The Chug--a hybrid of a Chihuahua and a Pug--is a super-charming mix that's comical, bold, active, and affectionate. As a pure companion breed, Chug care and maintenance will require a moderate amount of work, and will need to include some early obedience training--along with lots of TLC!
Below you'll find details on caring for a Chug, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to your questions about raising a Chug, read on!
These dogs are pretty energetic, but they're also small--which means Chug exercise requirements aren't very extensive. Breed members will fulfill a lot of their daily activity needs just running around being their active little selves, but they'll still benefit from a short walk or two and a brief period of play each day.
The typical adult Chug, depending on its age and overall activity level, will only need about 30 minutes of daily exercise. You can start exercising your Chug puppy at 2½ months of age by taking it on very short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the puppy grows.
A few thing to keep in mind regarding Chug exercise: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't do much jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as these can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Chugs will need to be leashed in public. These dogs are usually curious and friendly (and often bold if they inherit that trait from their Chihuahua parent!), so they're likely to run off to investigate interesting sights, sounds, or smells unless controlled by a leash. Even when exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from running away. Finally: if your Chug's face is short-nosed like its Pug parent's, the dog is likely to be brachycephalic, meaning it will overheat easily because it can't cool the air it breathes as well as longer-nosed breeds can. In this case, it's best not to exercise your Chug in sweltering temperatures.
Precautions aside, it's important to exercise your Chug every single day. Without consistent activity, these dogs will become bored and frustrated--which will make them incredibly "yappy" and ill-tempered. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few Chug exercise ideas:
When indoors, give your Chug access to balls or toys that allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.
In terms of shedding and drooling, these hybrids will need moderate care. Depending on its coat type, Chug shedding is fair to heavy; drooling isn't an issue.
Chugs can have short, smooth coats, or, if the Chihuahua parent was of the long-haired variety, the Chug's coat will itself be longer. In either case, because the Pug is a heavy shedder, its Chug offspring will shed at least moderately. Owners will need to brush their Chugs 2-3 times per week with either a bristle brush (for short coats) or a pin brush (for longer ones). Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary fairly regularly.
A Chug rarely drools, though. If your Chug is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is necessary.
Like other breeds, Chugs will need a diet that includes animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best Chug food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients--all of which your Chug will need to maintain its health in the long term.
It's also a good idea to feed these dogs premium food formulated for small breeds. Three recommended brands of small-breed food are Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild, and Royal Canin.
The good news is that your Chug won't eat too much high-quality food at once! The typical adult, depending on its age, size, and activity level, will only need about a cup of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. For a newborn Chug, milk from its mother is needed until 6-7 weeks, after which you can introduce puppy formula. Until five months old, puppies should be fed three times per day instead of two.
For more info on feeding a Chug from puppyhood through maturity, see the following:
*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.
If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions. Dogs of this breed are highly prone to obesity, and will easily become overweight if constantly overfed (and under-exercised)--and a fat Chug will have numerous health problems and a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Chug's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.
If you're worried your Chug is overweight, give the dog this test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.
Read the grooming requirements for Chugs including coat care and other maintenance.
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