The matriarch of Pug breeders and certainly one of the most beloved is Mrs. Filomena Doherty of Springtown, Pennsylvania. Springtown was not always her home. Her most famous one was in Bernardstown, New Jersey, where the "Pugville Kennels" Registered, were located for many years. This home was destroyed in a tragic fire. Here for years the residents of Mrs. Doherty's Nursing Home were treated annaually to a Pug Match on the spacious grounds, where a pocession of beautiful Pugs ere paraded for their enjoyment.
Mrs. Doherty's most famous Pug was "Am Ch, Can Ch, Cuban and Bermudan Ch Pugville Might Jim". He was the sire to thirty-eight champions." International Ch. Pugville's Mabe Stupendous " had 35 Best of Breed winns and 9 groups to his credit when he was sold. "Ch. Pugville's Mighty Wrinkles was retired with 35 Best of Breed awards and 8 Groups. Jim is the sire of the pugs purchased by the Duke and Dchess of Windsor, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, and actress Lena Horne. His record includes 172 Best of Breeds out of 182 times shown; 65 Groups including Westminster, and Morris and Essex; 8 Best in shows all breeds ; 2 best american bred in show-all breeds. Also, Jim was adjudged Best Stud Dog in 5 consecutive Specialty Shows held by the Pug Dog Club of America.
Mrs. Doherty was also the President of the Pug Dog Club of America for many years.
One of the most successful kennels is "Gore's Pug Ranch" of Louisville, Kentucky. Louise Gore began in Vt. Vernon, Ill in 1951, when Louise and her husband Herman began the hobby that was to become a motivating force in their lives. Their first show-quality bitch puppy was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Rolla Blaylock of St. Louis.
By 1962 the Gores had finished seven champions, the 7th being a very special pug indeed - " Ch. Gore's Sir Flip" who appears in many pedigrees. The Gores finished 17 champions and sold 23 more to people who finished them. A matter of special pride to the Gores was the fact that they started 37 new pug breeders and exhibitors over the years. All this was accomplished from a fairly consistent basic stock of ten pugs and in just sixteen years. They finished both fawn and blacks, a notable black being "Ch. Gore's Jack Tarr", a Group winner belonging to Russel Hicks.
The Gore line is a combination of many lines, particularly Winna and Melcroft. Ch. Gore's Swaps (litter brother of Mar-Ma-Duke) was their foundation male. Louise considered Gore's Atlas the finest they had produced. He had 11 points with both majors at 10 months when a vet put the wrong medicine in his eye and it had to be removed surgically, thus ending his show career. A son of Swaps and Salee, Atlas has produced many champions, one of which was Ch. Gore's Mahdeen, a goup winner from the classes.
East Coast Kennels "Pugholm Kennels, Registered, owned by Fredic and Elizabeth Soderberg, who were orginally breeders of Bostons. When Elizabeth fell in love with a three-week old male owned by Mrs. Weekes in NJ, the Soderbergs decided to change to Pugs. That fall, Elizabeth started showing the Pug and in 36 days he was a champion. This was Ch. Wee-Hu Spunk, who in 1954 was unbeaten in the breed. THe solderbergs bought Ch. Allen's Golden Dawn from Mrs. Pearl Cassler, and a line was born. Of a litter of 2 pups (one dog , one bitch) the bitched died within a week. Then the dam died 6 months later. But the survivor of the litter was Ch. Pugholms Peter Pumkin Eater, one of the great ones! As the 1958 Toy Group Winner at Westminster, he joined a select group .
In 1928 Miss Winnifred May Steggall (Born in England on May 10, 1900 and long time resident of Montreal, Canada) founded the Winna Kennels which continued to her death on January 29th 1968. She was disabled at birth, and suffered breakdowns often, she said she was saved by her doctor, a Pug Breeder, who gave her a pair of Pugs. From that day to her death, she devoted every waking moment to her Pugs. Over a period of 40 years, the name " Winna" became identified with the cream of Pugdom.
By 1952 Miss Steggall's Winna Pugs had achieved world reown for 6 generations of internationsl champions in Canada and in the USA and the 7th generation champion appeared shortly afterward. A few years later, another, Winna Price Charmer won more Best of Breeds and Goup placings Group placings than any other Pug in the US up to that time. Winna Pugs remembered best are Ch. Winna John Bull and Ch. Winna John Peel. The Winna Pugs have appeared lavishly in all the great lines in the USA.
