The Chug Dog is a compact, loving, and adorable dog breed. The perfect and lively addition to a small apartment or to a larger family home, they are an ideal companion for any environment.
This designer dog is becoming increasingly popular due to its extremely adorable demeanor.
So, what else is there to know about this four-legged little designer pooch?
Let us guide you through this dog’s temperament, appearance, and training requirements so you can decide if this dog could be your new love bug?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chug Dog Pictures
| Size | Toy – approximately 6 to 12″ |
| Weight | Toy – from 10-20 pounds |
| Lifespan | 10 to 13 years |
| Breed Type | Mixes and more |
| Purpose | Companion |
| Suitable For | Singles, couples, seniors or even families |
| Color Variations | Tan, Fawn, White or Brown |
| Temperament | Adorable, active, playful, friendly and loyal |
| Other Names | Chihuahua Pug Mix, Pughuahua, Pugwawa |
What is a Chug Dog?
A Chug is not a purebred dog but rather a designer dog, breed to create an affectionate, friendly and compact breed.
This mix is created by mating a sassy Chihuahua with the famous and goofy, yet somehow adorable, Pug.
Nobody knows exactly when the Chug Dog first appeared, or was created, but, as with many designer dog breeds, they became notable in the 2000s.
By taking a look at the parent breeds’ history we have a slightly better insight to this breed’s heritage.
Chihuahua Pug Mix History
Believe it or not, the Pug was actually designed to be a companion breed for the rulers of Tibet in 206 B.C; they were actually named after the Pugyal Kingdom.
Chihuahuas also have ancient roots leading back to Mexico. They originated around 300 B.C. Unlike the Pug, the Chihuahuas were not treated as royalty, but, were commonly domesticated due to their famous spiritual healing properties.
It seems now the tables have turned on these two dog breeds; as you commonly see the Pug becoming famous for its goofy looks while finding the Chihuahua treated and held like royalty in designer handbags.
Chug Puppy
It is easy to fall in love with any puppy, but, the Chug puppy definitely has an advantage in this category due to their tiny size (a little package, with a big heart).
How much does a Chug puppy cost?
Breeders usually sell these puppies for between 600 to 800 USD. The cost of the puppy ultimately depends on the pedigree of their parent breeds.
Chug Dog Personality and Temperament
The Chug is petite and loyal; they are an extremely confident breed, regardless of their size. This makes it easy for them to befriend other humans, dogs and animals. However, you will need to ensure correct socialization and introductions because your Chugs’ spruced up little attitude may be a bit overwhelming for some animals.As mixed breed dogs do not have a breed standard, and hundreds of years of pedigree breeding, it is never set in stone what kind of personality and temperament they may get.
Although the Chug Dog is very friendly, and not very aggressive, they are initially wary of strangers and may take a little bit of time to warm up to them.
Naturally, this breed is very playful and combined with their loving temperament they are therefore perfect for keeping children and older family members entertained. Just be sure to go through the dos and do nots with any small child as the Chug is a little dog and may be a lot more delicate than they like to believe.
They are not known to have many destructive behaviors such as chewing or excessive barking as long as they are given enough mental stimulation.
Some have been known to develop Small Dog Syndrome, if they are not raised correctly. When this occurs your Chug may act like a “Thug” and become bossy and dominant (regardless of their size). This temperament can lead into their training.
Not known as the easiest of breeds to train (read on to see our training guide), but, this doesn’t mean they are not the perfect addition to any family or single home. They are loyal little wrinkled dogs who crave your love and attention as much as you will be wanting theirs.
Socialized from a young age, this little fur-end is known to be a cuddler. Their parent, the Chihuahua, is known to become aggressive without adequate socialization.
In summary their temperament is upbeat yet definitely loving and warm. They may have a bold front to strangers but they are a perfect breed for families with children and animals.
A Chihuahua Pug Mix Owner’s Care Guide
If you can deal with their sometimes stubborn personality then caring for your Chug Dog will be very easy.
They are not a demanding breed in terms of exercise, feeding or grooming requirements. All they need is a little exercise and playtime coupled with oodles of cuddles and attention!
Here’s our recommendations…
How Much Should You Feed This Designer Mix?
| Daily Food Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 600 |
| Cups of Kibble |  |
The Chug Dog is a small dog, but, like their Puggle cousin they love to eat! So try not to overdo it on the treats, even when they are looking up at you with that wrinkly squished up face.
They require one cup of a high quality dry kibble diet per day. This may be slightly lower (three quarters of a cup) if the breed is closer to 10 lbs or isn’t very active.
Try kibble specifically designed for small or toy breeds; this will provide them with the correct energy and protein requirements which they need to be fit and healthy.
A Chihuahua Pug Mix only needs to be fed once a day. However, to keep them happy, you could try splitting this meal into two… breakfast and dinner.
This designer pooch is known for their scavenging behavior, so try not to feed them table scraps to discourage this behavior.
How Much Exercise Does a Chug Need?
| Daily Exercise Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | Over 45 minutes |
| Activity Level |  |
This designer dog has a lot of energy compacted into their small body.
Luckily however, this is burned off very quickly. They have moderately low exercise requirements requiring a maximum of 45 minutes each day.
Your Chug Dog ideally should have 30 minutes of walking each day followed by a 15 minute play session. Don’t forget to leash train this breed before walking consistently as they can become distracted very easily and wonder off.
They should not be over exerted with any strenuous activity, due to breathing difficulties which may occur because of their short snout.
This breed isn’t suited as a running companion, but, they do love to play! So buy a couple of dog friendly toys and have a little fun.
Keep In Mind
A toy dog should not be walked or exercised for too long until they have reached full-maturity. A dog should only walk for a maximum of five minutes per month of age. A four month old dog shoudn’t exericse for more than 20 minutes daily.
