If you are planning on attending Crufts this year, held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, do come along and say hello to us on: Saturday 7th March – Toy & Utility Day.
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PDWRA will be at the ringside of the Pug show judging area – we look forward to meeting as many of our supporters as possible.
We’ll be happy to discuss anything Pug; their quirks, health & wellbeing as well as the charity’s work in rescue & rehoming.
Find out about opportunities for volunteering locally as transporters or home-checkers, as well as virtually, supporting various operations from wherever you’re located at home.
Pugs entering the show ring now need to comply with stricter health-based rules.
All pugs (bulldogs and French bulldogs) must have a valid Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) assessment, and only those with a grade 1 or less will be eligible to compete.
We appreciate the intentions of these rules and welcome discussing this with anyone who wishes to do so.
For more information about Pug Health including Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), the condition due to the anatomy of short-nosed breeds, which can lead to secondary problems, please see our webpage: Pug Health & Wellbeing | The Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association
These two girls are unrelated but do have a special bond. Elsie is the older of the two at 10 years and Ella at 7 years. They have both undergone medical procedures and are now fit to be rehomed. Both have also been neutered.
They are looking for a home with or without other dogs. They have lived with another dog before.
They are tolerant of cats but shouldn’t live with young children under 10 years as they can jump up at them.
Elsie, is the ultimate lap dog and companion who loves a good tummy rub. Due to the circumstances of her previous life, she is inclined to scavenge when you’re not at home – bins need to be out of reach and cupboards secured!
They both love a cuddle and are very happy to be at home, but do like a couple of short walks a day, although Ella does lack confidence and stays close to you.
Ella suffers from separation anxiety and always likes to know there is someone around. She may also have the odd accident in the house if she gets over excited.
She is very affectionate though and loves meeting people but is of a nervous disposition so can get anxious around larger dogs. She generally loves her humans more than other dogs.
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If you can provide these needs, for this loving bonded-pair, please apply here:
It’s important to also read our Guidelines & conditions for Adopting, at:
Please note, the Adoption Fee is discounted for bonded pairs of pugs.
If you have any specific questions about Elsie & Ella, or your application, please email Jackie at: se@nullpugwelfare-rescue.org.uk
As we often have bonded pairs requiring new homes, if you are not successful with Elsie and Ella, please indicate on your application that you would like to be considered for other pairs. We will be pleased to hear from you.
Some people may not be aware that it’s a legal requirement in England, Scotland and Wales for a dog to be microchipped by the age of 8 weeks.This became compulsory in April 2016.
It’s a criminal offence to transfer a dog that is not microchipped and so all breeders are required to have a puppy chipped and registered in their name prior to sale. The fines for not complying can be up to £500.
The microchip needs to be registered on a database which is compliant with set standards, and it must be registered in the name of the keeper (the person who the dog normally lives with). However, just because a dog’s microchip is registered in a particular person’s name on the database, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to be regarded in law as the owner.
A microchip is evidence of ownership, but not absolute proof of ownership.
Microchipping is a quick and simple procedure, which takes seconds to implant. The chip is inserted under the pet’s skin, usually around the scruff of the neck, and once the chip is implanted it should last for your pet’s lifetime. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and contains a unique code that matches up to your pet’s details.
The microchip can be checked by an authorised person, usually a vet, dog warden or a rehoming charity, which is done by using a handheld scanner. The scanner reads the unique number and the authorised person then checks this with the database.
In the UK, there are around 15 different databases that can hold your dog’s details, so it’s useful to know which one your pet is registered with.
It’s very important to make sure your details are always up to date, dogs can get lost or stolen and it’s a permanent identification to help get your dog back to you.
If you sell or pass your dog onto someone else, the microchip details must be changed. Remember, it’s a criminal offence not to do this.
In accordance with the Control of Dogs Order 1992, although all dogs must now be microchipped, they will also still need to wear a collar and tag in a public place, which must have the owner’s full address. A phone number is advisable, as it will enable somebody to contact you straight away if your dog is lost and found by an authority or member of the public, but it’s not an absolute requirement for it to be on the tag.
