BREEDER’S FORUM with BoB & keven Birdwell Pug
1. Tell us Three conformaTion characTerisTics you consider criTical in your breeding program. 1) Tail Set, 2) short back and 3) good movement. 2. WhaT dog ThaT you have bred have you been mosT exciTed abouT? BIS GCH Storybook’s Perfectly Sirus. We were excited about her litter long before it was whelped and they didn’t disappoint us—the sweetest, funniest and best companion anyone could imagine. 3. WhaT are your ThoughTs on imporTing and exporTing? We’ve exported a few dogs. It’s important to research the potential owners very carefully, since the dogs will live half a world away. There are some countries we would not export a dog to because of the length of time they’d need to spend in quarantine. The process is very difficult, but the rewards can be very fulfilling. We’ve never imported a dog, but we would not be adverse to it. 4. To daTe, WhaT has been your high poinT as breeders? Breeding a Best in Show Pug (Bitch) was certainly some- thing we’ll always remember and to do it at a relatively large show in California was also very special. 5. WhaT is your peT peeve in The shoW/breeding World? In the show world, it would be judges who don’t have a grasp of our breed. In the breeding world, it would be people who live off the backs of their dogs, not for the betterment of the breed. 6. is There a grooming secreT you Would like To share? Keven is known for her Pug grooming and wouldn’t want to share too much, but notching under the tail in a “V” with thinning shears to give the tail more room so it can sit higher over the rump is one important factor.
7. do you inbreed, linebreed or ouTcross and Why ? Each breeding decision we make is mostly based on phenotype not genotype. 8. do you Think your currenT sTandard is adequaTe? Yes, if only judges would follow it. 9. Where do you house your dogs and Whelp your biTches? Our dogs live in our home with us. We also have an air conditioned dog house where the dogs can escape the heat, go to eat or go when they can’t be in the house. In addition we have a large outdoor kennel where they can get air and be safe when it’s good weather. 10. aT WhaT age do you deTermine a puppy To be shoW qualiTy? We watch the puppies from the minute they’re born. An important marker date is at eight weeks, but we don’t make a final decision until they’re 12 weeks. It’s unfair to wait too long and it’s harder to give them up after too many weeks of living with us. 11. WhaT is The greaTesT healTh concern for your breed Today? Obviously PDE, but other than that, the respiratory issues are always a concern. 12. if you Were noT involved WiTh shoWing dogs, WhaT Would you do? We’d live much better, but would be poorer for the friends we wouldn’t have met. Obviously we’d still have Pugs.
“each Breeding decision we Make is Mostly Based
on PhenotyPe not genotyPe.”
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