"Dillon", a 3-year old former stray, was adopted by Steve on Dec. 12, 2011. Dillon came to Pug Rescue last October from the Colorado Springs

Steve and "Apo"

Animal Shelter who had deemed him "unadoptable" by shelter standards. Turns out he was just shy and skittish from life on the streets but once he was introduced into a warm loving home with good food and a secure environment, he became a happy and affectionate boy and is now the "Official Greeter" at Steve's vet practice office.  And he even has a new name to go with his new life:  "Apo"!

 

Click here for information on our adoption process for "Bubba" and "Pudge" and all our other Foster Pugs. 

 

"I'd like to volunteer but I don't have much time."

 

No problem, many people have asked how they can help Colorado Pug Rescue but they are concerned about the time commitment. Good News! We have many opportunities where we desperately need help for only a few hours a month:

 

•  Transporting pugs to foster care, vet visits, events, etc. )
•  Helping staff one event
• Please click on Volunteering  for more information on how just a couple of hours will go a long way toward helping us place a deserving pug in his forever home.

 

"Why does it cost to adopt a pug and where does that Adoption Fee go?"

 

Most of the pugs we take in to Foster Care are in need of medical attention, ranging from routine vaccinations to life-saving major surgery. It is not unusual for us to spend thousands of dollars on emergency medical treatment due to abuse or neglect, and 100% of the Adoption Fee goes toward these costs. Once the pug has received medical care, he is placed into a Foster Home environment for continued recovery and/or basic training and socialization. Colorado Pug Rescue does everything possible "at the front end" to make sure the dog is in good health and spirit and ready to for a new home. So when you adopt a pug from us, you can be sure we've made the investment in the necessary care and preparation to ensure that it's a successful match for both you and your new pug.  

 Tony Polisi is currently fostering "Max" and is an experienced dog trainer.  Tony learned years ago that having the right attitude and knowing how to speak "Dog" is critical to a successful dog/owner relationship and he has agreed to share his knowledge with our Newsletter readers. 

 

"Meeting your new Rescue Pug" 

 

Everyone wants a dog to be their best friend but every dog wants to be a member of a stable pack. An unstable pack makes for an unstable dog. There are only 2 positions in a pack, Leader and Follower. If you won't be the leader then your dog will. This will cause anxiety in your dog and can lead to problem behavior.

The first thing you should do when meeting a new dog is establish your position. Why? Because the dog will, and he will expect you to do the same. If you don't, he will think there is something wrong with you and therefore it's his responsibility to "correct you." Have you ever had a dog you just met hump your leg? If you have,
you have just been dominated. He doesn't what to have sex with you, he just told you who's the boss. Have you ever had a dog sit on your foot, bump you or push you? If you have, you have just been established as a follower. These are just a few of the many ways a dog can challenge you for position in the pack.

 

Here is how I meet my new rescue pug. I take an attitude of dominance and I greet the dog when I'm ready, not at the dog's demand. I take the dog for a walk on a short leash and I demand that the dog doesn't pull and walks beside me. Here are some tips to do that:

1. Correct a dog on leash with a short tug to the side. Never pull back.
2. Start with the dog sitting to your right side. You take the first step forward and ask the dog to follow you.
3. A stronger correction is a poke in the side just behind the front leg. This needs to be established as how you tell a dog they are being corrected. They will learn to really dislike this correction, but they won't fear your touch. This touch can be used for anything you need to correct your dog about.
4. If the dog runs ahead or pulls you, stop, bring the dog back, give a little yank on the leash to the side, put the dog in the proper position on your side and make him sit. A little push on his back side to make him sit may be needed. Then praise him when he complies. You should have an attitude of superiority the entire time.
5. When you have just a little success you should stop. Don't over do it. You can do this a couple of times a day until it's normal for the dog to behave well on a leash. You are now the pack leader.

I find this very important with pugs. They tend to be very stubborn and because they aren't aggressive and are very cute, obedience is often overlooked. This can lead to marking, aggression towards children and other dogs, barking, and other unwanted behavior.

Remember:   "Attitude is Everything!"