As of the 10 June 2024, all owned cats in England must also be microchipped by the age of 20 weeks. At present, it’s not compulsory in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Anne McDonald PDWRA Trustee & Local Authority Dog Warden
Bella first came to me as a foster in July 2024, just after she turned 9 years old. She had been surrendered due to a child allergy.
She was a little timid at first, and unsure of her new surroundings and what she was and wasn’t allowed to do. For example, she wouldn’t go upstairs or jump onto the sofa without permission. She got on very well with my older pug-cross Peppa (then 15 years old) straight away, and soon felt more at home.
After about a month or so, Area Coordinator Dee contacted me to ask if I would consider adopting Bella, as there aren’t always as many adoption requests for older dogs. I knew that Bella wasn’t going anywhere! I had fallen for her and didn’t want her to be adopted by anyone else, so of course I said yes!
I must say, I’ve never come across a more well-behaved dog than Bella. In the first few months, I kept whispering to her “you can be a bit naughty you know”. As the months passed, she settled in well and started to play more with toys and jump up next to me on the sofa without being encouraged. I knew that she was slowly relaxing into her new home.
Since then, she has been on holiday with me to Glastonbury, Newmarket and Ipswich, and numerous times to Yorkshire to stay with my friends up there. She’s a great traveller and doesn’t seem to get stressed when I take her to different places with me. She’s a great companion and I love her so much now, I feel so blessed to have her in my life!
As a lifelong lover of the breed, I always knew I wanted pugs in my life. Their loving nature, their fun curly tails and their big bright eyes, not to mention their big personalities…
My first pug was a black boy renamed Taz from Battersea. When I flew the nest and moved out, my mum missed Taz (and me) so much that she decided it was time she started looking for a little pug of her own. After a lot of research on breed specific rescues, we landed on the PDWRA.
My mum was lucky enough to be matched with Luna, who settled in almost instantly and brought mum and the family so much joy! They are both enjoying growing old gracefully together! The whole process was easy, with brilliant communication, compassion for the foster family Luna came from and amazing aftercare from the PDWRA team.
I did foster briefly through the PDWRA in 2021, with a handsome little pug named Eddie. He was amazing on his own, however, after 12 weeks in my care it became apparent that the pairing between him and my pug Taz wasn’t compatible and I had to make the difficult decision for him to go back to the PDWRA. During this time, I had so much support and always had someone in the charity to speak to. I heard that he had been adopted by a family in London as the only dog in the home, and was very much loved, which made me very happy to hear. The way the PDWRA handled the case was professional and compassionate, with both pugs wellbeing at the centre of it all.
After I lost Taz in the summer of 2024 to age related complications, I was so lost. I felt like a part of me had gone and I didn’t have a purpose anymore. I knew I wanted another pug, but I didn’t know when I would be ready. Four months later in November, I received a call whilst I was at work from one of the Volunteer Area Coordinators, who asked if I was still interested in fostering and advised they had a little black boy in need of a home. I was nervous because of my experience with Eddie and was unsure if it was the right time for me, however, I asked for the details to be sent across for me to take a look at. Deep down, I had butterflies and I was excited! I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason, so I called my mum to let her know I had been contacted and she was just as excited as I was. I discussed the option of Foster to adopt due to my last attempt being unsuccessful with Eddie, which was agreed to.
I’ve always rescued, there are so many dogs who are in need of homes, and as much as I love the idea of a puppy, being able to give love to a dog in need will always be my first choice.
A date was set for volunteers to pick up Nacho and deliver him to my mum’s, where he could meet me and mum’s PDWRA rescue Luna. I was so excited to meet him but also knew I had to keep him busy to help him settle in, so as soon as he arrived we went for a walk around my mum’s garden. We then went for a walk along the river to our nearest pet store, where he got lots of attention. We picked up some treats and headed back, and he loved rolling in the grass (which he still loves to do now) and also to run!
There was an instant connection between us and the first week he came to the office with me to meet my work colleagues. Everyone couldn’t believe he had only been with me less than a week as he was off the lead and following me around like we had been together forever. He loves meeting new people and any opportunity I have to take him with me, I do! We have a local pug walking group where once a month we all meet up for a walk and he loves meeting his pug pals at the park for a run around! In January of this year. I officially adopted Nacho and it was the best decision I have made! He gives me a reason to get up in the morning, and we love to go on adventures together. We’ve been to the Lake District this year also, which he loved! We’ve just celebrated our first ‘gotcha’ day anniversary and will be celebrating Christmas with the family.
