Puppies in our future

I've been watching Ingrid the last couple weeks for signs that she's in the family way and I am cautiously optimistic that she has little buns in the oven. A couple weeks after she was bred she had a bit of morning sickness and today she definitely looks thicker in her sides. Also her mammory tissue is fuller. While I'm not 100% positive, I do think the chances are quite good at this point. She'll have an xray about a week prior to her due date near the end of May.

This is an exciting breeding. For one reason, we used frozen semen from our past black champion, Kirby. While this is an outcross breeding, I think both parents will compliment one another. It will be interesting to see if we get any blacks. I expect these puppies to be heavy boned with very large pretty heads and great pigment.

Here is Ingrid with her litter of 6 babies she had last year.

First attempt at making a Pug dress...don't laugh (:

Ok, well I didn't get it quite right the first time but Ingrid was a good sport (and model) none the less. Making clothing for a dog was more difficult than I thought. I started out by taking all these measurements and then had to make a working template. It was a pain to be honest, but maybe next time it will be easier.

I made the ruffled dress portion a bit too wide and long. I'll have to adjust that next time. That is if I can get my sewing machine fixed. I had to finsh sewing some of this dress by hand. I haven't hand sewn in ages. I ended up tired of hand sewing and disgusted in my Singer Featherweight for having bobbin casing problems, so I didn't finish the hem line. But you'll get the idea...Anyway, here is Ingid modeling my mishap for me.

Antique Pug Image Tags

I just love finding vintage and antique images of Pug dogs. They are hard to find and somewhat rare. I thought I would share a few in my collection by creating these tags. Each tag prints out at 3 inches x 2 1/4 inches. They would be ideal for gift tags for Pug lovers.

If you are a 503c rescue organization and interested in these tags to print out and sell them for fund raising events, let me know. I'd be happy to provide them free to rescue organizations.

For more information and a larger view of the tags just click the image or more info button below.

What is a Health Guarentee?

What is a Health Guarantee?

It’s actually a oxymoron when you think about it. I don’t know of any breeder that could, with 100% certainty guarantee the future health of any puppy they produce. It doesn’t matter how much health testing or the choosing of the best bloodlines, no breeder can guarantee a dogs health throughout it’s lifetime.The term “warranty” would be a better term. When you purchase a puppy it’s not the same as purchasing a new car where you get a bumper to bumper, 10 years or 100,000 mile warranty. Dogs are living, breathing beings and as such breeders can’t give you a guarantee that they will never face some sort of health issue.

With a warranty or as some breeders term it, a health guarantee what you are getting is an agreement that if the dog should face a genetic health problem, the breeder will do one of several things. Some breeders may offer to pay a limited amount of money toward the Vet costs associated with the health issue, though I believe this is rare. More commonly, a breeder will offer a replacement puppy if the puppy you purchased has a genetic health issue that warrants the need to euthanize it and the majority of breeders do not refund the purchase price.

Before buying a puppy I think it’s important to go into it knowing that there will always be the possibility that something may come up at some point during the dog’s life. Most issues will be minimal in nature. But there is always the chance that the puppy could develop some health issue during their lifetime. Those of us that have human children knew that we would not receive a guarantee on our children’s health. We love them all the same and are willing to take that risk when we chose to bring them into the world. It’s really no different when it comes to puppies. Granted, breeders chose to breed and in doing so they do have the responsibility to breed as responsible as possible. But none of us are genetic scientists and even if we were, genetics aren’t infallible. Even the best genetics can produce a puppy that faces health issues.

Buying a puppy from a show breeder that breeds responsibly is you’re best chance to purchase a puppy that will not face major health problems during it’s lifetime. While this isn’t a guarantee, it does increase the likelihood of obtaining a healthy, happy and well bred dog.

Kelle Arvay is a show breeder of AKC champion fawn and black Pugs.
http://www.ArvayPugs.com

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Wisdom according to Ingrid - Show #2

She has a lot to say and is on a mission to educate humans and requests that all of you take notes (=

Wisdom According To Ingrid the Pug Show #2

The waiting begins...

We recently bred our gorgeous champion girl Ingrid via frozen semen we have stored on a champion black male, Kirby we owned. I'm excited to learn if the breeding took. I won't know for sure for several weeks. She did have a bit of morning sickness the other morning which is actually a good sign.

I'm keeping busy with other things in the meantime and just being patient until I know for sure. Here are pictures of the wonderful pair. I anticipate some gorgeous babies from these two. Hopefully we'll have some all black puppies as a result. It's been quite awhile since we have had a litter with blacks, so that will be exiting! I'll keep you all posted (:

Printable Mother's Day PUG Tags

I created these tags from my original and thing they turned out quite sweet. Ahh, the love of a Mother....nothing compares. These would be great as gift tags or even a little Mothers day treat for your Mom. Especially if she loves Pugs (: Click the image or more info button to see a larger view.



Mother Pug and Puppy Tags

PROOF that Pugs are the smart ones!

Was there ever any doubt? Well in Ingrid's own words, she sets the record straight....