Chug : Best Compact Companion in 2024?

QUICK OVERVIEW:

OFFICIAL NAME	Chug
COMMON NAME	Chug
BREED PARENTS	Chihuahua + Pug
ORIGIN	USA
GROUP	Designer
AVERAGE HEIGHT	6-14 Inches
AVERAGE WEIGHT	5-10 Kilograms
COAT TYPE	Short Hair
COAT COLOR	Black, Brown, Cream, White and Fawn
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN	10-13 years
HYPOALLERGENIC	No
TRAINING DIFFICULTY	Easy
ENERGY LEVEL	Active
EXERCISE NEEDS	Moderate
DROOL AMOUNT	Minimum
TENDENCY TO BARK	High
SHEDDING AMOUNT	Medium
KEY PERSONALITY TRAITS	Intelligent, Goofy, Stubborn, Affectionate, Friendly
POSSIBLE HEALTH ISSUES	Patellar luxation, Eye Problems, Allergies, Respiratory issues
SUITABLE FOR	First Time Pet Owners As Well As Experienced
Price	$600-$800

Chug: Introduction

Chug, also recognized as Pughuahua, is a friendly, loving, intelligent mixed breed of PUG and CHIHUAHUA. They are very compact in size and are very easy to pet. Their personality can be very dynamic as the two breeds are very unique and different. Since being a cross breed their traits are not rigid. Being a hybrid dog, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or any other organizations as an official breed so, there are no breeding standards for it.

Chugs are popular nowadays worldwide especially in Social Media because of their unique qualities and ever changing characteristics. Being playful and loyal as their main characteristics they are loved by all people and families. Let’s learn about Chugs in-depth.

History and Origin

Chugs originated in the United States in the early 2000s with no specific breeder claiming to have created it and have been growing in population ever since. To get a simple idea from where the Chugs originated from we shall look at the origins of its parent breeds.

Chihuahua dogs were first noted in the mid 19th century. They are assumed to be generational descendants of the Techichi, a compact companion dog kept by Toltec people of Mexico long ago in the 9th century ce. The Chihuahua dogs well known around the world today didn’t exist until 1850 AD in Mexico. These dogs were initially brought to the USA in 1884 AD.

Pugs being one of the oldest dog breeds in the world’s history, it is said to have been there around since 700 BC. These dogs were worshiped in ancient Egypt and were a companion for The Tibetan Buddhists in monasteries. Later, these dogs were brought to China where many emperors believed it to be a lucky charm. It was the 4th century BCE, then it is believed where they originated from.

In the 17th century CE, traders from the dutch brought the pugs to England and Holland after which they became popular among the royal and high class families. They were kept in luxury and were guarded by soldiers with special care.

Physical Characteristics

Chugs are a mixed breed of Chihuahua and Pug which combine their physical attributes and appearance. Chugs are usually small and compact weighing between 4.5-10 Kilograms and having height of 6-14 Inches. They have smooth and short coat which can be of any color but commonly found in white, brown, black and cream.

Chugs have a round face with huge brown projecting eyes and a small round nose which is usually dark in color. They have short muzzle and underbite jaw. Chugs mostly have drop down ears inherited from pugs. Many people get confused with Chugs and Miniature Boxers because of their similar nose and eyes. Being small in size they are not great to be a guard dog.

Temperament and Personality

Chugs are very friendly, intelligent, playful, loyal and easy to take care of which makes them a suitable option for new pet owners who do not have much experience with pets. Their traits and personality is very dynamic as they are of different breeds of different traits. Their traits are not fixed which makes it difficult to note their personalities. They are quick learners as well and are very easy to train. Even though they are playful it is recommended to keep them with older children than younger ones with proper training. They need to be trained properly at a young age in order to socialize themself in the family or surroundings.

Chugs might not be the favorite of other dogs as they are usually aggressive towards other dogs and as well as strangers. Chugs are very active dogs so it is not the best idea to leave them alone at home as they require frequent attention as well. Even though Chugs do not get along with other dogs easily they can get along with cats which is very unique for a dog.

