The Chug Dog - Everything You Need to Know About Pug Chihuahua Mix

Everyone loves a bit of luxury in their life, and designer brands come at the forefront to provide lavish items. From designer wears to timeless pieces of furniture, they provide everything.

In the modern era, everyone's so much obsessed with designer stuff, why not give your life a boost with a picture-perfect designer dog?

Yes, you heard that right, A DESIGNER DOG!!

Aesthetically pleasing, miniature styled, and so many cute wrinkles on the face, pug mixed Chihuahua, or a pug Chihuahua mix is the cutest breed with a skyrocketing hype on Instagram or we may say, all over the social media.

And what's more interesting about the coolest breed?

Those dog enthusiasts who can’t decide between a Chihuahua and a Pug can opt for their mix, a Chug.  A two-in-one and a low maintenance dog!!

These delightful creatures have magnificent personalities, a sassy name, and enjoy wild popularity. If you want to rejoice yourself with chug-life, we’d want to throw some light on “How is it like to own a Chug?”

Shall we?

 

What is a Chug?

Half pug and half Chihuahua, the Chug is a lovely companion dog. When an adorable Chihuahua and the most loved pug mate, the wonderful mix comes into existence.

But when did this amazing creature appear first?

No one exactly knows!!

Maybe the beautiful dog was on the planet for a long time, but nobody noticed. 

Like some other designer breed, chugs, too, were discovered in the 2000s. So LATE!!

Better late than never!

Let’s take a look at the awesome chug parents’ histories to find traces of what characteristics the parent dogs have handed down to their offspring.

 

Chihuahua Pug mix History

The history of Chugs doesn't date back to many years ago.

Their history is murky as there’s no documented proof of where exactly the cute chugs had their start, but the designer breeders in the US have been breeding them for the last 20 years. So, believe it or not, they are MODERN dogs.

The Chug parents – the Chihuahua and the pug – are the high esteemed dog breeds. The US natives are in love with both parent dogs. When they adore parent dogs, why wouldn’t they admire their mix?

 

Origin of Chihuahuas

Origins of Chihuahuas are unclear, but there are generally two theories circulating about their ancestry.

The first theory says they came from a central South American dog called Techichi. While according to the second theory they have their bloodlines from short-haired dogs that came along Spanish merchants and mated with the native breed.

 

Origin of Pugs

Pugs got their name after the great Pugyal Kingdom. They were the favored fellows of the rulers of Tibet in 206 BC. In the 16^th century, they made their way toEurope, and the credit of introducing this breed to Europeans goes to Dutch Merchants.

 

A Look at Chugs 

The cross of two purebred dogs, the Pug Chihuahua mix, depicts the best characteristics from both breeds.  With a distinct set of genes, the breeders expect them to be the epitome of good breeding.

Let’s take a closer look at the wondrous characteristics of Chugs.

 

Physical Features:

Ever got a surprise in your life? Getting a chug is just like unwrapping a surprise gift box, perplexing and confusing because you never know what's inside.

The mixture of two extraordinary breeds, a chug, is a bundle of surprise. Every Chug is unique. Their distinctiveness is their REAL charm.

And did we mention, because of being a crossbreed, chugs can be of different colors?

These colors can be a variation of Golden, Brown, Black, Tan, Fawn, White, or Brindle.

Generally, a pug Chihuahua mix is a sturdy and muscular dog with wrinkled rounded faces, oblique eyes, short nose, droopy ears, squished muzzle, and silky-smooth coat.

 

Size:

Chihuahua Pug mix is a hybrid dog. They are best-loved for their cutesy small size. This endearing little breed is 10” to 14” tall and weighs somewhere between 10 to 20 pounds.

 

Personality and Temperament:

The sweetness of pugs and suspiciousness of Chihuahuas, Chugs are great personalities in tiny bodies.

As chugs are a mixed breed, there is no set rule of what kind of temperament a chug puppy will display. The breeders tend to attain the best features ONLY, but genes don't work that way.

The little wrinkled buddy is a loyal friend of humans. Their cute size makes them an ideal toy dog.

Chugs are fond of making friends. Nature wise they are playful, entertaining, and have a loving behavior. If you get a Chug, be ready to get LOTS of snuggles because they enjoy cuddling more than anything else.

Loyal to their owners and friendly to kids, chugs aren't aggressive; they don't show any destructive behavior.

While leaving them with kids, make sure your kiddies know how to handle these toy doggies as they can be more delicate than you may think.

Your chug may not be very welcoming to strangers, but with proper socialization and training, you can make him sociable. They might be a hard nut to crack for strangers, but they make the PERFECT family pets. Also, they are suitable for small apartments.

Early socialization prevents them from developing the problematic behavior called 'Small Dog Syndrome.'  Otherwise, they can come about with bossy behavior.

Then, handle the little stubborn bugs if you can. (It's tough but possible!)

 

Chug dog Lifespan:

Chugs' lives are short. Their only fault!!

You can expect a chug to have a 10 to 13 years lifespan.

 

Grooming:

Are you going to be a busy chug-owner? Don’t worry much about their grooming. They are an easy breed requiring very little time, effort, and money to look after.

Set a grooming routine since your furry’s puppyhood and make it a positive and enjoyable experience.

 

  -Brushing their coat

Chugs are not heavy shedders. If your dog has a relatively longer coat, expect more shedding.

Keep a slicker brush handy and brush your doggie’s coat at least once a week to remove dead fur and dander. If you can manage daily brushing, that’s more appreciable. It will keep your dog’s coat silky and shiny.