To anyone who is considering fostering/adopting, I would really recommend speaking to PDWRA as I can’t recommend them highly enough. Other charities we explored were nowhere near as experienced and professional as PDWRA and I still have contacts I can go to for support a year later with any questions I may have. Always consider rescuing a pug in need of love first. as they are capable of giving you 100 times more love back!
Wishing all the team at PDWRA a very happy new year! Thank you for all that you do and thank you for helping me and my mum find our perfect pug partners!
Pumpkin first came to us as a foster in June of 2021. She was 3 years old and couldn’t walk very far due to breathing and BOAS problems, just 100metres would have her laid on the floor and struggling for a long time. Thanks to PDWRA, she quickly had BOAS surgery, which I called her nose job! There are never any guarantees that this kind of surgery will be successful in solving a pug’s breathing problems but we’re very happy to say that it’s been completely life changing for her.
We officially adopted Pumpkin in August of 2021and the past (almost) 5 years have really flown by. It’s hard to believe she’s 8 years old now. She has a big older Springer Spaniel brother, who she bosses around, and despite having to undergo another big operation for bladder stones shortly after adoption, she recovered from everything and has been enjoying lots of adventures over the years. She’s been on caravan holidays, beach and woodland walks and even hiking in the dales. It’s also hard to believe she can go from not being able to walk 100mtrs to comfortably walking 3 miles! As age creeps in she has a little rest in a pushchair, like the Princess she is.
Pumpkin makes everyone she meets smile and is such a funny character, who loves a body twerk. We can’t thank PDWRA enough for bringing her into our hearts and family!
We came across the PDWRA whilst looking for some Pug friends for our boys Milo and Vinnie who had recently lost their sister.
We’d seen that the PDWRA were looking for local transport volunteers and fosterers, so we put our application forward and our local Volunteer Area Controller, Dee, contacted us almost immediately. We were asked to foster a bonded Mum and Daughter pair, and we were so happy to help out. We picked them up 2 days later.
10-Year-old Ava and Violet, who is 8, melted our hearts almost immediately. The moment I laid eyes on them both I knew then that they had already found their forever home with us, and that we were ultimately going to be ‘failed fosterers’. Ava and Violet slipped straight into our busy Pug family and our duo became a family of 4. They’ve been loving their park walks, Sunday dinners, cheeky afternoons in the local pub, which of course comes with lots of attention and treats, nights cosied up on the sofa and of course, lots of holidays.
Ava and Violet came into our lives at one of the saddest times and brought a whole new lease of life to our family unit. We wouldn’t be without them!
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For further information about Adopting inseparable Bonded-Pairs, as well as more heart-warming stories like Ava & Violet’s, please see:
This is by far the hardest and saddest post I have ever had to write. How do you replace the irreplaceable Betty?
My precious girl passed away in my arms at 3.50pm on Tuesday 16 December, just 6 weeks away from her 16th birthday. She had been slowing down over the past few months, but it was so sudden at the end, the vet advised it was most probably a heart attack, my poor girl just couldn’t carry on any longer. The only consolation I have, is that she was at home, in her beloved garden, going about her business when she turned to make her way back to me when she just fell to the ground, I rushed to pick her up and held her in my arms, she looked at me and quietly passed away. Such a terrible shock, I just pray she had a peaceful and pain free journey over the rainbow bridge to meet all the other pugs that I have loved and lost over the past 40 years. We were two halves of a whole and my eyes ache to see her one last time.
We continue to be overwhelmed by all the flowers and sympathy cards with such heartfelt messages from people whose lives she had touched over the past 11 years I had Betty.
Betty was an independent little girl, she didn’t like to be fussed over, so stubborn and liked to do her own thing, a real home bird and loved nothing more than being curdled up on the sofa next to either myself or her human Dad knowing we were by her side.
