THE CHUG: A Pug Chihuahua Mix Breed
WHAT DOES A PUG CHIHUAHUA MIX LOOK LIKE?!?!
What do you get when you mix a Pug and a Chihuahua? A Chug!
CHUG QUICK FACTS:
The Chug is one of the more popular pug mixes. This chihuahua pug mix looks a little smaller than your average pug with a longer snout and short fur. Some look a little more like a chihuahua while some carry more pug features. The chug can have short soft fur or longer more bristly fur. They are playful and loyal but their small size can lead the chug to be a little more nervous like its chihuahua parent. They are also known as the Pughuahua or the Pugwawa and the mix is as cute as the name! The chug will also bond right away to its owner, though be aware they are often stubborn and not the easiest to train.
This article is about the CHUG dog - a Chihuahua Pug mix breed dog. In it you will learn:
WHAT IS A PUG CHIHUAHUA MIX?
PROS AND CONS OF CHUG BREED
CHUG HISTORY
WHAT DOES A CHUG LOOK LIKE
CHUG QUICK FACTS
CHUG LIFESPAN
HEALTH PROBLEMS
COSTS OF A PUG CHIHUAHUA MIX
CHUG PUPPIES
PARENT BREEDS:
CHIHUAHUA INFO
PUG INFO
CONCLUSIONS
WHAT IS A PUG CHIHUAHUA MIX?
Chugs are one of the cutest pug mixes out there. The Chug is a designer breed of dog, which means that someone took two pure breed dogs and tried combining them! Even though both parent breeds have long pedigrees, the history of the Chug doesn’t go back very far. We don’t know who bred the first Chug, but they became widely available in early 2000 as a designer Pug Chihuahua mix. The chug can weigh anywhere from 10-18 pounds and will only grow to 14 inches tall. They are known for their ability to gain weight quickly (hence the name CHUG) so keep these little guys on a diet. This pug chihuahua mix looks like a medium-length coat dog but sadly they don’t shed any less than your average pug. The Chug makes a great lapdog and will be extremely devoted to their owners, however they can also be possessive and little neurotic due to their Chihuahua parentage. They are also much more energetic than your average pug, thanks to the athletic qualities of the Chihuahua parents. Chugs do extremely well with agility training too. The Chug is not an ideal companion for families with small children. However the Pug Chihuahua mix makes the cutest puppy and they are generally pretty laid back. Finally, the Chug has a few health issues to note because both parents are toy breeds. So the Chug’s lifespan isn’t idea, but you can expect this mix to live 12-15 years. That will ensure that a Pug Chihuahua mix will keep you company for a long long time.
A few cute CHUG names we have come across in the past!
Beeper, Bella, Chorizo, Coco, Peno (like Jalapeno), Pepper, Walnut, Biscuit, Button, Tiny, and Elvis.
@gordoelperrochug - CHUG MIX BREED
CHUG PROS
Great companions
Super Loyal
Cute as a button.
Great Watch Dog
Good energy
Food Motivated.
CHUG BREED APPEARANCE
What does the Pug Chihuahua mix look like? The Chug is 12-14 inches tall and weighs anywhere between 10 to 18 pounds. The Chugs fur is often short and slightly bristly, with that familiar oily dog coat. They have longer fuzzy ears that often flop forward. Chugs usually have brown eyes and a black muzzle with a black nose. The Chug’s coat can come in gold, tan, brown, or cream color.
PHOTO: @rosie.posie.2018 , @yzmatopia, @tinkerbellchicka, @vallahthechug, @gordoelperrochug, @chewiebuoy
QUICK - PUG CHIHUAHUA MIX - FACTS
SIZE: Usually around 10-18lb
Height: 12-14 inches
Colors: brown, red, black, gold, cream, white.
Personality: great companions and super loyal. Not great for children.
Training: semi stubborn but energetic.
The Chug originated in 2000 as a designer toy dog hybrid in America by crossing a Chihuahua and Pug breeds.
