can show minor symptoms of this condition without cause for much concern. More severe cases can, however, be corrected with surgery.
Luxating Patella, or ‘trick knees’, is also fairly common in Pugs, as well as other small breeds. In minor cases, the knee will dislocate and fall back into place on it’s own. Severe cases are when the knees falls out of place frequently and may require surgery. This condition would be greatly aggravated in overweight Pugs. Please do not allow your Pug to become overweight...it is not a ‘show of affection’, but a gross disservice to your dog’s health and quality of life.


	Frequently asked questions I hope the following will help answer some of your general questions about Pugs.I am not an expert, nor am I a vet, but I hope I can help impart some wisdom that I have accumulated through my own experience, or from info I have obtained from breeders who are much wiser than I. ~Anna Lohr, Cherub Pugs Q. How long have you been breeding? A. I have been breeding and showing Labradors since 1997. While at a show in 2003, my husband wandered over to the Pug ring. That is when he saw ‘Jumbo’ and fell in love. (‘Jumbo’ is CH Lazy G Sir John, who now resides with us as a guest of honor.) He was being beautifully handled by Kim Langlands, earning his points towards his championship title. Both Kim and ‘Jumbo’s” owners, Diana and Herman Geerling were extremely friendly and helpful in patiently answering our many questions about Pugs. Thus started our love affair with the Pug, and the beginning of our foundation bloodlines from Lazy G. Q. How big are your pugs? A. AKC standard for Pugs calls for a weight of 14 to 18 pounds, for male or female. Our Pugs range from 16 to 18 pounds, on the larger end of the scale. Per AKC, proper proportion should be square and cobby, not long, lean or leggy. Likewise, the head should be large, or massive, for it's size. For more information on the standard for Pugs, please refer to http://www.akc.org/ and click on 'Breeds', then search, by name, for Pug. Q. At what age do you let your puppies go? A. They are generally fully weaned by eight weeks of age, but may not be emotionally ready to leave their littermates until nine weeks or longer. This is determined on an individual basis. Q. What are the differences between a boy or a girl, as a pet? A. In my opinion, both boys and girls make equally good pets. It usually comes down to personal preference. With such great dispositioned breeds such as Labradors and Pugs, I don’t see a difference in the temperment of boys vs girls. There are some subtle differences: Boys will often look a little more massive, or have larger heads. Boys are generally less expensive to have fixed. And, yes, boys usually lift their leg to go potty, where girls usually squat. Q. Do they get along with other dogs? A. I would say, generally, yes. Of course, that must be determined on an individual basis and also depends on the other dog. Pugs cannot defend themselves well should a fight occur, so great care must be taken that they are not put in harm’s way. Likewise, puppies are vulnerable to injury while playing with larger dogs, especially to their eyes. Even when putting two pug pups together, care should be taken to ensure their nails are trimmed to prevent eye injuries. Q. Are they good around children? A. All my pugs are very good natured, and have exhibited great patience and tolerance during playtime with children of all ages. Any concern I would have would be more towards the pug than the child. Small children seem to be drawn to the pug’s bulbous eyes and may try to touch or poke them. They may also try to pick up the pug improperly. When playing with puppies, you should have your child sit on the floor level with the pup, for two reasons. One, you don’t want the child to accidently step on or fall on the puppy, and, two, you don’t want them to sit on the couch or the bed where the puppy might fall or jump off. Q. What do they eat? A. Most of my adults do quite well on 1 cup of high quality food, per day, such as Eukanuba, or Nutro’s Natural Choice. Their diet is tailored and adjusted to meet each individual dog’s needs, depending on whether they are still growing, or pregnant or nursing or on a weight control diet. Great care is taken to prevent obesity. Obesity in dogs is a major contributing factor in many health problems, such as heart disease and joint ailments. Q. How much exercise do they need? A. Pugs benefit greatly from moderate exercise, best done during cooler temperatures, like in the mornings or evenings. They cannot sustain prolonged stress during hot or humid temperatures, and must have access to a cool retreat and fresh cool water at all times. Q. How much grooming do they require? A. Pugs do not require a lot of grooming, but they do have some special grooming needs. They do shed, and should enjoy being brushed to remove loose hair during seasonal shedding. Bathe your pug with gentle shampoo only when needed. The nose wrinkle should be cleaned with warm water and soapless cleanser each week. Take special notice of your pugs eyes. If any injury or irritation is suspected, consult your veterinarian for treatment. Q. Do they have any other special needs? A. Pugs do not have great homing devices, and they love meeting new people. Please make sure they are securely fenced or under your watchful eye at all times. Micro-chipping is a great tool for permanent identification and can aid in recovery. www.Petco.com has a lot of helpful pet care articles on dog safety and travel/outdoors, including possible dangers in your own home & backyard. Q. When should I spay/neuter my pug? A. It is not recommended to spay or neuter your pug before one year of age, as younger pugs can be particularly sensitive to anesthesia. After talking over the special anesthesia needs of the pug with your vet, you should feel satisfied that they understand these needs. If you don’t, perhaps you should seek a second opinion. I recommend Dr. Butchko of Riverside, California. He can be reached at 951-686-2242. He is very well respected with his work with Bulldogs, Frenchies and Pugs. Q. What genetic health problems do Pugs have? A. All breeds have certain health concerns that seem to permeate throughout the breed. Pugs are no exception.One major health concern is Pug Dog Encephalitis, or PDE. It is essentially an inflamation of the brain. It tends to affect young to middle aged Pugs and seizures are it’s primary symptom. Lethargy or loss of muscle control may precede the seizures. There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatments to help control the symptoms. Elongated Soft Palate is another condition that is common in short muzzled breeds. ESP is the obstruction of the dog’s airways. Many pugs can show minor symptoms of this condition without cause for much concern. More severe cases can, however, be corrected with surgery. Luxating Patella, or ‘trick knees’, is also fairly common in Pugs, as well as other small breeds. In minor cases, the knee will dislocate and fall back into place on it’s own. Severe cases are when the knees falls out of place frequently and may require surgery. This condition would be greatly aggravated in overweight Pugs. Please do not allow your Pug to become overweight...it is not a ‘show of affection’, but a gross disservice to your dog’s health and quality of life.
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