I pray that Betty’s heart and spirit will live on in me and her body was just the lovely package she came in. My whole life centred around her, it was always Betty first and I sincerely hope we gave her the best life she could have wished for. Finally, I would like to thank PDWRA for choosing me to adopt and care for Betty over the last 11 years, she was such a beautiful gift inside and out, how I will ever move on without her by my side I do not know.
Precious Black Betty – 13 February 2010 to 16 December 2025
When Buddy was surrendered to PDWRA, his fosterer Christine was concerned about the conformation of Buddy’s front legs soon after his arrival.
She raised those concerns with her local Veterinary practice. It could have been dismissed as a case of bad breeding, but she was astute enough to realise that he was suffering some discomfort.
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Buddy is a lively 2 year-old, who loves agility, but seemed to suffer after bouts of exercise with his joints swelling.
You can see here just how much Buddy enjoys it!
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Our Vet recommended X-rays to investigate the cause, and sure enough, they revealed a congenital deformity which caused Buddy’s paws to turn outwards at right angles to the front legs. Many would put that down to what is known as “Queen Ann” legs, but the deformity was so severe it was causing him pain.
Buddy was then referred by the Vet to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon, who on examination of Buddy, confirmed that surgery to correct the abnormality was possible by way of inserting a rod in the leg to correct the misalignment.
The potential complications were explained which included infection, implant failure, or loosening or fracture of the joint.
Fosterer Christine was more concerned about the eight week cage rest than the surgery itself. Keeping a lively 2 year-old pug entertained where running, jumping, using the stairs or walking on slippery floors were all forbidden, is no easy task!
Then all to be repeated for the other front leg after the eight week rest period!
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Buddy is approaching the half way stage of recovery now and Christine, ably assisted by her daughters, has risen to the challenge. Nursing care of the highest order is required, with a constant watch over Buddy to ensure he does nothing to compromise the wound site.
So far everything has gone to plan, and the Vet is pleased with Buddy’s progress.
This is an example PDWRA’s care for pugs in need. Surgery of this nature is complicated and with risks, but weighing up Buddy’s age, his energy level and zest for life, the chance of a comfortable, full life for his future could not be denied to him.
You may have seen our unusual Appeal at Christmas for Eddie, Tom and Tilly, a gorgeous ready-made grumble of pugs who have always lived together and needed their forever home, together. We were delighted with the response and applications that came through, willing to take on such a big change to anyone’s home and life!
Well, here they are, getting on amazingly and settling in well already with incumbent pug, Roy. Having to share his home out of the blue, Roy is so cool about it and taking it all in his stride!
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Tom had a few little niggles but seemed to get better by himself. A frozen shoulder for 24 hrs and then he sniffed something that made him sneeze constantly until it worked itself out.
TOM
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Eddie has made his life person, new Mum Ingrid, never leaving her side and Tilly has appointed Dad, Barry, as her human.
EDDIE
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TILLY
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Tom and Tilly are still getting their weight down as advised, which is such a good thing for them.
They have all been to our vets for a check over, and all was well, although Eddie nearly had the vet’s fingers as he does not like the vets! 😄
On Friday, they went to the dog groomers, and all had a wash and blow dry and (those that would allow it) claws trimmed.
TOM looking trim & dapper!
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They’ve also been treated to brand new beds which they’re really happy with, and have taken to!
However, they’re equally happy to share!
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Barry concludes,
” Although we have 4 pugs now it really doesn’t feel like we have 4 dogs, apart from food time as Tom and Eddie are very food orientated and need to learn to be a bit calmer when food is put down, but we are making small positive steps.
All in all, they have settled in very nicely and feel they see us as their forever loving home. Thanks PDWRA, for giving us that chance. They are all so lovely and seem to love us. We love them so much too!”.
By Jackie, PDWRA VAC for West Midlands & the South East.
Many of the callers enquiring about rehoming their pugs ask about what happens to them once they leave their foster home and go on to be adopted. It’s a very distressing decision to take in giving up your pug, and not usually one taken voluntarily – circumstances conspire to leave no other option in many cases. So, they are understandably concerned about what the future holds. I can only say that the vast majority of our adoption applicants are already pug owners, or those who have owned pugs in the past, and no other breed will do for them.