Colonel and Mrs. Archibald R. Green of Bessemer, Alabama switched from Boxers to pugs, they purchased from the Hubers of Toledo, Ohio, a champion bitch that has been bred. In 1956 Mrs. Green visited England and purchased "Runnaways Trumpeter" who soon became a champion. The Greens imported 8 Pugs from England and finished 7 of them. They also finished 5 they bred from the imports. Ch. Pugholms Lil Betty Winkle and Ch. Alexander's Meri Xmas. In all they owned and made 16 champions
Carolyn Standish of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, died of leukemia before her dream of establishing her Duxbury line could be realized. Her first setback was the inability of her bitch AM/Can Champion Cappoquin Kewpie Doll to have puppies. Kewpie Doll was the top pug in the USA in 1966 and #1 in Canada that same year. She won, over a peiod of just fourteen months as a Special, 60 Best of Breeds and 4 Group Firsts along with many group placements.
Carolyn had bought two pugs, Ch. Mr. Fiddler Fahey and Festivitie Fahey (Dolly), from Jane Fahey of Kansas City. This pair had one litter-- starting the Duxbury line. Then Dolly was bred to Ch. Wolf's Li'l Joe. Sadly the resulting five pups were lost to a virus infection. Carolyn died soon afterwards. Mrs. Ruby Wohlford of Pittsburgh, PA had "Kanga of Duxbury" a bitch from dolly's first litter. Knowing Carolyn's dream, she bred her to Ch. Wolf's Li'l Joe in an effort to accomplish what Carolyn so that at last Carolyn's dream began to be realized. Peter Standish sought the pick of Mrs. Wohlford's litter -- a bitch who was bred to Mr. Fiddler Fahey and produced 5 pups. Carolyn's husband made certain the Duxbury line endured.
Anne Crowell of Franklin, Tennessee had been breeding and showing for many years when she took a second look at a 4 month old pup, That pup ended up being Ch. Crowell's Little Joe of Gore. Winner of 4 Best in Shows, 38 Toy Groups, and several Speciality Best of Breeds during his one and half years in the ring.
Barbara Minella of Pinellas Parks, FL, and founder of Heritage Pugs. She is well known for Ch. Heritage Tom Cat of Gore, who won 3 Best in Shows, 18 Group Firsts, and several Specialty Best of Breeds, as well as siring winning pups.
Belcrest Kennels, Scotia New York was established in 1935 by Mrs. Northrup T. Bellinger with Irish Wolfhounds and Kerry Blue Terriers. In 1950 Pugs were introduced into Belcrest by Mrs. Bellingers daughter, Suzanne (later married Joseph Rowe and became AKC Judge)
They had 3 Westminster Best of Breed wins as well as Pug Dog Club of America and Maryland Pug Dog Club Specialty wins. Ch. Tarralong Phillips and Ch. Belcrest's Jim Dandy were the two most famous of their Pugs. Jim Dandy had 8 Group firsts and great number of American Specialty in 1969 just before his retirement. Thier Pug Ch. Miller's Imperial Drum Major, was the first Pug to win Best in Show on the West Coast.
Mrs. Mary Sipman Pickhardt of Sabbaday Kennels started showing pugs in the early 50's, she bought out Tarralong Kennels owned by Elaine Brewster Sewall. Mrs. Pickhardt had famous dogs such as Ch. Star Jade of North'boro, Ch. Sabbaday Heir Apparnet, Ch. Sabbaday Echo, Am/Bermudan Ch. Sabbaday Bonanza and Ch. sabbaday by Request.
Dick Paisley a breeder and AKC Judge of Alexander, Virginia imported a number of English dogs. His most famous imports are Ch. Satan of Rydens, a black who is the sire of Group winners and 1 Best in Show Winner--Ch. Baronrath Travilah, the first black bitch ever to win Best in Show in the USA. English and Am Ch. Phidgity Phircon, the 1968 Sire of the Year; Ch Tick Tock of Le Tasyll, another black; Ch. Martlesham Galahand of Bournie; and Ch. Neubraa Pagageno.
Well known for her black pugs Mrs Marjoie May has breed many fine ones over the years, excelling in both conformation and obedience. She was a mainstay of the Pug dog Club of America and had an influence that can't be discounted.
