Anyone can breed two pugs and sell the puppies. Breeders aren't required to have a license or even to know anything about dogs. Ideally, however, you'll purchase your pug from a hobby breeder (also referred to as a reputable or responsible breeder), someone who has been breeding and showing pugs in conformation classes for several years. Finding a good breeder is paramount. You want to deal with someone whose primary concern is the best interest of the breed, not a person who's simply capitalizing on the pug's popularity to make a quick buck.

Reputable breeders show their dogs in conformation classes so their quality can be seen and evaluated by other pug experts. They're knowledgeable about the breed's history and health, genetics, and breed type. They don't breed their dogs until they're physically mature — at least two years old — and they usually skip at least one cycle between breedings to give the female a rest from the hard work of pregnancy, labor, and raising a litter.

Reputable breeders also test their breeding stock to ensure that they're free of hereditary diseases before breeding and submit results of those tests to health registries, such as the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA). They monitor their dogs' health through eye exams, hip and knee evaluations, and other outwardly observable expressions of genetic conditions. When genetic tests for specific diseases are available, reputable breeders make them an integral part of their breeding program. They also test breeding stock for brucellosis, a sexually transmitted disease, and hypothyroidism.

This perfect pug breeder belongs to the Pug Dog Club of America as well as to local all-breed or specialty dog clubs. Club membership indicates a desire to keep up with what's happening in the breed, especially in the area of health. Reputable breeders study pedigrees carefully, looking to find the best matches for their dogs' strengths and weaknesses.

Some health conditions can't be tested for or don't show up until later in life, but the breeder should be using dogs that are currently free of disease and that have a family history that's relatively free of these diseases (no dog or breed is entirely disease-free). A pug breeder whose dogs have eye clearances from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF), who x-rays the hips and patellas (knees) of breeding stock, and who has the radiographs evaluated by the Orthopedic Foundation of America or PennHIP is to be highly commended.