They are knowledgeable about the breed and hold an immense loyalty, I might say, bordering on obsession in some cases! One of our adopters’ nine year old said, when asked if they should consider another breed ‘we are a pug family, pugs are the only option’.
Some pugs never move on to another home – they are adopted by their fosterer. They are known as “failed fosterers”, and there’s a lot of us about!
A few examples of this are demonstrated in our West Midlands region, where Volunteers recently met for a pug meetup, on the first Sunday in November. Some of their pugs went into foster and never left!
Penny and Ronald for example, who had many homes in their young lives before coming into PDWRA’s care; Polly found wandering the streets and found by a member of the public – she found her way to PDWRA via a Dog Warden who could see she wasn’t thriving in a kennel environment and contacted us.
You may remember Shirley who gave birth whilst in foster care? One of her two surviving pups, Iris, is now a robust and confident young lady, always first in the queue for treats!
All attendees, pugs and humans, enjoyed the day, as the photos demonstrate – a lot of tired but happy pugs. So this is what happens to pugs coming into PDWRA’s care!
So the New Year has begun with snow in parts of the UK, now Storm Goretti is on its way, with high winds & heavier snow causing Amber Alerts in many areas across the country.
Here’s a reminder of some precautions you can take to keep it safe & enjoyable for our pugs. Many of us will simply keep them indoors until the worst of it passes.
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– Beware of salt on roads & paths which can burn their paw pads. Check once home, and rinse them if necessary.
– Ice and snow can stick to the fur between pads and build up. Not just uncomfortable for your pug, it increases their risk of frostbite. If they raise their paws, stop walking or whine it could be a sign that their paws are too cold.
– Also, beware of thin ice & frozen puddles.
– Take care when using antifreeze. It tastes sweet so is tempting for dogs but can be lethal if ingested.
– Watch for dogs drinking out of puddles too as they may be tainted with antifreeze chemicals from spills or leaks.
– When cold, a dog’s body will limit blood flow to their extremities (paws, tail, ears etc.), in order to keep their vital organs functioning safely. This can put their extremities at risk of being damaged by the cold.
– It’s a good idea to get a warm coat for them, essential when it’s very cold but still safe to go outdoors. See temperature chart below. Ensure it fits well & is flexible so that it doesn’t prevent them moving normally, either by being too tight or too loose.
– If your dog starts shivering, or appears very tired (lethargic), then get them home as soon as possible. If they continue to seem unwell, contact your vet immediately.
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Here are some Body-care tips:
– Additional to well-fitting warm outerwear, use paw protection if needed, this could be in the form of dog dry skin creams/ balms, or doggy booties.
– Inspect pug paws regularly to check for cracked pads, broken nails or snow/salt damage.
– Brush your pug’s coat regularly to distribute natural oils to the skin and prevent dry patches.
– If it’s windy, don’t forget to protect their eyes, by extra lubrication gels and especially if on a beach, where wind & sand can scratch them causing lasting damage without urgent treatment.
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Here’s a very good guide specific to temperatures, when considering conditions for your dog’s walks:
If ever your pug shows signs of hypothermia, which includes, shivering, drowsiness, confusion, clumsiness, pale gums and loss of consciousness or collapse, get your pet immediately out of the cold & contact your vet straight away. Dry & warm them up gently, never intensely & too quickly as this can be dangerous.
Here’s a reminder, since November, of our regular advice & tips for making it as safe & comfortable as possible for our pugs when Fireworks are expected.
In advance, you may have considered:
Desensitising your pets to noise: Playing fireworks noises quietly using sound CDs, while rewarding calm behaviour, can help them become accustomed to the noise. Play them in the run up to firework season, to help them see they need not be afraid.
Anxiety relief products: Anxiety relieving products containing pheromones are an effective way to help your pet stay calm, also comforting jackets are like a big hug! There are so many products around so do research them.
For their comfort and security on New Year’s Eve:
Walk your dogs before it’s dark.
Feed your dogs before fireworks are expected to begin, as they may be too stressed to eat later on.
Make sure your house or garden is escape-proof, as they can bolt or go missing. (Check their microchip registration is up-to-date!)
Keep windows and curtains closed, the lights on and turn the TV on to play music to help drown out the noise.
