The Chug dog is a mix between the Chihuahua and the Pug. Affectionately labeled the Chug, this popular Chihuahua mix can adapt to almost any household. If you’re longing to add a furry friend to your family, but you live in a small place, don’t be disheartened! The Chug is perfectly happy in an apartment or small house, with or without any outside space.
While the Chihuahua and Pug are popular in their own right, purebred dogs can get expensive! That’s why many people take on a mixed breed instead. And, in this case, you can enjoy the best of both worlds by choosing a Chihuahua-pug mix, or “Chug” as the breed is also known.
In this guide, we introduce you to this wonderful mixed breed. We’ve provided you with all the information you’ll need to help you to decide whether this super-cute little pup would make the perfect canine companion for you and your family.
Weight8-20 pounds- Height6-12 inches
- Lifespan14-16 years
- ColorsFawn, Apricot, Brown, Black
Parent Breeds
In order to understand a bit more about the Chug dog, we need to learn a bit more about each parent breed. The Chihuahua and the Pug are popular breeds in their own right. Both breeds are excellent family dogs, with the Pug being more well known as a friendly family pup. It’s vital that you understand more about both the Chihuahua and the pug before you decide if a Chug is a perfect dog for your family.
Usually, one parent’s genes will have a greater influence than the other. Some of the puppies will take more after their mother. Some siblings will be more like their father. Buying a mixed breed puppy is something of a lottery! You’ll have no clear idea of how he will turn out as an adult. Below we dive in and look a little more at both the Chihuahua and the Pug.
Chihuahua
The diminutive Chihuahua falls under the umbrella of the toy group. Although these pups are tiny, what they lack in size they more than made up for in personality!
The national symbol of Mexico is a firm favorite with many celebrities. They can be seen riding in style in the purses of the rich and famous. Although the Chihuahua is undoubtedly super-cute, the breed does have a reputation for being feisty at best and aggressive at worst. The Chihuahua didn’t earn the nickname, “armpit piranha” for nothing!
Chihuahuas can be snappy. They will nip little fingers if they feel threatened. Also, the Chihuahua is fragile and can be easily injured if playtime becomes too rough. You should also be aware that the Chihuahua is a barker. That will cause you a problem if you have nearby neighbors, especially if you are an apartment dweller.
Chihuahuas are confirmed lap dogs. They will be content to spend their day snuggled in their favorite human’s lap. A healthy Chihuahua has a long lifespan of up to 20 years. This means this breed is one of the most long-lived. If you adopt a Chug, they may inherit some of their Chihuahua’s health issues. Other popular Chihuahua mixes include the corgi chihuahua mix and the Pomchi.
Pug
The Pug is another member of the toy group, and is often viewed as the comedian of the dog world! The pug was originally bred to be a companion to the Chinese nobility and continues to fulfill that role today as a family pet. Because of their sweet nature, they are often cross bred with other pure breeds in the designer dog movement, which includes mixes like the Porgi, which is a mix between the corgi and the pug.
Pugs are good with other dogs, cats, and kids, making the breed the ideal choice for a family dog. Being larger and more robust than many of the other toy breeds, the pug will tolerate a degree of roughhousing, provided that you are on hand to supervise the play.
A healthy pug can live for up to 14 years. However, for his size, the pug certainly comes with some health issues and can have difficulty breathing (brachycephalic syndrome) and those cute flat faces make them heat intolerant. They can run into eye issues as well due to the shape of their face.
Pugs are generally willing little chaps who enjoy learning and respond very well to positive training methods, especially if plenty of treats are on offer. Although there’s no height specified in the AKC’s breed standard, the pug grows to around 25 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder, weighing in at between 14 to 18 pounds.
Chihuahua Pug Mix (Chug)
The Chug is a mixed breed created by mating a Chihuahua and a pug. Chugs have a broad range of personalities, ranging from the cute, comic pug to the feisty Chihuahua. A Chug is typically great fun to be around and gets on well with all the other members of the household, including pets.
