Chug dogs - any experience?

[myflabberisgasted]

Hi,

We are thinking of adding a chug puppy to our family.

I have researched as much as I can and I wondered if anyone had any experience of living with chugs and any tips / advice I would need to know?

We have a 2.5 year old DS and I have read that they are a family friendly breed.

Any advice would be brilliant.

Thanks

[ruthsmumkath]

I have two designer crossbreeds neither from puppy farms - both breed by families who have very occasional litters.

One has pug in it although not a chug and she is adorable. More cat/baby Cross but we wouldn't change her or her brother.

[pigsDOfly]

Oh bugger. Just seen this is a zombie post and is five years old.

As you were.

[pigsDOfly]

Not all adult rescues have issues OP. Some of them come from loving homes that have had to give them up for all sorts of reasons, and will come with a certain amount of training hopefully. Of course you do get puppies in rescues too, but puppies can be really hard work.

You're clearly new to the dog world, so in the kindest way, can I suggest you do a lot of homework before getting any sort of dog. You've said you're going to wait now for a bit so it might be a good idea to do some research while you wait: keep reading the Doghouse and asking any questions - there are a lot of very knowledgeable posters on here, read some books about training and socialisation -
steer clear of anything that talks about dominance - and look stuff up on line.

Having a dog can be surprisingly hard sometimes and understanding what you're taking on beforehand can be enormously helpful. And having a well trained, well socialised dog is an absolute joy.

[M2odsrga]

We had a Chug and he was the best dog I ever had. He was a 'street rescue' and other than heart worms, had no health issues until congestive heart failure got him at the age of 16. He was a companion for my wife in her battle with cancer and a comfort for me after her death. Don't support puppy mills, try to find a 'rescue' Chug.

[GrimmaTheNome]

I didn't even know dogs had to be socialised and go to doggy day care or anything like that!

Doggy daycare isn't an essential - but socialisation is - they need to relate properly to both humans and to other dogs.

[myflabberisgasted]

Thank you countrykitchen and thank you everyone else for your honest advice!

[countrykitten]

Good for you - this sounds like a great plan. Best of luck with finding a perfect canine for your family when the time is right.

[myflabberisgasted]

I really would like a dog but I was very naive thinking a little dog would be easy.

I think I will wait until my DS is in school and settled so i have more time to spend on the dog before I even begin to start thinking again!
And I will definitely not go the puppy farm route at all and will go to a rescue centre and get an older dog already toilet trained!

I didn't even know dogs had to be socialised and go to doggy day care or anything like that!

[kitsmummy]

Just to add to what everyone else has said above, buying a designer cross breed is not always the road to happiness, and most definitely it's not a happy life for the bitches they repeatedly breed from.

I have a pug x french bulldog (pics on profile) who I bought (£500!!!) from Wales, on an old farm. At the time, I was very naive about the whole puppy farm thing and thought you always bought pups from the papers, or from websites (pets 4 homes was the one I went by). I look back now and I'm sure it was a puppy farm (once I'd paid for her, someone opened a back door and I could hear loads of dogs barking in the background!).

I was stupid and naive. Betty is a lovely dog at home, but she does have massive socialisation issues, despite going to puppy classes, being socialised by me and going to doggy day care once a week. I suspect she hadn't been socialised at all for the first 9 weeks of her life and that has made its mark. She's now seeing a behaviourist in the new year. Luckily she doesn't seem to have any particular health issues (apart from an over shot jaw but that doesn't impede her eating).

We also have a 6 month old rescue puppy from the Many Tears rescue that I linked to upthread. She's a crazy boxer/terrier cross with a beard and she has the most wonderful temperament and none of the issues that Betty does. I love them both but Esther (the rescue) is much easier a dog than Betty.

[pugoff]

p.s. love the look of McKenzie in the Many Tears link above. what a sweetie....

my husband would divorce me tho. but oh so cute...

[pugoff]

flabber - really glad you're thinking so hard. part of the hard work is because mine are so young. therefore have oodles of energy, into everything, lots of training and reminding, walking. with an older rescue (even a dog at 2 yes old would make a difference) this would cut initial workload down somewhat and the organisation would be able to match to your needs easier.

One of mine is easy going, likes napping but is a barker and naughty when being walked. The other is naughty at home, full of energy, screaming banshee when he doesn't get his own way and we haven't totally cracked toilet training at 1 yr old ( tho so nearly there). I'm lucky as altho they are much harder work than I thought, I'm at home nearly every day with fields opposite me and a reliable dog walker (and a patient understanding husband ). Turns out they really are like kids...

[countrykitten]

I have two dogs from MT - they are fabulous! Both rescue cockers who were used for breeding in puppy farms (have two springers too!). If you could have seen the state they came to me in it would have broken your heart. Puppy farmers are bastards and everyone should know that buying from ads on Preloved etc is a quick way to keep their 'businesses' going. Depressing.

[myflabberisgasted]

Wow thank you all for your honest advice and pugoff you last post has really made me change my mid to be honest.
I did think of a pug / pug cross as an easy option for a dog ie small and I thought they needed less walking because of breathing difficulties but I am glad you have told me the truh now!

I think I might wait a while longer before considering a dog. Until my DS is a lot older at least.

I can only thank you!