Create a safe, cosy place for your dog to settle before it gets dark. Dogs enjoy cosy dens.
Keep them entertained to take their mind off the noise. Comforting and reassuring them.
Do not leave them alone at home or elsewhere.
For Halloween, take precautions to make trick/treaters aware that you are not participating, so that the doorbell isn’t rung throughout the evening. We all know how our dogs react to that!
Fireworks. They contain hazardous chemicals which can be poisonous to your dog. Initially these poisons can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, tummy pain and/or bloody stools.
More severe effects may include seizures and the chemicals may also affect your dog’s breathing, kidneys and liver.
Don’t let your dog into your garden unsupervised around Bonfire Night and the other seasonal celebrations, without checking first that none have fallen into your garden.
If the weather is cold or freezing:
Antifreeze, (ethylene glycol) is the worst of all the chemical spills, which can also leak from a car’s radiator.
Ingestion is very dangerous. It is sweet tasting and very palatable to dogs, though even a relatively small quantity can cause serious kidney damage or be fatal.
The first signs of intoxication can be that your dog appears ‘drunk’. If you know your dog has ingested ethylene glycol or you have any concerns, contact your vet without delay.
The prognosis is poorer the longer it takes to initiate treatment.
So please be extra vigilant, and if you suspect your dog has been affected in any way. Contact your vet as soon as possible to discuss symptoms.
🤞 A GOOD NEW YEAR UPDATE: We had an excellent response with strong applications for the terrific trio & they have found their perfect, Forever-Home! 🤞 We thank everybody for their interest in seriously adopting 3 pugs together.
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This was an unusual APPEAL, for a ready-made grumble of 3 bonded-pugs looking for their Forever-home.
Details:
Eddie, Tom and Tilly are a gorgeous grumble of pugs who have always lived together and love each other very much. They are looking for their forever home due to changes at home and as they are truly bonded they need to remain together.
Eddie is a 7 year-old shiny, black male, Tom and Tilly are 6 year-old litter-mates. Tom is a big-boned fawn boy and Tilly a beautiful apricot fawn girl.
The 3 of them are very affectionate to each other, and always sleep together, either all lined up or piled up on top of each other!
They clean each other too, especially Eddie who likes to make sure his younger siblings have a clean face and ears at all times!
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Considerations for their adopter:
Their Humans:
As well as being loving with each other, they are equally loving to their people. All 3 of them love to lay on a lap, or snuggle into their people, as close as they can, and rest their little chins. Tilly will climb up onto your chest to get her face as close as possible to yours.
Other Dogs:
All 3 of them have been very friendly and gentle with other elderly dogs in the extended family of their home, although Tilly likes to let other female dogs know that she is the boss-girl in her own territory.
Cats:
They have all also learned to be respectful of their fosterer’s dog-savvy cat after careful introductions. They are calm around him and all coexist happily now. Initially, they did bark at the cat and will do sometimes when they see others out on walks, though can equally ignore or even sniff them gently on other occasions.
Children:
The grumble has been kind and gentle with children they have met, Eddie and Tilly particularly enjoy a gentle fuss and cuddle from them. Tom gets anxious around loud and active children and will try to hide from them. If given his own space and time though, he will accept gentle petting from quiet children without hiding away.
Housetraining:
The trio are all housetrained and toilet in the garden, but only Eddie seems to understand that they can toilet on walks too! So, after a walk, Tilly and Tom still need to be offered a trip to the garden.
Although housetrained, the boys both marked in the early weeks at their foster home. This behaviour has almost completely resolved as they have settled, though may resurface in a new home. Having some belly bands handy might be useful during their settling in period.
Walks & Outdoors:
The gorgeous trio were not too used to regular walks before coming into foster, and it showed in their fitness, waistlines and leash behaviour! However, they have mad amazing strides forward in all these aspects, while still a work in progress.
All 3 have lost a lot of their excess weight, though aren’t at their ideal targets yet so this will need to be supported in their forever home. Their fitness has improved immensely and they can all walk happily for over an hour now.
