The adorable Chug dog breed, also sometimes known as the Pughuahua, is the cross between a Pug and a Chihuahua. Small and compact but with a big personality, this dog is the perfect pet for those who live in smaller homes or those who simply do not have the space for a larger pup. That being said, with their fun-loving and friendly nature means they can also make an excellent family pet, and really will adapt to any environment!
With two extremely popular parents, it is no wonder the Chug breed is gaining popularity. If you’re interested in learning more about this designer breed, keep reading on below.
History Of The Chug Dog
The Chug dog was originally bred by combining the sassy nature of the Chihuahua with the goofy nature of the Pug to create an affectionate, friendly and compact dog. As they are a hybrid dog, the Chug is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and therefore does not have a breed standard.
It can be difficult to know when the Chug first appeared. However, it is thought that, like many other designer dogs, they appeared in the early 2000s. They have been rising in popularity ever since!
Breed Origin
To understand where the Chug dog originated from, we will take a look at the origins of it’s parent breeds.
It is thought that the Chihuahua descended from the Techichi breed in the 9th century. This breed had strong ties to the Mayans from central America, with the Myanas believing that the Techichi breed were guardians of the afterlife.
The Chihuahua dog as we know it today didn’t appear until around 1850 in Mexico. The breed is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua. These dogs came to the United States in around 1884.
One of the oldest dog breeds in history, the Pug dog could be dated as far back as 700 BC. It is thought they were originally worshiped in Egypt and bred as companion dogs for Tibetan Buddhists. Then, around two thousand years ago, the Pug came to China where it is believed they originated from. Many Emperors believe that these dogs brought good luck and began to worship them.
In the 1500s, Dutch traders brought the Pug from China to England and Holland and these pups became a popular dog among aristocracy and royalty. This included William III, Queen Victoria, Josephine Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette. After the Civil War they made their first appearance in the United States.
Characteristics Of The Chug Dog
It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact characteristics of the Chug dog breed due to the fact they are not a purebred dog. However, we can guess based on past litters. A Chug puppy will usually set you back between $600 and $800, although the price can depend on the breeder. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Appearance
The Chug dog is a very small breed which is why so many people love them! These adorable dogs can weigh anywhere between 10 to 20 lbs and are usually between 6 to 12 inches in height.
Chugs can often be mistaken for Mini Boxer dogs as they can look very similar. They are a small dog with a short muzzle that means they are a brachycephalic breed. They also have wrinkled cheeks and small droopy ears.
Sometimes, the Chihuahua is more present in the Chug’s appearance. This is usually shown by erect ears rather that droopy ears.
Coat
The Chug’s coat is short and smooth. Thanks to the fact they have a single coat, they do not shed very much, although they are still not considered a hypoallergenic breed and so you will need to be careful around this breed if you have allergies.
Regular grooming can help to minimize shedding. We will go into more detail about that later on.
Color
Chugs can have a range of coat colors. The most common colors are white, light brown, dark brown, black, or a mixture of all of them!
Temperament
As we mentioned above, the Chug breed does not have a breed standard and so it can be difficult to know what characteristics and traits they are going to have. Normally, they inherit a mixture from their Pug and Chihuahua parents.
Usually, the Chug is a loyal breed that gets on very well with humans. They are trusting and confident, which means they like to make friends with people and have a lot of energy! This energy can be overwhelming, especially if they get excited when meeting someone for the first time, so correct socialization is very important.
That being said, sometimes this breed can inherit a trait which makes them wary of strangers at first, and they may take time to warm up to them. They will never show aggression towards a stranger, but again, socialization is important regardless.
A playful dog, the Chug will certainly keep you entertained. They are very intelligent and like to stay engaged, and will exhibit destructive behaviors such as chewing or barking if they are not mentally stimulated.
While they like to play games with you and have fun, the Chug is also a very affectionate and loving breed, happily curling up next to you on the couch at the end of a long day. Their small size makes them the perfect cuddle buddy, too, and all they want is your attention!
Lifespan
The Chug dog has a relatively long life expectancy and can live, on average, between 10 and 13 years.
Known Health Issues
Unfortunately, as with any breed, the Chihuahua Pug Mix is prone to some health issues. There are two common health concerns in the Chug breed — brachycephalic airway syndrome and progressive retinal atrophy.
Brachycephalic airway syndrome is is a condition that is normally seen in dogs who have a short and flattened head and face. It can lead to breathing issues and loss of breath if they are overexerted. Before buying a Chug you should do your research on brachycephalic breeds and learn about the risks and issues that are associated with this breed.
Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. This is usually inherited from their Chihuahua parent.
Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch these issues before they become untreatable.
Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced.
Daily Life
Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Chug breed, it is time to take a look at what living with one of these dogs is really like. Fortunately, they do not have very high care needs — all they need is lots of love and attention! Below we will cover their food and diet, their grooming needs and their exercise requirements.
Food And Diet
The Chug dog is another Pug cross breed that loves to eat! These pups can be known to gain weight very easily and so you should always monitor how much you are feeding them and go easy on the treats.