CHUG TRAITS
FRIENDLY: MEDIUM
EXERCISE: MEDIUM
BARKING: HIGH
GROOMING: MEDIUM
TRAINING: HARD
SHEDDING: HIGH
PERSONALITY: LOYAL
CHUG COST
The Chug is a good dog for someone on a budget because they eat less than the big dogs and you might even need to keep them on a diet because they can gain weight quickly. Sadly, the Chug has a few medical issues to keep in mind, so the cost of vet visits and dental care might be higher than average.
How much is a Chug puppy? A Pug Chihuahua Mix puppy will cost up to $800 - $2200. There is a lot of demand for Chihuahua mixes which drives up the price of Chug puppies. However, many families get Chugs and quickly realize they are not good for small children, so keep your eyes open for Chugs to adopt.
Food Cost: The average Chug will eat about 1 cup of food per day, that about 20-30$ worth of food per month depending on what dog food you buy. This Pug Chihuahua mix eats only about $1 a day. Pretty cheap!
Medical Expenses for a Chug can average 550-750 per year.
Insurance: We recommend every dog have health insurance. This can cost around $50 a month. Surgeries and accidents can cost you big money, upwards of $1000 to $5000 dollars for a minor surgery. If you find you can not afford pet health insurance, please try to get your Chug puppy insured for the first year or two. After they are a year old, Chug puppies make better decisions and are slightly less likely to swallow something they shouldn’t. We recommend TruPanion, because they are easy to communicate with.
Average Non Annual Chug puppy cost - Maybe as high as $700 if you take them to a groomer. However the only thing a short haired chug will need is a few baths and having their nails clipped.
CHUG PUPPIES
Chihuahua puppies are super cute and pug puppies are even cuter, so the Chug puppy must be the cutest of them all! There are usually only 3-5 puppies in a Chug litter, and the puppies are known for playfulness, jealousy, and being extremely attached to a single owner. Pug Chihuahua Mix puppies will grow extremely loyal and bond with their owner very quickly. They are fairly smart but have a stubborn streak and will figure out a way to get what they want.
WATCH THIS CUTE VIDEO OF PUG CHIHUAHUA MIX PUPPIES!
BUY A CHUG PUPPY - QUICK TIPS
Don’t use a pet store - Any Chug puppies you find will often come from a puppy mill with horrible conditions.
Consider Adoption - think about finding an older Chug puppy from sites like https://theshelterpetproject.org/
Puppy Mills often pose as Chug breeders! Please visit the breeder and poke around first!
Find a responsible breeder. A good Chug breeder will have a spacious clean home. They should be transparent and open. Good Pug Mix breeders will want to meet you in person. They will also specialize in only one or two mix breeds. FaceTime is usually a good way to check the Chug puppies living conditions if they are far away. They should be happy to share with you any information you ask, provide vet/vaccine documentation, and should recommend that you get insurance. They will not always have puppies available, this isn’t a factory!
CHUG HEALTH CONCERNS
Patellar Luxation or kneecap dislocation from being so active for their whole life.
Tracheal Collapse - please make sure they are wearing a harness and not a dog collar!
Brachycephalic syndrome - trouble breathing.
Minor Eye Problems like retinal dysplasia or corneal dystrophy
PARENT BREEDS
THE CHIHUAHUA
Chihuahua are some of the smallest toy dog breeds. They are known for having a big personality in a small package. These little dogs can also be surprisingly energetic and have been known to compete in agility competitions.
The Chihuahua is a people dog and bonds closely to its owner. They are also known for being a little nervous and snippy with strangers. This breed is known as a dog from Mexico however it’s rumored that Christopher Columbus first brought them to the Americas from Europe.
QUICK CHIHUAHUA FACTS:
Toy breed:
Size: 6-9 high
Weight 3-6 pounds
Life Expectancy - 10 - 18 years
Short Hair
Non-Hypoallergenic
Chihuahua was first recognized by the AKC in 1904. Some can weigh as little as 3 pounds! Thats a light weight dog and no wonder some people carry them around in their purses.
