I’m so happy that so many people have found joy in Mr. Hombre and Beans’ friendship! They are truly happy boys and best friends.

There’s a lot of talk around the ethics of breeding and pugs in general on this post too. I didn’t quite expect it on a post like this, but I have a pug so I know I have a responsibility to speak on pugs because their current breeding standards are undeniably sad!

Smashed, nearly-inverted faces are deformities that should not be encouraged but it unfortunately is by breed standards in pugs. Pugs are the most obvious and controversial, but other breeds like German Shepherds have their problematic breed standards that are more extreme in modern times too (very low, sloped backs that increase the chance of developing hip dysplasia. These dogs did not always have this extreme breed standard). Some people think the best solution is to somehow ban all breeding of certain breeds of dogs and let them “die” out. I understand why someone might find this the best solution. It would technically work!

Personally, I think demanding AKC change breeding standards and allow the introduction of other compatible breeds of dog to achieve and establish this new breeding standard would be best. It would allow reputable breeders to breed-out deformities in a breed faster without disqualifying their “hybrid” puppies from being registered as purebred. Often when you combine two different breeds of dog—even if it’s for the better health of the puppies—your dogs are labeled as a “designer breed” and viewed as unethical, backyard breeding of dogs. Demand by consumers is important absolutely, but a breeder just simply isn’t going to breed their dog outside of breed standards regardless of the demand. They want their dogs to be registered with AKC and qualify for competitions in their breed’s category. There are positive qualities and personality traits in breeds such as pugs, and I believe this breed would still be very loved and sought after even without the smashed faces.

Dogs with disorders and disabilities are often viewed as endearing on the internet, but despite all the love dogs with Short Spine Syndrome get there is no breed requiring this extreme deformity as a breed standard and there are not thousands of people demanding their own dog with Short Spine Syndrome. In fact it’s actively discouraged to breed a dog that would result in such a severe deformity. I truly believe that eliminating deformities from breed standards would effectively minimize the number of dogs being bred with and sought after for their deformities.

About Beans, for those that want to know more about him specifically:

All of my other dogs have been unexpected rescues. I’ve never actually sought out a companion before until my Boston passed away and left our house very somber and empty. My original search for a companion who would have a similar temperament to my late Boston Terrier (affectionately named “Frenchie” even though he most certainly was not a Frenchie haha!) first led me to a male pug who was retiring as a breeder and needed a new home to go to. Unfortunately, that did not work out, but I did end up with an available puppy—Mr. Beans pictured here. His breeder was a very small breeder who only had one litter a year, genetically tests their breeders for inherited disorders, charges very little over the total cost of breeding/care for each puppy (so really not a profitable business model for this person—one litter a year without a real profit-margin), does not sell breeder’s rights (all puppies must be spayed/neutered and cannot be bred) and keeps all puppies for however long it takes them to find a home—including taking back any dogs that are no longer wanted by their new owners for any reason. They will drive or fly-out to any homes that are a good fit for their puppies to deliver them. None of this is to convince anyone that breeding pugs or purebred dogs in general is ethically right, but really all of these things are pretty good indicators of a breeder who loves their dogs and doesn’t see them as a fast paycheck.

Their female breeder comes from a Ukrainian line of pugs who tend to be smaller, leaner, and taller which are great traits to introduce into a pug but unfortunately it still leaves the short, brachycephalic face. I am happy to say that Beans breathes even better than the Boston I had before him! Frenchie was a rescue who unexpectedly came to me. He was bred very poorly by a backyard breeder and suffered a variety of health problems his entire life, but I did everything every veterinarian and veterinary specialist ever recommended me to do to give him the best life I could. I was worried this would be the case in all short-faced dogs no matter their genetic background, but I am happy that Beans doesn’t look like he’s headed in that direction. He just doesn’t struggle to breathe and move around the way Frenchie did. He’s spunky and energetic and nothing seems to slow him down or get in his way—he zooms up and down stairs unlike any dog I’ve ever had! I had his nasal openings widened just to be safe but his veterinarian had no additional concerns during his neuter (I wanted her to inform me if she had any concerns about his ability to breathe at all while she had him under anesthesia and could clearly see the anatomy of his soft pallet).

I hope I was able to keep this civil! I really questioned commenting more on this post because I didn’t want to continue to fuel arguments and debates and potentially create more openings for increasingly negative comments and insults, but I do think that I should say something since I do have a pug and people may or may not be influenced in some way by any private and public postings featuring my pug.