How Do You Train This Breed?
Although they may look it at times – a Chug dog isn’t the silliest dog. However, they do have problems with focusing and concentrating, due to their little active bodies rushing around the place.
Patience and positive reinforcement is the best training advice we can give to any dog-parent. Do not shout or scare your puppy into learning as this will definitely not work.
Training can be fun and may also be a bonding experience for you both if this is done correctly.
As this breed likes to be a little busy body, just make sure that you keep them interested during training sessions and keep them sweet and short.
Socialization is important too. This puppy may be small, but, sometimes even they need to get off their high horse! This is true for most Chihuahua mixes.
Keep them well socialized with other dogs, people and even household pets. They are a very friendly breed so they will thrive off puppy classes, dog parks and short evening strolls. These will not only increase your bonding time but they carry benefits for both you and your furry friend!
Socialization is perfect as it will help your little dog explore the world and integrate well with other animals whilst not developing fear of new experiences. It also provides them with the mental stimulation they require.
Known Health Problems
Unfortunately, our little Chug Dog may inherit some health problems from either parent breeds. The two most common health conditions are:
- Respiratory Problems – The short and squished muzzle of the Chug may lead to breathing difficulties throughout its life.
The shortened facial structure also means that the breathing passage is shortened which is why Pugs are known as “Brachycephalic dogs”. It is therefore important to not over-exert this breed.
- Eye Problems – Eye problems such progressive retinal atrophy, a degenerative eye disease, may occur thanks to their Chihuahua parent breed.
This usually occurs in older Chugs but it is best to keep an eye on your pup’s vision as if left untreated, vision issues may lead to blindness.
Chug Dog Lifespan
The Chihuahua Pug Mix has the typical lifespan of most toy breeds living from between 10 to 13 years of age.
Chug Dog Appearance
Ever seen the Boxer breed? Well, the Chug Dog actually looks exactly like a miniature Boxer – which is why they may be confused for a mixed Boxer breed.
They are a small breed with a short, squished muzzle, wrinkled cheeks and small droopy ears.
Sometimes, however, the Chihuahua’s genes are a little more prominent. This can be seen when a Chug’s ears are slightly more erect.
In terms of size, the Chug Dog is usually larger than the Chihuahua, but, smaller than the Pug. They may weigh anywhere from 10 to 20 lbs and are usually 6 to 12 inches in height.
Their coat is short and smooth and may come in a range of colors from white to light brown, dark brown, black or even a mixture of black and brown.
This breed is not considered a hypoallergenic breed, but, due to their short and single layered coat, large amounts of shedding will generally remain a non-issue.
Grooming Guidelines
Try brushing your Chug once a week just to remove any dead fur and dander. Their face wrinkles may become a little dirty too but just wipe their little cheeks with a damp cloth or baby wipe.
Brushing your pup’s teeth is also a necessity. Try doing this as often as possible! If they let you of course… otherwise opt for dental treats.
Set a grooming routine for your pup when they are young so they become accustomed to it and it becomes a bonding experience as opposed to a miniature ruffle and tuffle.
Summary of Breed
A comic, goofy yet extremely irresistible small toy breed who will fit perfectly into any lifestyle. Whether its small inner city living or even a large family home.
This breed is playful, confident and loves affection.
Their love and attentiveness is enough to give anyone a rush. Hugs and chugs definitely go hand in hand!
Easy to care for, a relaxed breed with limited exercise needs and only a small body to fill with food. Toy breeds are designed to be the perfect little four-legged companion.
What’s your favorite quality? Is it their googly eyes? Or their little compact bodies? Let us know in the comments below.
I love my Chihuahua mix. Am a senior and she is a six year old rescue out of Mexico. Is loyal, friendly, intelligent, funny, attentive and the best watchdog ever! Could not be without her!
Our family always had German Shepherds when I was growing up, so they were the only dog I had ever had much contact with as far as pets go. Now having a family of our own, my girls wanted a dog and after much thought and hesitation, we welcomed “Samson” into our family and we haven’t regretted one moment. Everything you stated in the article is spot on from loving and affectionate to playful and full of spunk. He is very obedient and yes he is a definite snuggler!
Our rescue chihuahua mix looks a lot like a miniature boxer, but we think he is a Chug! He is the best boy. He loves humans and dogs, rarely barks, and is FULL of playful energy but also loves to snuggle. He definitely fits into the description in this article. He is only five months old but he has already brought us so much joy and happiness. We absolutely adore him!
We own a CHUG and he is the sweetest and most loving baby. He sleeps in my arm like a baby at night under the sheet. He weights about 4 1/2 lbs. Spoiled rotten just like a baby. He was a rescue!
I have a chug and she is 14inches and is slightly overweight at 12 kg. Not my doing as just adopted her. However I do think you are incorrect on the sizing. My vet nurse said to never listen to sizing because other things can impact it. Not even purebreds can be given a specific size or weight never mind cross breeds! I feel your article is too specific and isn’t taking into account the uniqueness in appearance. There are different genes and different looking chihuahuas and pugs. Not all chugs are smaller than pugs some can be the same size or bigger it all depends on genetics and nutrition etc. I had a friend at school who’s whole family were shorter than her by inches including her grandparents and dad and yet she towered over them all. Genetics play a big part but if all those individuals lacked nutrition due to being picky in their growth development or vice versa it can affect it. A person may end up being towering because they happened to be more nutritionally inclined as a child or their parent. My point is nothing is set in stone and to say that the height is between this and this is silly. Like a dog who isn’t in that height range but is the same breed isn’t that breed because they are a bit taller or shorter? Grinds on me