Pug Hugger

Pug Hugger, my guy has worked with Penny!!! he said she's great, but is a soft tissue person. Thanks for all the info everyone. it gives me somewhere to start I'm having a major freak out!

Thanks colliepaws. sounds good. Richard disinfects the dog 4 times, the surgery twic e and leaves it for 2 days empty as he worries about infection. and the other day the nurses went out and bought stewing steak ;) as they rang a dogs owner on what to tempt him with, not eating,, and she said, stewing steak!!!!! also the whole place is state of the art, I think some qld dolers have been there. He specialises in the lot!! a genius of a man.

really really appreciate the help! thanks xxxxxxxxx

With all respect to your vet I don't think he is correct....

anyone who has ever met my Louie will know that there is nothing remotely soft in his head, its all thick skull and rocks

There is another surgeon at the clinic but no personal dealing with him, presumably he is the ortho person though if Penny only does soft tissue

Hi Monah

I did not have any personal experience with orthopaedics with them but when Louie had to have a dermoid sinus removed from his skull/ear canal (resulting in a complete ear canal eblation) the Specialist Vet Clinic was very good. You do need a healthy line of credit but there is around the clock care if they need to stay in overnight and the vets are fantastic. You will also need a referral from your GP.

Thier website is at http://www.vetreferrals.com.au/ (sorry I cannot post proper links on this computer for some reason). Dr Penny Tisdall operated on Louie and I would go back to her in a heatbeat if any of my animals ever needed major specialised surgery - she did an amazing job explained the process thoroughly, had him in and out of surgery the same day she saw him (we were an emergency case though) and provided a few complimentary follow up appointments that she probably did not need to. According to the website she does orthopaedics...

I guess its like comparing apples and oranges as we are looking at the head compared to the skull but the surgery for Louie, including initial consults, overnight care, a bucket load of antibiotics, pain killers etc set us back about $3,000. The invoice is broken down to the last vial of saline so you know exactly where your money is going.

Don't quite me but I think her surgery fees were $700 per hour. This was a major cost (obviously, Louie was under for about 2 hours) and the anasthetic I think was the next most expensive. They are open extended hours (I think from about 7 to 7) so if you need to work its still easy to get an appointment.

Only other thing I can think of off of the top of my head is that they required half payment before the operation commences and payment in full before you pick your dog up.

I am another DOLer who did not really know Jed but I always respected her sensible posts and feel gutted by this.

This should never happen to anyone and to think of her going into the fire to save her dogs has turned me into a wreck.

Obviously I will donate now and if there is anything else I can do from SA please let us know

Yep - a double curl is ideal but I have seen a number of pugs with only a single curl or with a slight kink only. Never one with a completely straight tail though! Even the cross I have seen ( ) still seem to have that kink...

Dotty

I have said it before, but wanted to post here as well. I am so sorry that you have lost Shmerkin so suddenly and so young. I cannot imagine the empty space in your life at the moment and only wish I could do something to help you and your OH. Life is not fair sometimes, to lose such a young pugger must be so hard and I wish you were not going through it.

I am not trying to make light of your situation, but I thought you might appreciate the fun times Gherkin's name could make....

When I first read that Gherky had passed on I was on the middle of a peak hour tram heading home, it full of tired and quiet people, not talking etc so really quite quiet, I could not help it, I said out loud 'Oh f*%$, not Gherkin'.

I wonder what the other commuters made of that Judging by the looks I received they thought I was a little mad!

RIP little Pickle Pug - I will miss hearing of your antics. You were so loved by your people and everyone on the pug thread will miss hearing about you.

People here sit where they belong....

As a pug owner let me tell you pugs shed way more than you ever anticipated!

I have mostly tiles at my place and at the end of everyday without fail I have to mop/sweep or vacuum otherwise I have pug hair tumbleweeds everywhere. I only have two as well!

I primarily want a companion, now that I will be living more on my own.

Pugs were bred as companion dogs, they like nothing more than snuggling with you - although I will warn you that as puppies they can be a bit nuts and may take a while to settle down.

