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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Chihuahua cross pug?

35 replies

ReginaBlitz · 09/10/2016 15:51

does anyone have any experience with this breed the one I'm looking at is quarter pug I've done as much research as I can but really need someone with first hand experience on what they are actually like as a family pet!

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 15:55

I've seen a chug

She's looked like a chihuahua sized and shape pug. She had a slightly longer nose so no snuffles and floppy ears like the pug. The owners said she was a very lovely sweet little dog.

kilmuir · 09/10/2016 15:58

It's not a breed it's a mongrel

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 16:01

It's a cross breed to be more specific

A mongrel would have more than two breeds of dog in it

WyldFyre · 09/10/2016 16:03

Nope the dictionary describes a mongrel as "crossbreed" - its snobbishness of people who won't admit they have paid a pedigree price for a mongrel that try to claim two=crossbreed, more=mongrel.

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 16:08

Who cares anyway?

I would never have a pure breed pug. Too badly bred, too many health problems. If cross breeding allows healthier dogs, why condemn it?

pigsDOfly · 09/10/2016 16:08

As it isn't actually a breed no one can really give a definitive answer to your question OP and even dogs from the same litter can behave in completely different ways, they're all individuals.

With a cross, there are no guarantees, it could look like a pug and behave like chihuahua or look like a chihuahua and behave like a pug or any of the various permutations in between.

It's an odd combination imo, but many of these crosses are: chihuahuas are feisty little street fighters and pugs were bred as lap dogs so are usually pretty easy going and passive, both good in their own way but as with all crosses you get what you're given. Could be the best of both breeds or not.

Original poster

ReginaBlitz · 09/10/2016 16:11

Ok thanks for the helpful replies.

OP posts:

TrionicLettuce · 09/10/2016 16:15

Temperament aside it's an extremely dubious cross from a health perspective.

Both breeds can suffer health issues as a result of the conformation of their heads; chiari malformation/syringomyelia/hydrocephalus in chihuahuas and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in pugs. Both (particularly pugs) can also be prone to eye issues, again because of the structure of the head.

It's certainly not a cross that would be a good choice for reducing exaggeration in the pug. It could potentially just introduce more issues than it solves, particularly as the health issues of most concern are conformation related and thus can't be tested for in any way.

If you want a less exaggerated pug then I'd look for a breeder who is health testing and selecting a breed or breeds to outcross to which are more likely to actually improve the pug conformation.

phillipp · 09/10/2016 16:30

I would never have a pure breed pug. Too badly bred, too many health problems. If cross breeding allows healthier dogs, why condemn it?

Randomly breeding 2 dogs does not result in healthier breeds.

My mum has had Chihuahuas for over 25 years. They can many health problems, are often quite nervous, often frail even as youngsters and age quite fast, eye problems etc.

Breeding them with a pug will not resolve any potential pug problems.

Cross breeding for health purposes needs to be done very carefully and can take a few generations.

With a chug, you could easily get a dog with lots of health problems from both breeds, a totally healthy one or somewhere in the middle. Lots of the health problems won't be able to be screen for at birth.

Bubble2bubble · 09/10/2016 17:21

Both breeds are fraught with health problems, and crossing them doesn't make the health issues go away, it can exaggerate them.

Someone is trying to make a lot of money by selling you a made up 'breed'.

While it's possible with careful handling the pup may turn out to be sweet natured and fit well into your family, you could also be in for a huge amount of heartache ( and expense ) due to health problems.

Have you seen the pup with its mother, has the breeder had the parents health tested for the well known genetic issues of both breeds.....all the usual advice on buying puppy applies to a crossbreed as well as a purebreed. If you're prepared to take a chance without these, then look at a rescue, for less money.

Hoppinggreen · 09/10/2016 18:08

Unfortunately by crossing 2 breeds like that you could get the negative aspects of both.
nobody can tell you what it will be like, they can tell you the typical characteristics of both breeds but that's all

Original poster

ReginaBlitz · 09/10/2016 20:28

So is £600 a lot for a mixed/crossed/mongrel then?!

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 20:33

Depends if you're happy to pay that

Chihuahuas are about £450-£700 a pup.

Pugs are around £800-£1200.

Combined together could be any price

Hoppinggreen · 09/10/2016 20:33

Seriously?
Total rip off, my KC reg pedigree dog cost £800 so not that much more really.
I would pay about £200 tops for a mongrel or a bit more for a rescue

Original poster

ReginaBlitz · 09/10/2016 20:34

Ok hard to work out then! Really want the pup but I'm still non the wiser and with him/her only being a quarter pug they may have more chi traits.

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 20:36

Chihuahuas are lovely!! My old dog as a puppy. Brilliant with my children

pieceofpurplesky · 09/10/2016 20:36

I have a rescue pug. He cost £100. He is the sweetest natured little thing. Luckily his breathing is so far ok.
Why not rescue rather than get a new puppy?

Original poster

ReginaBlitz · 09/10/2016 20:40

I have a rescue cat but limited with dogs as I have a child under 3

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 20:45

It's going to depend on your child if you get a toy breed then

If they are gentle and calm, a chug would be ideal

If they are a bruiser like my ds who's idea of gentle is a headbutt (his sign of affection) then I would give a toy breed a miss and get something a bit bigger.

Bubble2bubble · 09/10/2016 20:45

£600?!
* faints*

Original poster

ReginaBlitz · 09/10/2016 20:49

Youngest child is very meek and mild so that won't be an issue. Really didn't want a big dog...

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 09/10/2016 20:52

I don't mean big as in large breed but something a bit sturdier like a jack or border terrier

Toy breeds can be very delicate and easily hurt

OdinsLoveChild · 09/10/2016 20:54

£600 is a lot for a mongrel crossbreed. I have working cockers they're usually around £450-500 for kc reg and extensive health reports and testing.

For size I can see why you would want a chug however their health can be poor. I only know of 1 and it's fraught with health problems. I suppose they could be as healthy as the next crossbreed. Go by the usual rules, see mum and dad if possible and siblings in their own home. Ask lots of questions about the health of the parents etc

TrionicLettuce · 09/10/2016 20:59

£600 isn't a lot for a puppy, pedigree or cross, from a decent and responsible breeder.

It's a huge amount for a puppy from a BYB or naive pet owner who is breeding for either cash or because "OMG, cute puppieeeeeeeees!!!!".

Unfortunately given the cross (for the reasons I outlined in my previous post) any breeder of "chugs" is highly likely to fall into the latter category.

FantasyAndHope · 09/10/2016 21:02

I have a pug and a chihuahua!
The pug is great he's loyal and loving and affectionate and pugs are just great dogs to have and he is such a lovely dog I'm bias but he is beautiful and he has helped DD (18) come out of her shell with dogs and she loves him he's 3 and I researched lots about him and he's KC registered and a good breed which is hard to find in pugs now. I paid £800 for him and he's a 5 generation pedigree. His breeders were excellent her comes the downside...
In January this year I saw a beautiful chihuahua in our local dogs home. 4 months old beautiful went and signed papers to say interested and introduced my pug and DD they all got along fine, they mentioned he'd being rehomed and brought back didn't say why. House checks were done he came home fast forward to the weekend DD coming home from boarding school he'd being biting people all day snapping and snarling DD came home he attacked her biting her ankles. He's better a little but he put DD in a corner and chews leather shoes and he's chewed through DDs 2 pairs of retainers he's vicious with kids but great with dogs but is horrible with people. He hates DD I've booked in with a behaviouralist, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him especially not with kids. I would never get another chihuahua

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