Eddie walks beautifully on a lead. He loves to stop and take his time having a good sniff around. Tom and Tilly need ongoing work on their leash manners. Tom pulls as a mixture of excitement and anxiousness and he lunges at passing noisy vehicles, but is improving. Tilly gets very excited about going for walks and pulls on the lead unless you are happy to jog with her!
All 3 are very good off lead in an enclosed area. Their recall is mixed where all 3 will come when called, unless distracted playing with other dogs, but especially if they hear you shaking a bag of treats!
Tilly is strongly drawn to water so needs to be kept on leash near lakes and rivers etc.
Indoors:
The grumble all sleep happily together downstairs, cuddled up in a dog bed or on the sofa. They are quite sensitive to sounds outside and calming music left on especially when left alone at home, comforts them and prevents them barking at noises.
All 3 are very respectful when their people are eating. They may stare a bit, but they don’t beg or try to snatch food and can even sleep through it! Tilly and Tom do need reminding to take their treats gently though!
Eddie, Tom and Tilly are a wonderful, loving, grumble of pugs who will bring love, fun and joy with endless snuggles to their new family.
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Additional information about them individually:
Eddie is a delightful, polite boy who is devoted to his siblings and people. He snuggles and cleans Tom and Tilly all the time, he sometimes gets a little overstimulated when cleaning Tilly and has to be told not to mount her (or Tilly will tell him herself!)
He waits patiently for food and takes treats gently. He is happy to be stroked while eating and isn’t possessive with food or toys at all.
He loves soft toys and will carry them around, greeting you at the door with one in his mouth. Eddie arrived in foster with dirty, painful ears and wrinkle, and was reluctant to be cleaned, sometimes being mouthy to hands but not aggressive. With the building of trust, his new family will need to be sensitive regarding cleaning these areas.
He is a pleasure to take for a walk and will trot along with his siblings, and enjoy all the sniff spots. He can be unsure of other dogs when he’s on leash, especially big dogs and may bark at them. Other dogs he may completely ignore, or want to politely say hello to them. He plays very well with dogs of all sizes off leash. Eddie is an around lovely boy!
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Tilly is a very affectionate and beautiful apricot girl. She is the boss of the grumble and keeps her brothers in line.
She was, and still is, the most overweight of the grumble with more weight to lose. While she loves to walk fast and run about, it’s necessary to enforce a little rest break for her so she doesn’t push herself to hard.
Tilly often greets people and other dogs by barking at them, but she’s completely friendly, just a noisy greeter! Thankfully, for all the effort she puts into barking, her bark is quite quiet. She has the waggiest tail of any pug!
Tilly gets excited at food time and may jump up, but she always sits politely when asked to, for her bowl to be placed on the floor. She’s happy to be stroked while eating and isn’t possessive of her food.
She’s getting more interested in playing with toys and when she’s feeling playful will pounce on and shake her soft toys. She sometimes likes a game of tug of war, and even a short game of fetch.
Tilly does steal toys from Tom when he’s trying to play! She is a delightful girl and a complete snuggle bug with her siblings and people.
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Tom is a lovely, big soft boy who is very affectionate with his siblings, especially Tilly, and his people once he’s learnt to trust them. He can be anxious and is currently trialling some medication to help him with this. A tablet a day in his food.
He is a sensitive soul who hadn’t experienced very much of the world before coming in to foster and therefore finds the world a bit confusing. Tom looks for comfort and reassurance from his humans as well as his siblings.
Tom’s come far already in foster and blossomed into a loving, snuggly boy. He has the softest, velvety head and ears and he loves to be gently stroked and cuddled once he gets to know you. He takes a lot of confidence particularly from Tilly.
A typical pug, he gets very excited at food time and can be quite barky which annoys his siblings, so it’s best that he is separated from them by a baby-gate while their food is being prepared and while they eat.
Tom can be petted while eating and isn’t possessive of food but he eats quickly and will try and steal his siblings dinner if they’re not fed separately. Despite his excitement, Tom will sit for his dinner and being very food motivated, his recall training is going very well.
Tom can be anxious while walking on leash and needs ongoing work to not pull. He is wonderful off lead in enclosed areas though! He is full of joy running around freely, greets other dogs nicely and is starting to play with them rather than staying by his fosterer’s side for reassurance.