Something that is a bit protective and will let me know if someone is coming (warning bark kind of thing)

My pugs are excellent warning barkers - but not at all protective. Pugs love everyone and everything and are more likely to lick an intruder to death than anything else. So warning bark yes, protective, not really!

But can be taken out and socialised (I like going to markets and things on the weekends)

Like any dog a pug needs to be socialised from a young age. Louie has been to cafes, markets, beaches, parks etc from when his vaccinations were effective. They are fun dogs to take out and about - becasue they are small and cute I find we get a better reception than people with larger dogs might at cafes etc. Bottom line is any well trained/socialised dog can do this for you!

Doesn't have to go for a run/walk EVERY day

I reccomend some exercise daily. That said we don't walk/run Louie and Evie daily. We play fetch with them everyday, take them for a few long walks on the weekends and try to do a walkaround the block a few times a week. That said a pug won't necessarily need exercise everyday - but they are prone to obesity if not kept active and they will be lazy if you let them.

Doesn't have big grooming requirements

Pugs have basic grooming requirments. They are not an overly smelly breed. Mine are bathed as needed (i.e. when Louie pongs, Evie seems to be less smelly than him). I also clean their nose rolls every second day - ears weekly and trim nails as needed. I brush them out every second day or so - not that it helps with the shedding! Anal glands are one problem pugs may have - although a good diet may rectify this. I was jhaving to squeeze Louie's every two weeks or less but made a simple tweak to his diet (changed him from Chicken Eagle PAck Holistic with Raw Foods to Duck) and not had to do them since

Is relatively easy to train a few basic commands (I intend to take it to a puppy school)

Hit and miss - Louie is extremely smart and was very easy to train. Evie, bless her heart is a bit dumb and has not really progressed beyond her name and sit! Being a small dog you can get away with basic obedience only - both my dogs will come when called, sit and stay. That was not painful to teach them. Most pugs learn realy well with food as a reward!

Basically something that would be as happy on the beach with me fishing, as following me around the 8acres, as sitting on the couch watching a movie.

This sums the pug up. They are happiest when with you. But they get underfeet a lot and you need to be prepared to have them with you ALL THE TIME. Mine just do not sit down in their basket and leave me alone, ever. If I am sorting laundry they are rolling in it, if I am at my desk they are either on my feet or lap, if we are on the couch they are too and so on.

3 days home alone should be okay assuming they are regular working days. Mine are home alone fulltime but they have each other and they are inside dogs only. A pug could not cope as an outside dog - they are heat and cold sensitive. That said access to both indoors and outdoors would be ideal as they can choose.

My dogs have never been around chickens or anything so I cannot comment on that.

I have been reading with interest - I sympathise with the decision the OP has to make and cannot really offer any more advice than that already given by some of the very smart people on DOL.

On price though, some of you may remember Louie had to have surgery a while back, he went to a specialist and was only in one night and it was still $3,700 (which we blinked at, but paid ). I don't think the $4,000 is over the top given the out of hours 'timing' and the fact the pup was in was it for a few days?

Please keep us updated OP, I hope you come to a decision that sits well with your sensibilities and keeps the peace

As others have indicated it differs from breeder to breeder.

With Louie who I bought as a puppy I received:

- His papers

- Vet Records

- Bag of toys, grooming products and some puppy food.

With my female who I bought as an adult I received her papers, vet records, the food she was currently eating and a crate.

ETA: Both came with microchip papers as well

My dogs have access to inside and outside when I'm not home. On hot days I leave the aircon on for them. At night, we have a ceiling fan directly above our bed, and they ahh...sleep on the bed with us

I would really like to see this in action Cassie! I get pushed of the bed with the pugs, how on earth do you manage with Zepher and Hudson!??

Faith is 6 weeks old and will be due for her first vaccvination soon. I am after some recommendations for a good vet in Adealide. I rang up one that is supposed to be good. They give their vaccinations at 6, 8 and 10 weeks which seems a bit too close together to me.

I thoroughly recommend Colonel Light Gardens Vets - affordable but the staff are some of the best I have ever dealt with. Our favourite vets are Dr Bloch and Dr Wearing. If I recall they are relatively close to where you were planning to move.

