So you’re getting a Pug, have you considered adopting a rescue?

By OwnedByPugs.com

June 14th, 2004

There is nothing cuter than a Pug puppy. Their little wrinkled faces and their soft puppy skin win over all our hearts. As cute as they may be, ask anyone who has ever raised a puppy and they will tell you puppies are a lot of work!

If your not sure if you have the time and energy to devote to a new pup perhaps you should consider rescuing a Pug.

Here are some of the advantages to rescuing a Pug versus getting a new puppy:

Training
Puppies are clean slates. You must teach them everything - sit, down, stay, come and most importantly you must house train them. To housebreak your new pup someone must be available to take your new Pug puppy outside whenever the need arises (which can be quite often with a very young puppy).

Rescued pugs are generally older and have had some form of training. Most are already housebroken (or they at least have a more developed bladder). This can be a big advantage if no one is home during the day to be with the new puppy.

Chewing:
New puppies are teething and will chew just about anything they can find. No matter how much you supervise your new pup you are sure to end up with newspapers that you never got to read before they were shredded, socks that no longer have matches and furniture with teeth marks.

Since older Pugs are no longer teething, they do not have the urge to chew everything. They are able to focus all their chewing energy on a good pig ear.

Sleep:
If you value your sleep a puppy is not for you. When you first bring a new puppy home, you'll find that it can be very demanding throughout the night. They miss their litter mates and are lonely. Plus, you may have to take a young pup out to relieve themselves the middle of the night.

Older rescued Pugs are better adjusted and will be able to sleep through the night without needing you to tend to them.

Veterinarian Costs:
New puppies need regular visits to the vet to ensure they are in good shape and to get their necessary shots. When you adopt a rescued Pug, they should be current on all of their shots and if they are in good health they should only require regular checkups and preventative health care.

Satisfaction:
Adopting a rescued Pug should give you a sense of satisfaction that you have given your new 'owner' a second chance at life.

Unfortunately, many people tend to believe that only Pugs with serious health and behavioral problems end up in Pug rescue organizations. However, this is not necessarily the case. Pugs are given up for a variety of reasons. If you work closely with your local Pug rescue group they will make sure that the Pug you adopt is a good match for you and your family.

To find out more information on specific Pug Rescue organizations you can visit the   AKC's Breed Rescue Groups page.