Chugs have become highly sought after with the designer dog craze that’s hit multiple countries, especially the United States. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for legitimate Chug breeders to charge a premium price for their pups.
However, because the Chug is a mixed breed, his character and physical appearance will depend on which parent he takes after the most. As well as desirable traits, the Chug can also have inherited issues, including breathing problems, a tendency to yap, and aggression towards other dogs.
Temperament
The Chug absolutely loves attention! They will take it from you as much as you’ll give it to them. If you don’t want to own a dog that needs your love and affection constantly, a Chug might not be the best fit for you. Chugs have an inherent amount of anxiety. They inherit this from their Chihuahua parent, but it’s nowhere as intense as a Chihuahua.
Chug dogs should be with a family that can spend enough time with them at home during the day. They do not do well when left alone for long periods. They don’t need much activity, just your presence in order to keep them entertained.
The Chug dog isn’t really toy motivated after they grow out of puppyhood. Smaller toys are needed as puppies as they have a small stature and a smaller mouth. As they become adults, they will be more motivated by food than by toys. Chugs are lapdogs and they are pretty mellow as adults. These pups will be happy just hanging out on your lap while you watch TV at night. They are not aggressive, and they generally get along with everyone.
Size & Appearance
As we’ve already mentioned, mixed breed dogs take some of their looks from each parent, being more heavily influenced by one or the other. However, Chugs are typically small dogs that grow to be between six and 12 inches tall at the shoulder, weighing from eight to 20 pounds.
This is a smaller sized breed. If you want a bigger dog, this is not the mix for you. They are not particularly athletic and may inherit their Pug parent’s flat face, which can restrict heavy activity in hotter weather. They may or may not inherit their Pug parent’s skin rolls. This will largely depend on which parent plays a bigger role in their genetic makeup.
Coat & Colors
Chugs can have long or short hair and they do shed. They typically shed about as much as their pug parent does, which has extremely dense fur. Coat colors include black and brown, brown, black and tan, cream, chocolate, dark brown, merle, fawn, spotted, or speckled. The Chug dog won’t have a brindle coat, a white coat, or a blue merle coat.
Chugs can be single coated or double-coated dogs. If they inherit the double coat, it means you’ll have a year-round shedder. Double coated Chugs also shed more significantly during the summer and winter. During those timeframes, we recommend regular grooming, and deshedding when appropriate. Their coats will usually be shorter in length.
Exercise & Living Conditions
As the Chug is a small dog, his exercise requirements are relatively small. A short walk each day and some playtime indoors or in your backyard is all that’s required to keep your Chug happy and healthy.
The Chihuahua-pug mix will not live happily outside. For one thing, both the parent breeds form a strong bond with their human family and can easily suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. That can lead to excessive barking and destructive behaviors.
So, in a nutshell, your Chug needs to live indoors with you and your family. If you live in a hot environment, make sure that you are keeping your pup in a place that’s regularly air conditioned so that your Pug Chihuahua mix doesn’t suffer from breathing problems.
Training
It’s essential that you begin taking your Chug to puppy training and socialization classes as soon as he’s old enough and has completed his course of vaccinations.
Puppy training school will teach your Chug how to get along with other dogs and their owners. That’s particularly important if your puppy takes after the Chihuahua side of his parentage. Chugs can be stubborn or a breeze to train, depending on which parent has the greatest influence.
We typically recommend basic obedience with all dogs, including rescues – and ongoing obedience training with their owners at home is always the best method to continue their learning and reinforce positive behaviors. If you plan to train with a harness, you’ll want to get one that’s made for smaller dogs. You can check out our favorite harnesses for pugs right here.
Health
Most Chihuahua and Pug purebreds do not share many common health problems. It’s unlikely that their offspring will be unhealthy. With that beign said, if you buy a puppy from a breeder, always ask to see health certifications. You’ll want evidence that your pup’s parents have been health-screened for all the conditions that can impact both breeds.