 

  -Cleaning their face

The layered wrinkles on your chugs face must be kept clean and dry. Keeping their wrinkly face clean is a must. You can opt for a damp cloth or baby wipes to clean up and then dry with a rag.

If not properly cleaned, the muzzle of these pooches can become a hotspot of moist dermatitis. Infectious bacteria, inflammation, and odor can also develop between the folds.

We recommend checking their wrinkled area and ears daily for moisture.

 

  -Brushing their teeth

You must brush your chug’s teeth often.

Daily or several times a week!

Your dog might not find brushing a pleasant experience. In that case, you can count on dental chew treats to take care of your chuggie’s oral hygiene.

 

  -Clipping their Nails

Dogs shed their grown-up nails naturally. If they don't, then you'll have to check your dog's nails and trim them after every 15 days or when required according to their activity level.

Health Issues to Be Aware of:

 Be it a pure breed, crossbreed, or a mix every dog is somehow prone to develop some genetic health issues.

Being completely disease-proof is impossible!!

As a designer dog, Chugs have to suffer tons of health issues. Just like they display the mixed features from both parent breeds, their parents have rendered some of their health issues to these miniature dogs.

They can be vulnerable to the health issues of the Chihuahuas and the Pugs. But genes are unpredictable. Due to immense gene variation, their chance of being susceptible to diseases can also be low.

Two of the most common health diseases in Chugs are:

1. Respiratory Problem – The squishy muzzle of the chug dogs can make breathing difficult for them. The short facial structure of these dogs means a short respiratory tract. Which eventually leads them to respiratory issues.

2. Eye Problems – Chugs inherit eye problems from Chihuahuas. The optical problems include progressive retinal atrophy and degenerative eye disease.

These issues occur in older chugs. If left untreated, the results can be horrible.

             Keeping an eye on your chug’s vision from their puppyhood will be a great practice.

 

Other than these general health concerns, the chugs can be prone to the following diseases depending on their genes and vulnerability.

• Obesity

• Bladder and kidney stones

• Distichia, Dry eye, Ocular Injury, and Protrusion (eye diseases)

• Epilepsy

• Dental problems

• Heart problems

• Patellar Luxation

• Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis

• Portosystemic shunt

• Hip Dysplasia

• Hypoglycemia 

 

How much should you feed?

Chugs are foodies. They love eating.

You wouldn't be able to resist when they look at you with demanding expressions.

Okay, you have the freedom to spoil your chuggie by offering delicious treats, but don’t overdo it. No matter how cute they look while asking for more food, try to keep their diet within the portion they need.

Like, say, a chug will require 600 calories or one bowl of dry kibble designed specially made for designer toy dogs. You can feed these pooches once a day, but we recommend splitting their meals into two portions to enhance their mealtime joy.

Feeding them the special kibble for small toy dogs is necessary because it will provide them with all the vital nutrients they require to remain healthy.

If there’s one thing you should never do while feeding your chug dogs is allowing them to nibble on your dinner leftovers.

Did you forget that dogs are opportunistic scavengers? They may develop this bad behavior If left unattended and allowed to reach your kitchen or dinner table.

 

Training and Socializing Chugs:

Chugs are spirited and energetic pups who love to run around and have oodles of fun. They enjoy short walks. They are an intelligent and confident breed. So, they learn fast.

However, their attention span can be short.

They sometimes can boast their stubborn streak as well, and can be tricky.

In such a situation, an experienced dog trainer can help. A firm, consistent and gentle training can turn your bossy boy into an obedient buddy.

 

How many exercises do Chugs need?

This designer mix dog is a package of energy stuffed into a compact body.

Due to their small sizes, the high energy finds its release quickly. The Chugs need exercise to utilize their vibrancy positively, but their exercise requirements are moderate.

Their daily exercise session should comprise a maximum of 45 minutes each day. A half an hour's walk and a 15-minute play session!

While exercising your tiny buddy, try not to tire your little tot out. Keep in mind, that you don't have to overexert your chug with extra exercising because of their high tendency to get breathing difficulties and overheating issues.

The 45-minute rule is ideal to follow for mature Chugs. Whereas a 5-minute walk is enough for a one-month-old chug, and a 4-month-old needs hardly a 20-minute walk.

 

 How do you train a Chug?

Training your Chug can be fun. Although the Chugs have comical and silly appearances, these funny looks are just to please their owners.

Believe it or not, they are genius buddies. Chugs respond well to training. They do have some problems while concentrating and focusing, though.

With patience and positive reinforcement, you can flourish a strong and healthy bond between you and your furry.

If you are not sure when to start training your chug, the answer is, the sooner, the better!

Start your training as early as your chug is eight-week-old.

This Chihuahua Pug mix breed is agile and likes to be busy. While training, try to keep them hooked. You can do so by engaging your furry in some dog sports that encourage obedient behavior.

Spending some bucks on interactive dog toys will also be worth the investment.

 

Is This Breed Right For You?

Social, sweet, and fragile, the chugs are the PERFECT pet for anyone. If and only if they are ready to dedicate some of their time to train their furry correctly. The chugs get adapted to every lifestyle.

There’s no guarantee of how the chug puppies will look, but whatever their physical appearance is, there’s one solid guarantee that they’ll be an adorable pet.

So, are you in the mood to add a chug to your family?

We assume you are!

Then, do it responsibly. Approach the reputable breeders, and don't forget to ask for a genetic screening certificate as evidence to show that the puppy you are about to adopt is bred from healthy parents.

Now, when you know a bit about Chugs and (we hope) you have made your mind about taking one, don’t forget to tell us what made you fall in love with them?

Want to know something more about the cute breed? Comment below, and we'll get back to you soon.