On average, you should be feeding your Chug dog around 600 calories a day. This equates to around one cup of food. Of course, you should always check the back of the food packet to see how much of a certain food you should be feeding your Chug based on their size.
Try to find a food that meets all of your Chug’s nutritional requirements. It is also recommended that you choose a food that is formulated for small dog breeds. You can feed them either once or twice a day.
Best Dog Food For The Chug Dog
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We recommend the Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight dry dog food for the Chug. This food is specially formulated for small and mini breeds and the kibble pieces are small in size, making them perfect for your dog’s little mouth.
This food is also made with real chicken as the number on ingredient and ensures your Chug will be getting all the nutrients they need. Even better, because the Pug can be known to gain weight, this food helps with weight management and ensures they maintain lean muscles throughout the course of their life.
Exercise
Although they are a small breed, the Chug has a lot of energy to burn and therefore may have higher exercise needs than you would think. The Chug needs around 45 minutes of exercise a day. This can be split into a 30 minute walk with 15 minutes of playtime.
As we mentioned above, thanks to their intelligence, the Chug likes to be kept entertained. You should buy them some toys and puzzles to play with to keep them occupied.
Remember, due to the fact they are a brachycephalic breed with a flattened face, you need to be careful about how much you exercise them and make sure you don’t overdo it. This can be very dangerous for their health, so they don’t make a good running partner!
Family Compatibility
We mentioned above that the Pug Chihuahua Mix is a loving and loyal breed which makes them a perfect family dog. Although they can sometimes be wary of other people and dogs, these pups are very sociable and certainly love their humans.
A fun-loving and playful breed, they can make the perfect playmate for children too. That being said, you must surprise your children with the Chug dog as they are a very delicate breed thanks to their size and any rough play may end up hurting them!
The Chug can get on well with other animals and family pets, too. You should always ensure that you socialize them correctly as they can be energetic which may be overwhelming to some animals. The Chug can also develop Small Dog Syndrome when not trained properly which means they can become bossy and dominant towards others, regardless of their size.
The Chug’s size really makes them a very adaptable dog. These pups can happily live in a small apartment that doesn’t have a large back yard as long as you exercise them enough. They are also happy in larger homes with big yards. Fortunately, the Chug does not have very high care needs which makes them an excellent dog for those with busy lives and first time dog owners.
Training
The Chug dog isn’t the easiest breed to train. Although they are intelligent, they can have trouble concentrating and so patience and perseverance is required from you. The training sessions should be kept short and sweet too, so they don’t get bored.
As with all dogs, the Chug responds best to reward based training and positive reinforcement training. This includes verbal praise as well as treats. You should never get angry or annoyed with your Chug because this will make them not want to learn.
Socializing
The Chug is mostly a sociable dog who loves to make friends — both human friends and animal friends — but they can often be wary strangers. They can also inherit a stubborn and feisty trait from their Chihuahua parent which can turn into Small Dog Syndrome if they are not socialized from a young age.
You should introduce your Chug to new sights, sounds, places, smells, people and animals in a calm and controlled way. Because they are naturally sociable, they will like to meet new people out on walks or in puppy classes, so this is a great way to start. Socializing your Chug properly will ensure they grow up to be a well-rounded and well adapted dog.
Grooming
Fortunately, due to the fact that the Chug dog doesn’t shed very much, they do not have very high grooming requirements. You should brush them once a week to remove any loose hairs and dander. You do not need to bathe them often, but you will need to clean between their wrinkles. dirt and debris can build up between their wrinkles and can cause skin problems.
You should also clip you Chug’s toenails as and when is needed and try to brush their teeth as often as possible! If this is too difficult, you can always use dental sticks.
Starting a grooming regime at a young age with your Chug will show them that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Chug FAQ’s
How much does a Chug dog cost?
A Chug will set you back between $600 and $800, although the price can vary based on the breeder that you buy from. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder who can give you health clearances for both parent breeds.
If this is out of your price range or you want to adopt, you can always check your local shelter. As the Chug is a relatively new breed they can be difficult to find in shelters but you never know! You may find a Chug dog that is looking for their forever home.
Is a purebred dog better than a crossbreed dog?
There has been a rise in crossbreeding in recent years. This is because there is a desire to breed dogs with certain characteristics and to get rid of unwanted characteristics within dog breeds. With crossbreeding you can get designer breeds, although some worry that they are more susceptible to health problems.
In fact, in a recent study, there was no indication that mixed dogs were more prone to health issues that purebred dogs. The most important thing to look for in your dog is the breeder. They should be a reputable breeder and both the breed parents should be healthy.
Summary
Small and compact, the Chug dog is the perfect pet for those who don’t have a lot of space but still want a dog with lots of personality. Created by breeding two very popular dog breeds, the Pug Chihuahua Mix is loving and loyal towards their owners and can make the perfect family pet. Although socialization and training is a must, these dogs are relatively easy to take care of and do not have very high needs. If you’re a first time dog owner or just looking for a furry friend to brighten up your day, why not add a Chug dog to your home?