Hi Michelle,
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[/TD][/TR][TR][TD][FONT class=\"pn-sub\"][BLOCKQUOTE] do they have rescue operations in Spain like they do in the UK and the US? [/BLOCKQUOTE][/FONT][/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
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Yes, they do.
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[/TD][/TR][TR][TD][FONT class=\"pn-sub\"][BLOCKQUOTE] Is BCN a dog friendly town? [/BLOCKQUOTE][/FONT][/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
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We never had any problem with our dog there and have seen TONS of people with dogs. However, if you have a big dog that is going to want to run a lot, you probably don\'t want them in Barcelona. They take out their energy on other things...like furniture.
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[/TD][/TR][TR][TD][FONT class=\"pn-sub\"][BLOCKQUOTE] Should I get my dog before coming to Spain?[/BLOCKQUOTE][/FONT][/TD][/TR][TR][TD]
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That depends on the availability. If it is easy to buy it in Spain, I would say no. There are a slew of forms and regulations to deal with when taking your dog to another country. Plus those bastards at the airlines charge you $200 to take your dog with you in the cabin and he doesn\'t even get a meal or pillow.
I know this is probably none of my business, but have you researched the kind of dog for you? It sounds like you are set on a pug, but will it\'s characteristics fit into your lifestyle or will you change for it? I hate to see people who have to give up their dogs (I was almost one of these people) because it wasn\'t what they thought it would be. If you need help finding one, I would be glad to help you (being a dog person myself) but look into it first.
Here is a little basic info from .....
http://members.lycos.nl/huisdier/pugs/A Basic Introduction to the Pug Dog Breed
The Pug is an AKC and FCI recognized dog breed, classified in the Toy Dogs group. The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1885. Originally, the pug came from China. Its origin dates back to pre-Christian times!
Over the last years the pug has become more and more popular. Pugs are ranked #15 in the AKC Dog Breeds 2000 Top 50 (ranking based on the number of dogs that were registered by the AKC in 2000). An increasing number of people recognized and appreciated the pug\'s clownish and loving character. However, pugs\' roles in television commercials and movies has been a reason for the increased popularity of the breed, also.
One of the goals of this web site is to provide information about pugs, so that you hopefully won\'t buy a pug just because you\'ve seen one on television or in the movies. Pugs look very cute and therefore are easily bought on impulse. Although most pugs not only look cute but are cute in fact -- it\'s still important to know the characteristics of pugs, its needs and also, the weaknesses of the breed! If you already own a pug, or you\'ve already decided to buy one, this site can help you to find information about care for pugs, health issues, breeding and how to find reputable breeders.
Is a Pug the Right Breed For You?
A pug is:
a dog that loves and needs human companionship and lots of attention
an intelligent breed
a dog with a great sense of humour, not perse the same humour as their owners
a breed that is behaving as a puppy for a long time (more mature behavior often is not exposed until the dog reaches the age of three years old)
a dog that can be very stubborn and "naughty" - unless its owner knows to make clear to the dog what behavior is rewarding and wished for
a breed that, unfortunately, suffers from many different genetic disorders (not all individual pugs suffer from disorders - but for the breed as a whole, the many genetic disorders are in my opinion defenitely a weakness!)
So, the right owner for a pug would be:
someone who has a lot of time to share with his* dog
someone who loves to cuddle his dog a lot
someone who knows how to let the dog\'s intelligence work *for* him, instead of against ...
someone who\'s "soft" - but at the same time can be consequent all the time
someone who is patient - but doesn\'t give up easily
someone who can appreciate a dog being clownish and "naughty"
someone who is aware of the breed\'s weaknesses and is alert to prevent the pug\'s illness / death - knows how to recognize early symptoms of disease
NOT someone who\'s looking for a dog to keep outdoors
NOT someone who\'s searching for a very athletic dog, to go for long walks every day, compete in competitive agility etc.
NOT someone who\'s looking for a dog that will "automatically" ** be very obedient (a pug can learn to obey perfectly, but this will only succeed if the owner knows how to train a dog using positive training methods, and will to train the dog regularly).
* "his" could be "her" also, ofcourse [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif\"] !
** There\'s not one single breed that will be obedient automatically! However, the average pug will be more disposed to do whatever seems right to the dog itself, whereas some other breeds will be more disposed to do whatever their owner seems to like!
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