About Us
From this page, you can:
- Scroll down to read more about my pugs and I
- Check our puppy availability and learn about my eight-step Adoption Process.
- Learn how my Show Prospects are selected.
- Contact me
HISTORY:
I could go on and on and write a novel about my love affair with pugs. Instead, I will give you the abbreviated story:
I fell in love with the Pug breed in 1994, when I adopted a fawn companion pet boy named Babb's Nickelodeon. Nick taught my family all about the crazy antics of the Pug breed, and inspired me to switch from showing and breeding Dobermans to showing pugs.
In 1996, I adopted CH Larimar's Stardust CD, CGC, ROM (Star), who became my line's fawn foundation bitch. Star was the most incredible pug a person could ever own, and I was blessed to be able to personally handle her to her championship and obedience titles. In 2004, in partnership with Simon Pugs, CH CandyLand's BLKHawk of Arvay (Kirby) became my black foundation stud dog, thus creating my line of black pugs. To date, there have been 19 champions who are directly related to either Star or Kirby, and several obedience, agility, or rally pugs from them, for whom I am a breeder or co-breeder of record.
TEMPERAMENT TRAINING:
Temperament is of utmost importance since it is my goal that every pug we raise be adaptable and suitable for their future adopting family. To meet this goal, all of my puppies are raised following the critical period guidelines outlined in O'Kelley's 1978 article, Super Dogs Are Made, Not Born. Puppies are ready for adoption at approximately ten-18 weeks of age.
CONFORMATION, STRUCTURE, AND PRELIMINARY OFA HIP EVALUATIONS:
As a serious dog show exhibitor, my goal is to breed pugs that have proper conformation and structure. As such, I utilize a set of three evaluation tests for:- Conformation and Structure Evaluation
- CAER Eye Exam
- OFA Preliminary Hip Report
These three evaluations are set up as elimination rounds. This means that a puppy must pass the first evaluation in order to move onto the next one. If a puppy fails one evaluation, that puppy is then eliminated from participating in the next evaluation. A puppy must successfully pass all three evaluations in order for me to place or keep him or her as a Show Prospect--otherwise the puppy is placed as a non-breeding Companion Pet.
Conformation and Structure Evaluation
I conduct conformation evaluations using the AKC Pug Breed Standard on my entire litter at the age of eight-weeks following the Puppy Puzzle "approach to evaluating the structural quality of puppies", created by Bob and Pat Hastings. The structure evaluation is performed using the technique by Dr. Wendy Wallace, DVM. Dr. Wallace and Pat Hastings co-authored the book, Structure in Action: The Makings of a Durable Dog.
CAER Eye Exam
Only the puppies who evaluate as having proper conformation and structure move onto the second evaluation, which is a CAER Eye Exam. Puppies who pass both the conformation and structure evaluation and the CAER eye exam move onto the final evaluation, which is the OFA preliminary hip report.
Preliminary Hip Report
Only the puppies who evaluate as having proper conformation and structure and CAER eye exam move onto the third evaluation, which is an OFA preliminary evaluation for hip dysplasia.
HEALTH:
Health is also the greatest priority in my breeding program. As such, I only feed and recommend grain-free and holistic pet food for my pugs. All of the pugs personally owned by me and who will be used in a breeding program are evaluated for the tests required for the Pug breed by the parent club. These are:
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CAER Eye Exam
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OFA Patellas
- OFA Hips
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
- Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
Along with other serious dog breeders, I collaborate with veterinary researchers to find ways to help dogs as a whole live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
I have always encouraged and supported other pug breeders to conduct genetic tests on any pug that will be used in a breeding program. As a professional courtesy, I have always provided discounts from our stud fee for pug females who hold OFA certificates at the time of the breeding to any of my champion boys. In addition, I have always offered all of my pug owners the option to receive title rebates totaling up to 100% of the Adoption Fee. Rebates are available when a pug achieves an AKC title that appears either as a prefix (before the dog's registered name) or appears as a suffix (after the dog's registered name).
HONORS, AWARDS, AND DISTINCTIONS:
I have worked hard to ensure that the descendants of Star and Kirby have been born as beautiful and as healthy as possible. Together with her six-month old puppies from my first litter, our foundation female, CH Larimar's Stardust CD, CGC (Star) was selected as the Best Brood Bitch at the 1998 National Specialty Show. In the late 1990s, in partnership with Starvue Pugs and Mystic Pugs, we were recognized as the Breeder of the Year by our local chapter pug club. In 2003, I was one of only a small handful of American pug breeders featured in the Barron's Educational Series book, Living With A Pug.
In 2018, I met the requirements to be recognized as an American Kennel Club (AKC) Breeder of Merit-Bronze. This is a program designed by the AKC to recognize "accomplished breeders...who are dedicated to breeding beautiful purebred dogs whose appearance, temperament, and ability are true to their breed" by conducting all required genetic tests on all of the dogs used in the breeding program and for having at least ten dogs with AKC titles, with a minimum of five champions (AKC website, 2014).