The full range of Chihuahua colors is pretty broad, from Black, Black&Tan, Chocolate, Cream, Fawn, White, and Red.
Chihuahuas are prone to phobias like separation anxiety and fear of loud noises.
CHIHUAHUAS ARE:
Friendly - MEDIUM
Exercise - HIGH
Health Issues - MEDIUM
Barking - HIGH
Grooming Needs - LOW
Training - MEDIUM
Shedding Level - MEDIUM
CHIHUAHUA HEALTH
CHIHUAHUAS are prone to a few particular health issues including:
Patellar Luxation or kneecap dislocation from being active for their whole life.
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. This comes up as loss of appetite or increased hunger and having trouble seeing. They can also get anxiety, tremors, and very low energy.
Dental Disease is also common in Chihuahua as well as pugs. Heck, dental disease is common in all dogs so its important to give your dogs teeth cleaning treats, brush their teeth occasionally, and take them to the vet regularly to have their teeth and mouth checked.
The Pug (A.K.A The Potato of Dogs)
Pugs are the cutest, and at PugCity we live and breathe these cuties! They are the most snuggly of dogs and your average pug is 30% dog, 30% clown, 40% potato.
Pugs a toy breed, often 10-13 inches high and weighing from 14 to 20 pounds. They have an average life span of 13 to 15 years with short smooth hair. The most usual pug colors are fawn and black (the black pug usually sheds less than the white). They are sweet-natured and adaptable, but also extremely stubborn at times. Any pug owner who has tried to get their little guy to poop while its raining knows what Im talking about. Pugs are flat nosed with big round eyes that give them pretty human like expressions. The pug used to be a royal dog and is one of the most popular dogs today.
PUG QUICK FACTS
Toy breed,
Size: 10-13 high
Weight 14-20 pounds
Life Expectancy - 13 - 15 years
Short Shedding Hair (Fawn pugs shed more than black pugs)
Pugs can be difficult to potty train, but once you have bonded with your pug, you will definitely forgive them. They also have this quirky head tilt when they are interested in something. Pugs will roll their head from side to side as if testing their ears to make sure they heard you right!
PUG HEALTH ISSUES:
Brachycephalic Syndrom: They are part of the brachycephalic family of dogs with short smushed in faces. This means the pug’s air flow into their nose isn’t what it should be and they can have trouble breathing. So take care with your pug on hot days and especially if flying with them. Pugs also have big bulging eyes that can get injured quite easily.
Mitral Valve disease is another thing to look out for, its a type of heart disease common in smaller dogs, and symptoms include loss of energy and coughing.
Tracheal Collapse: please make sure they are wearing a harness and not a dog collar! We love this medium-size Puppia Harness. It fits perfect for most pugs.
Skin Issues: They are prone to mites and yeast infections in their folds and their ears. We use this ear cleaner on Momo occasionally and it seems to help! *Note: if you see anything unusual about your pug’s ears or skin, please visit your vet!
Hip Problems: Pugs also can develop bad hips from years of jumping up and down on couches. This is called hip dysplasia and can be managed by keeping their weight down.
Good news! Many of these negative pug health traits can be mitigated by mixing the pug with another dog like a Chihuahua!
PUGS ARE:
Personality: Fun + Stubborn
Friendly - High
Exercise - Low
Health Issues - High
Barking - Medium
Grooming Needs - Low
Training - stubborn
Shedding Level - High
@vallahthechug - What does a Pug Chihuahua mix breed look like?
CONCLUSION
The Chug mix is a super cute combination and takes some of the best traits from its Pug and Chihuahua parents. They are fairly energetic and loyal dogs. As with any purebred mix, your chances of health concerns are reduced, but since both parents are small toy purebreeds, your Chug will have an above average health cost. They are slightly more stubborn than a purebred Chihuahua but the Chug snuggly playfulness and loyalty will more than makeup for it.