Chug Dog… Everything That You Need to Know at a Glance!

Now, you’ll be excused for thinking that the name “Chug” sounds like some onomatopoeia -but it is a new dog breed! A new dog “breed”. That was created because humans have “overbred” some of our poor pups for hundreds of generations, causing certain dog breeds to develop some reasonably severe genetic and inherited health conditions!

And two breeds…

Those who have suffered from this “overbreeding” are the poor little Pug and the feisty Chihuahua. And since humans caused the initial problem, it’s only fitting that responsible dog breeders worldwide try to do something to fix it! And now they think they have found a way. A way that is both “amenable” to most animal rights activists and established dog breed enthusiasts alike. Their solution:  Hybrid or Designer dogs.

Hybrid (or Designer) dogs…

They are all the rage right now. The idea is that you take one breed with a poor quality of life and cross it with another breed that is similar in size. Since both parents belong to species recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, you are left with (in this case) a litter of ‘Chug’ puppies that are highly desirable as a breed in their own right.

More importantly, this new line of breeding means that new genetic material is introduced, thereby theoretically eliminating most of the health conditions that we caused in the first place. Since the Chug dog breed (and other hybrid breeds like it) is reasonably new, it is difficult to say whether this has succeeded. While we wait for time to reveal our answers, the least we can say is that we have realized the error of our ways and are finally trying to rectify our mistakes.

Where did my Chihuahua-Pug (CHUG) come from?

To answer this question, it’s best to look at the “parent-breed” of the Chug since the actual “breed” itself is so new and not officially recognized by the American Kennel Society (AKC). So, in this case, to get an idea of “where” the Chug came from, we’ll want to look at the Chihuahua and the Pug.

Chihuahuas.

Archeological evidence proving the existence of the Chihuahua or Toy Chihuahua dog breed has been found in Mexico, dating back as far as 2000 years. So we know that these little guys have been nipping at our ankles since at least 100 AD!

It was developed as a companion breed that can act as a “watchdog” to alert its owner of any approaching danger. Alert and curious, this little guy has a reputation (traditionally speaking) for being quite angry (at least towards any strangers).

It is believed…

The Aztecs initially bred them to transfer illness into a spiritual practice wherein the dog was placed beside the sick person to share the evil spirit out of the body and into the dog! The Aztecs also bred them for food (that’s no fun)! Luckily, this poor little breed found its way into the heart of just about anyone who saw one, so they quickly made their way to the four corners of the Earth, where they now thrive.

The American Kennel Club (AKC)…

Did not recognize the Chihuahua until 1904, but now officially separates the lengthy, short-coated varieties as two separate breeds – so bear this in mind when buying your Chug.

The Pug.

The Pug’s existence can be traced back to sometime in ancient China, but beyond that, it is uncertain where they hailed from. The first time they appear in the records is as lap dogs for the Chinese rulers. Initially, they were pretty “exclusive” dogs. The royals could only give them gifts until some traders managed to smuggle a few specimens out of China sometime in the 16th century. Once again, they became the companion breed to royalty, and since then, they have flourished worldwide!

And what will my Chug dog look like?

That is a good question. Because he is of mixed breeds, he might look like either parent, but since both parents are toy breeds, it is fair to say that they will be pretty small regardless of which “breed” is dominant in your Chug. So, let’s take a moment and see what our options might look like.

Now Pugs are…

Going to have a short coat and comes in fawn and black (according to the Kennel Club). It may have long legs and a little barrel body or short legs and a slightly less barrel-like body, but either way, it will be plump and cute.

The Chihuahua…

It comes in lengthy, short-coat varieties and can also have a deer or apple-shaped head – making four variations. So your guess is as good as ours as to:

“What your Chug will look like.”

Now, neither breed stands very tall, and because of the vast weight differences between the species, it’s hard to tell how wide they will be. But whatever he looks like, he will be a double-bred companion/toy breed and love you unconditionally…probably with giant eyes.

Personality and Temperament

Again, he may have the fun-loving, mischievous nature of the Pug or the severe and attentive nature of a Chihuahua. If you can get to know his parents, that should give you an idea of how he will be when he is older. Be aware that Chihuahuas aren’t all that great with other dogs, and Pugs are often scared of other dogs. That said, if you socialize your Chug early and often and treat him to daily walks, all should be fine.

But what about the legendary bad health of Pugs?

This cross-breed Chihuahua mix sometimes suffers from:

• Patellar Luxation (or a floating kneecap)
• and can be subject to Hip Dysplasia, a condition inherent to both parents.

Your Chug puppy might be subject to all sorts of:

• Eye problems –
  • dry eye and Entropion to name but two

Or they might be perfectly healthy… when you buy a Pug mix, you don’t know what genes you have bought into. That’s why wherever you buy your Chug dog…

…Be aware of puppy farming…

This global problem sees dogs bred to death in miserable conditions. Both pet stores and dog breeders that

• Present dirty or malnourished animals,
• Cannot produce paperwork
• Or cannot introduce you to your puppy’s parents, who may be selling pups from farms.

If you suspect this to be the case, leave immediately and report what you have seen…

Which bring us…

The last topic we want to discuss is purchasing or adopting new pets and possibly purchasing a pet insurance policy for your animal. You see, illnesses and accidents can occur despite how careful you may be in selecting your new pet. Having a quality pet insurance policy can ensure that the costs associated with treating your animal don’t get out of control.

Now, will a pet insurance policy be suitable for everyone?

Probably not, but without knowing what a quality pet insurance policy will cost, how will you know if getting one isn’t the “right” choice for you?

For more information on who we feel is currently offering some of the best policies, we encourage you to check out our article: Best Pet Insurance Companies.