In April, 2021, I met the requirements to be recognized as an American Kennel Club (AKC) Breeder of Merit-Silver by continuing to conduct all the required genetic tests on all of the dogs used in my breeding program and for having at least 25 dogs with AKC titles, with at least 15 champions. I am only the fourth pug breeder in the nation to reach this level and just one of three kennel names to do so.
Likewise, I have also continually met the requirements for the AKC's Bred with H.E.A.R.T. Program since 2016 because I am committed to conducting all of the required health tests that are recommended by the parent club, participating in annual continuing education regarding dog breeding and training, being accountable and responsible for all of the dogs I have brought into the world, and following a tradition of excellence in my breeding program.
CURRENT PUGS:
After a five year hiatus from the world of dogs, in 2011, my family adopted two beautiful and sweet pug girls who are direct descendants of Star and Kirby; a fawn, CH Starvue Celestial Return By Pegasus (Kelani), and a black, Surewins Celestial Moonlyt Hollyberi (Hollyberi).
In 2013, GCH Surewins Celestial How Do Ya Like Me Now (Toby) became the first grand champion in our line. Toby was completely breeder-owner-handled by his co-owner, Surewins Pugs. Toby resides with Surewins Pugs.
In 2015, we became co-owners with Simon Pugs of a beautiful black male pug puppy, CH Victory's Simon Celestial Keahilani Heaven's Fire (Lani). Lani resides with Simon Pugs.
In 2019, we purchased a lovely fawn male who was born in Ukraine, CH Uber Tequila Home (Trouper). We had initially agreed to help place him into a different home, but fell in love with him after we saw him. After a long wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to end, Trouper earned his AKC championship in 2022. Trouper is retired from the breeding and show rings and is living in San Francisco with his new family.
In 2020, three of our puppies have done well with virtual performances. Celestial Moonlyt Marvel US Dr. Nightshade RN ACT1 ACT2J CGC TKP (Rebelle) earned her Agility Course Test, Rally Novice, Canine Good Citizen, and Trick Dog Performer titles. Celestial Mardi Gras Parade Captain RN, CGC, TKA (Mugsy) earned his Rally Novice, Canine Good Citizen, and Trick Dog Intermediate titles. Rebelle and Mugsy are owned, expertly trained, and handled by the Jansak Family. Lastly, Celestial Moonlyt Peppercorn The Pygmy Pug TKN (Peppercorn) also earned his Trick Dog Novice title owned, trained, and shown by his junior handler.
In 2021, our lovely Friends litter was born. In 2022, one of them, CH Celestial Friends OMG Chandler Bing! (Chandler) quickly became a champion being shown exclusively from the Bred By Exhitor class. We have just started showing his sister, Celestial Friends It's "P" As In Phoebe (Phoebe). Phoebe's younger brother, Celestial 24K Magic (Nugget), is nearing his AKC championship title.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE:
Showing and breeding pugs can never be an income-earning venture for me because it costs thousands of dollars each year to show, train, condition, conduct genetic tests, feed, and raise puppies properly. I refuse to cut corners or costs because I am committed to raising the best pugs possible. Besides, my pugs are like my children, and I give them only the best.
To support my ability to give my pugs the best, I have a full-time career outside of the world of dogs. Professionally, I currently teach as an associate professor. I have held several educational roles in both instruction and administration. I hold a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Management and two Master's of Science degrees in Education. I have also completed graduate coursework in Counseling and Student Personnel.
I have a doctorate degree, however, I am neither licensed in nor engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary surgery, or veterinary dentistry.
Besides being a member of local and state-wide dog and training clubs, I am also a member of my faculty state association, local and national early education associations, and I serve as a professional development consultant and speaker.
CH CandyLand's BLKHawk of Arvay, our black foundation stud dog co-owned with Simon Pugs.
DISCLAIMER NOTICE: The contents of this website and its videos, links, images, and other material contained on this site ("Content") are for educational and informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
CH Larimar's Stardust CD, CGC, ROM was our fawn foundation bitch.
Health is our top priority to insure that our pugs are healthy even into their golden years. CH Larimar's Stardust CD, CGC (Star) being awarded First Veteran as a senior citizen canine.
We have met all program health and competition requirements necessary to be recognized as an AKC Breeder of Merit-Silver.
Since 2016, we have continually met all requirements necessary to be recognized in the AKC's Bred With H.E.A.R.T. Program.
CANCER AND MAST CELL TUMOR RESEARCH IN DOGS:
Dedicated breeders of all breeds of dogs are working with researchers at North Carolina State University to better understand cancer and Mast Cell Tumors (MCT) in dogs. It is our hope as breeders that one day this research might provide the opportunity for all to be better able to understand the causes, provide better treatments, and perhaps, identify genetic markers that may lead to prevention through selective breeding. In order to do this, researchers need help from people in the community whose beloved dogs have been or were affected by cancer or MCT within the past three years. Specifically, they would need access to the dog's clinical records and biopsy specimen that the veterinary pathology laboratory would have in storage. If you are willing to help, you can contact researchers directly at info@breenlab.org and read more about the research study at: