any reason you DON'T want to go with a breeder? They will also have older dogs, retired show dogs or breeders. Older puppies that they kept back but didn't grow out as expected so no show career for them. Or even older dogs that have been returned by previous owners (often for the same stupid reasons that dogs get dumped in the pound).
A good breeder can also steer you towards reputable rescues or people who are looking to rehome their pug.
A lot (most?) small dog rescues have policies that say "no small children" Rescues are volunteers and they have lives too and sooo many people get small dogs and then let the 4yr old carry them around and suddenly you have a dog with a broken leg and the owners want to dump it BACK to the rescue because they don't want the expense of fixing it. Or the 4 yr old hurts the dog, dog snaps at them only now the dog has to be euthanized because rescues can't take on the legal liability of a dog with a bite history. There is also the fact that many little dogs just don't like small kids.
That doesn't mean that the policy is set in stone, though. Fill out an application and be aware that it can take a while to hear back. Explain your experience with the breed, provide references, offer a homevisit (they will do one anyway, but it sounds nice if you say it first). It may take a few tries before you find a rescue that will adopt to you, but they (like good breeders) only want what is best for the dog.