Mixed breed dogs generally suffer less genetic health defects. This is because inbreeding has been reduced with the crossing of two species. This is good news, but we always recommend health insurance. In fact, if you want to read a great story on why pet insurance could save your wallet, check out this article on what you can expect the cost to be if your dog tears their ACL.
Nutrition
When it comes to feeding your Chug dog, you’ll want to feed them according to size and life stage. As a puppy, you’ll want to feed them a small breed puppy food. As they approach adulthood, you can move them to an adult formula. Once they enter their golden years, move them to a Senior formula to keep their immune system healthy.
Both the Chihuahua and the pug can suffer from dental overcrowding, which can allow plaque to accumulate, predisposing the dog to canine periodontal disease in adulthood. So, choose a dry kibble food that will scrape away plaque-causing bacteria as the dog eats.
Be sure to feed your Chug per the manufacturer’s guidelines on the food packaging. You can give your Chug treats too, but do be aware that pugs are prone to overeating and can quickly become obese.
Grooming
As mentioned, Chugs can have single layered coats or double coats. They will generally have shorter or medium length fur. Regardless of how long their coat is, double-coated dogs shed more. The Chug dog is no different. They will need to be groomed at least three times per week during shedding season, and will need weekly brushing during the rest of the year. Deshedding can help keep the Chug’s hair off your couch and clothing.
You’ll also need to clean the wrinkles and folds on the dog’s face if he’s inherited these from his pug parent. Bathing once per month is recommended. Anything more than that will damage the oils in your Chug’s skin. You’ll also want to make sure you dry any skin rolls thoroughly so that you don’t have to deal with any skin infections. Using a sensitive skin shampoo is recommended.
As Family Pets
The Chug is undoubtedly appealing and sweet, but would one of these cute little dogs make a good choice of family pet for you?
- The Chihuahua-pug mix is a friendly dog.
- Chugs are sociable and do well with children and other pets.
- The Chihuahua-pug mix requires regular grooming.
- This Chug sheds year-round, especially in summer and winter.
- Chugs are not recommended for people with pet hair allergies.
- A Chug is small enough to live happily in an apartment or small home.
- The Chihuahua-pug mix doesn’t need very much exercise.
- Chugs are lazier pups.
- The Chug can be a one-person dog.
- The Chihuahua-pug mix can inherit genetic health issues.
- Always ask for health certifications from your breeder.
If the Chihuahua-pug mix sounds like the perfect pet for you, where do you find one? The obvious choice is to go to a breeder. However, we’d recommend looking at a rescue first if you can. Rescues are great places to find designer dogs. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Breeders & Puppy Prices
The Chihuahua-pug mix has not yet caught on as a hugely popular mixed breed. For that reason, the price of Chug dog puppies is still relatively affordable.
Currently, the price of a well-bred Chug puppy is somewhere between $500 and $750. The price will be influenced by where in the country the breeder is based and how successful the parent dogs were in the show ring. Local vets may be able to recommend reputable breeders, and local pug and Chihuahua clubs may be a good source of information too.
Chug Rescues
Look to rescues if you want to give a home to an unwanted adult Chug dog. We always encourage this rather than buying a puppy. Chugs do pop up from time to time as rescue dogs both in pug rescue centers as well as chihuahua rescue centers. Also, check out the following websites where you may find useful contacts and links:
Final Thoughts
If you want a small dog with whom to share your life, the Chihuahua-pug mix may be the right sized pooch to consider. This friendly, happy-go-lucky breed will repay your kindness with endless loyalty and affection. The Chug dog makes the ideal family dog, getting along fine with kids and other pets too. The Chihuahua-pug mix doesn’t need a huge amount of exercise and will fit comfortably into a small home or apartment.
On the negative, the Chug dog can suffer from a few health conditions that are common to the parent breeds, and these pups do shed quite a lot, making them unsuitable pets for households with allergy sufferers. If you still think that a Chihuahua-pug mix sounds like the ideal dog for you, what are you waiting for? Start searching today!