Exercise and Activity Needs

Chugs are very active dogs and might not demand any exercises. A 30-45 mins walk a day can keep this compact companion healthy and happy. Playing timely with your Chug can keep your pet mentally happy, healthy and active.

Chugs are better in warm moderate climates even though special attention should be paid in its hydration and protection from over exposure to sun’s UV rays to ensure its proper health. Chugs should be kept in a clean and favorable environment else it can increase the risk of diseases and allergies to the pet.

Grooming and Care

Grooming a Chug might be easier because of its size. Its coat varies from long to short but usually they are short which makes grooming much easier. While grooming a Chug one must assure that the tools used for grooming are soft and gentle for their delicate body. Chugs mostly do not require hair cuts but it is better to occasionally groom them.

Here are some tips for Chug’s grooming.

Inorder to ensure its silky and shiny coat it is recommended to use slicker brush.
One must know that they should not overwash their pet’s coat as it can damage and degrade its coat quality.
Bathing once every 4-6 weeks is much better for their coat’s and overall health.
Clean their ears, trimming nails, brushing their teeth are some major cleaning activities

Health and Common Concerns

Chugs are healthy breeds but usually they inherit their parental breed’s disease i.e Respiratory Problems, Allergies, Ear Problems, Obesity etc. Other health issues like Luxating Patella, Hip Dysplasia etc. Breathing problems are mostly genetically inherited from pugs. Here are some ways to prevent and cure your pet’s diseases.

Taking your dog to the veterinarian for regular checkups at least once every 14 weeks is recommended.
Feed them nutritious foods like meat, authentic dog foods etc.
Never neglect the hydration of your dog.
Giving them necessary vaccines to fight various bacterias and allergies is necessary.
Socializing and interacting with them by playing is an important activity for their mental health as well as physical health.
Proper sanitation and clean environment is a must for minimal risk of bacterial diseases.
If any sudden sickness you should immediately seek help from respective professionals.

If you are having trouble in maintaining your pet’s health it is better to seek help from an expert or experienced pet keeper and as well as consult with the veterinarian.

Training and Socialization

Chugs are a very easy to train breed and are very intelligent which makes them quick learners which helps them to socialize at a very young age. Chugs are very active breeds so it is necessary to train them well about their surroundings.

Chugs can interact well with humans and animals. Teaching the pet like where to eat, where to excrete, where to play and run, where to sleep etc are some important aspects of training. Training methods for every breed is different as training this breed like a guard dog might not be the best idea. Dogs’ personality is inherited from its parental breed but it can be improved or modified with proper training and socialization.

Some training tips and techniques which you can follow are as follows

Teach your pet to sit, stay, heel, walk on stairs, jump etc which is essential for its safety.
Teaching your pet what to eat, what not to eat and where to excrete, where not to is essential for cleanliness as well as pets’s safety.
Teaching the pet to recognize family and strangers is an important activity which can be done by playing with it.
Running is an important activity for a dog’s heart health and overall bone health which can be done by playing fetch etc.

If you encounter any problems in training or having difficulty in training your pet especially with adult pets it is best to seek help from professional trainers and training centers.

Conclusion

So, wrapping up the article, Chugs are a very unique breed who are suitable for almost all families regardless of the family size. Chugs are a very intelligent and playful breed who are easy to take care of which makes them unique than other breeds. They are very compact and you can easily travel around with them. People who prefer guard dogs should not pet Chugs as it is not suitable for that job.

People who are new to petting a dog of this breed might be the best for you as they are very playable, lovable, easy to take care of, loyal and intelligent. Potential owners can relate their lifestyle and make decisions wisely about petting Chugs as their pet by being aware of their traits, history, brooming, exercises etc.

Also read about Puggle Dog: Breed Guide and Some Helpful Tips About Them 2024