[PartridgeInASpicyPearTree]

I don't think a chi mix is a good idea if you are looking for a family friendly dog. Yes they are small but they are highly strung and can be very snappy. With a cross breed in terms of temperament you may get predominantly the traits from one parent or the other, or anything in between. No reputable breeder with a pedigree pug or chi from good lines would agree to breed a cross litter from it. Also, please don't assume that small means low exercise requirement. Many small breeds would not be okay with one short walk the days you work. Running about their own garden doesn't stimulate them like a walk with new sights and smells. Some will have no interest in running around outside alone.

It's great that you are now considering a rescue dog, but if not do be really careful of puppy farmers as they can put on quite sophisticated fronts. You should expect to have to go on a waiting list and pass an interview for a pup from a reputable breeder. Plus parents should have appropriate health screening for the genetic illnesses in that breed, not just a generic they look okay health check from the vet.

With a puppy farm, not only may the pup have health and socialisation issues, the brood bitches suffer terrible cruelty. I have one and she is an absolute darling but immensely fearful. Her early life must have been utter misery and she is still suffering the effects, all to make someone a profit. I suspect many decent dog loving folk bought her pups not realising there was a beautiful dog being abused behind the scenes.

[pugoff]

hi, we have pugs and thought I'd add my experience. yes some have issues but ours are very healthy, can (and need to) walk for long times a few times a day and are very active.

Beware, a pug cross is not the easy option, neither are pugs. mine are wonderful, loving but there was no guarantee what they are like personality wise. Nothing can guarantee that - our two are totally different to each other but same breed, both boys, similar age. they need company and a lot of attention, are stubborn and tough to toilet train. they get walked up to 4 times a day (to tire out and make them go to loo). a big garden is great but unless you plan on standing in it and playing with them - forget it. they will only want to be back inside if that is where you are. Fun in Dec / Jan!

in short, I wanted to share my thoughts as people think of pugs and pug crosses as easy, low maintenance options which is far from true. they are characterful but full of beans. add all this to a cross of a highly stressed small yappy dog. sounds to me like you haven't researched either breed properly. they are also not good mix with cats due to delicate eyes which could be scratched.

if you are sure a chug (pug or other 'ug') is for you, a puppy will take over your life for at least a year so maybe an older (toilet trained) dog which can be assessed personality wise would be worth considering. let me know if you have any other specific questions. ooh and their insurance payment a month is extortionate but necessary.

sorry if it sounds negative, don't get me wrong my boys are my life and best things ever. but boy did I think this would be easier looking back.

[LadyTurmoil]

agent!!!

[bamboobutton]

for the love of god, do not get a pug cross!

My dsis and her dh have spent thousands, actual thousands, on their pug due to collapsed breathing bits, she has a hole in her throat with a flesh tunnel, the same people have in their ears, to keep her throat open so she can breathe. she collapses all the time and my dsis has to hold her throat open!
they had to travel to newmarket to see a specialist vet as the surgery was so complicated. None of it was covered by insurance as the insurer's won't cover congenital problems.

This was a pug that came from a supposedly reputable breeder, god knows what one from a backyard breeder will have wrong with it!

[AgentProvocateur]

Can I lower the tone? The thread title reminded me of a guy I went to school with who got caught masturbating his dog. He was known thereafter as chug-a-dug. (Glasgow: dug = dog)

As you were.

[LadyTurmoil]

What about www.manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=5686 He's not a puppy (a huge plus in my opinion!) and sounds absolutely lovely. I know puppies are hard to resist and they're so cute but they are hard, hard work - something you might want to think about if you work and have a young child...

[LadyTurmoil]

Forgot to mention that you'd be much better off waiting until March/April esp. if you get a puppy. Housetraining will be a lot easier when weather is warmer as you will be spending a lot of time outside (!) and you have a 2.5 y/o at home with you.

[LadyTurmoil]

There are several Westies and Bichon Frises on the Many Tears website. My brother has a Bichon/poodle cross from a puppy and she is a very, very good-natured dog, really sweet. That kind of dog needs clipping by a groomer every 6-8 weeks so you need to think about that expense. Cavaliers are also meant to be very good family dogs...try googling some local rescue centres as well. It is sometimes hard to find something other than staffie type breeds but you might be lucky! Avoid all gumtree/preloved type sites because you will have no comeback if the puppy turns out to have serious health issues. There are also rescues like www.romaniaanimalaid.co.uk/ who rescue dogs and bring them to UK (for around £300 which is sometimes a lot less than you'd pay for a so-called "designer" crossbreed.

[Cuebill]

Pug numerous health problems - which are not watered down by breeding with a chihuahua
Chihuahua's hard to toilet train, generally not good around children can be snappy and guard people. Need to have experienced owners who use positive training methods to prevent the little dogs turning into major behavioural problems

A really bad choice as a family pet with young children.

[Lilyloo]

Any reputable rescue will find you a dog to suit your family. We picked up our 9 week old pup yesterday, he is lovely.
He has had his injections, health check and is booked in for neutering already, we also had a homecheck.
I would thoroughly recommend using a rescue, the support from them is great our last dog was a great family pet for 10 years.
A chug is essentially a cross breed why line the pockets of a puppy breeder.

[myflabberisgasted]

Oh kitsmummy that pugalier harry is so cute.
I will look on the many tears website now at rescue dogs instead, the puppy farming people have turned my stomach!

I will contact them about Harry he looks ideal the poor dog.