Tom is such a sweet, sensitive, loving boy, who gives the best cuddles.
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It’s important to also read our Guidelines & conditions for Adopting, at:
It’s that time of year again where there are plenty of temptations which are potentially hazardous to our furry friends, particularly celebratory foods and treats that are being brought into the home.
As well as the festive greenery that may make your dog very ill, tempting foods which we may think are a treat for them can actually cause a great deal of harm, including hidden ingredients such as seasoning & spices.
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Vets will treat 75% more cases of dogs eating foods that are poisonous to them in December, so it’s important to be aware of what to avoid and ensure others including visitors know about them too:
FOOD
– Christmas cake, mince pies and Christmas pudding.
– Chocolate, boxes lying around, tempting foil coins on the tree.
– Traditional turkey, goose & chicken where cooked bones can easily splinter.
– Sage and onion stuffing, gravy, anything with onion, chives, garlic, celery.
– Do check for hidden seasoning ingredients in sausages, a particular Christmas treat from a roast dinner.
– Other foods, such as certain nuts, blue cheese, fatty and salty processed foods.
– Xylitol sometimes marketed as birch sugar, used in artificial sweeteners and sweeteners of products such as peanut butter, is toxic to dogs.
– All alcohol.
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OTHER
– Particular festive greenery and plants may make your dog very For a comprehensive list that are dangerous to dogs, see this: poisons in your garden article.
– Oils from pine needles may be irritating to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive dribbling, vomiting and diarrhoea if chewed. Needles are also sharp so could cause physical injury in your dog’s mouth and throat.
– Potpourri is made up of various dried plants and flowers to create fragrant decorations. Depending on their toxicity they may cause, at the very least, vomiting and diarrhoea.
– Take care when using antifreeze (ethylene glycol). It tastes sweet so is tempting for dogs but can be lethal if ingested.
– Watch for dogs drinking out of puddles too as they may be tainted with antifreeze chemicals.
– Some snow globes contain anti-freeze and if broken, are a serious danger to your dogs.
– Salted roads & paths can also burn their paw pads.
Frostbite:
Ice and snow can build up in the fur between their pads which is not only uncomfortable but increases the risk of frostbite. If your dog raises its paws, stops walking or whines it could be a sign that their paws are too cold.
When cold, a dog’s body limits blood flow to their extremities (paws, tail, ears etc.) diverting to keep their vital organs protected. This puts their extremities at risk of being damaged by the cold. If you’re concerned about them having frostbite contact your vet immediately.
So, on very cold, icy or snowy days, try to keep the time they spend outside to a minimum, and consider using a coat or paw protectors to keep them warm.
If you do buy a coat make sure it fits well so that it doesn’t restrict their normal movement, either through being too tight or too loose. If you’re outside in the cold and your pet starts shivering, or appears very tired, then get them home as soon as possible. If they are very unwell, get worse or continue to be unwell, contact your vet immediately.
However, some smaller or short coated dogs feel cold in the winter nip, so it may be a good idea to buy a well-fitting coat that will help keep them warm and dry on walks.
The dark mornings and evenings mean that you’ll most likely be taking your dog out for a walk when it is dark or gloomy, and you should think about how visible your dog is to other people when out walking in low light. Reflective collars and jackets are a good idea, and there are even some bright LED collars and tags available to help make your dog easier to see by other walkers and road users.
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Christmas can be stressful for pets. The change in routine, visitors, children, loud music and decorations can all confuse or over-excite them. Planning ahead can help minimise stress for pets and ensure they have a happy Christmas, too.
A few things to consider include:
Sticking to their routine as much as possible – their meals, exercise, bed and toilet break routines. Consistency helps them feel more secure plus they expect it!.
Introduce new people carefully, at your dog’s own pace.
Give them somewhere cosy and quiet to retreat to, away from all the excitement, leaving toys or familiar items to help keep them comforted.
Don’t leave them alone too long – it’s easy to become distracted at such a busy time.
Likewise, if you’re spending Christmas away with your dog/s take something that smells familiar, like their bed, or favourite toys and chews to help keep them entertained and feel secure. Also, plan for them if they’re not going with you.