Louie has been going there since he was 12 weeks old and I don't have a bad thing to say apart from sometimes they run a little late with consults, but on the other hand you always get a thorough consult!

We are on the fence with this one. If it is not too harsh a heat we will brave it, otherwise we will sit it out as the puglets can be sensitive to the heat

Pfft - I will be the judge of that If I cannot pick him up and smuggle him into the Jazz only then is he too big to steal

I shall bring my camera - that should make for good photos

No way! I am not having you having evidence of my crime!

I only hope a year off of DOL meets and a bit more maturity has made Louie a bit easier for other pups to handle

I am so planning on coming to steal Earl, um I mean give Earl a cuddle

He is very huggable - but he's probably too bloody heavy to steal *LOL*

Pfft - I will be the judge of that If I cannot pick him up and smuggle him into the Jazz only then is he too big to steal

Wow I only just came across this thread.

I am so planning on coming to steal Earl, um I mean give Earl a cuddle

I have a pug (Louie) with a rather sensitive tummy.

When we first got him he was on Science Diet he went okay on this but we soon moved him onto eagle pack puppy which he did well on. When he was about 1 year old his breeder switched her dogs to Advance and they looked great, as a result I moved him onto advance as it was cheaper than eagle pack and working for her dogs. However, he went back to shocking wet and runny poohs and even vomiting after meals so we were soon back on Eagle Pack (holistic now instead of puppy).

I find that Louie, while he loves sardines, will often end up with liquid pooh the next day if he has more than one as well. I control his sensitive tummy by keeping him on Eagle Pack Holistic with fresh chicken necks and sometimes some other fresh meat (e.g roo tails or beef or lamb flaps from the local BARF shop).

My other dog has a tummy of steel and will eat anything and everything quite happily!

So my experience has been Eagle Pack is best for my situation. However it is at the expensive end of the spectrum. OHs cousin is buying Uncle Albers and swears by it.

Dover Kennel and Obedience Club at Mitchell Park is actually closest to you. I am a member there and like it. Nice positive training. I havent felt at all pressured to do competitive things there.

Holdfast is great but expensive.

Dover has a yearly fee and no weekly class fees.

Training Wed night and Sunday morning.

http://www.doverdog.org.au/

How far away is Dover from Woodcroft area?? I was looking at entering a trial there.

Not that far - it is just off of Marion road - between Sturt Road and Oaklands.

I will try!

I get distracted by Neighbours and then it finishes and I'm like, shit, it's 7pm!

Hopefully I will see you there

anything to tell me miss???

No, I wish I am going to be showing a friends Keeshond so need the practice :p

Bummer I was hoping it was something good! Like a puppy

Oooh griffin can come to my place then :D but only if madeline can come tooooooo

Oi! I asked first!

Right - I will have Griff and Madeline too please

Evie drinks a fair bit for a small dog - and she does it loudly and spills a lot and plays in it! I think it may be a bit of a pug trait.

Pet only Dover GArdens is okay - I don't have a lot of faith in all of their instructors but for a normal small dog with no 'issues' they can teach you the basics and accredit you for cheaper rego

Yes try to firm up the poohs first - Louie however is one of the dogs that has the problem regardless - fortunately it is manageable and his will only fill up every 4 weeks or so. If you can get the pooh firm and they express naturally is best of course.

And thank you BB - nice to know I am good at somethings - even if it squeezing my dogs butthole and then telling others about it

Louie does have a problem with his - never smell Evie's at all.

I simply learnt how to express them myself. Hard to explain (my breeder showed me how to do it). Basically I pull his tail up a bit - not so it hurts but enough to make the glands easier to feel. Wear rubber gloves and have a tissue to mop up the 'juice' - feel for two 'pea' size things then gently squeeze them until they express - do it outside otherwise it stinks - don't do it with your mouth open (its never happened to me but I've heard of horror stories of shooting anal juice ) Best get your vet to teach you but to save money you may need to learn how to do it yourself.