Jug Care

The Jug--a hybrid of a Jack Russell Terrier and a Pug--is an active, spirited, affectionate crossbreed that is beloved by owners everywhere. And one of the Jug's greatest attributes is that, besides a possibly scrappy and stubborn temperament it may inherit from its Jack Russell parent, overall care and maintenance doesn't take much work.

Below you'll find all sorts of details on caring for a Jug: puppy care and development, exercise needs, and shedding/drooling tendencies are all covered here. For answers to your questions about owning this lively little crossbreed, keep reading!

Jugs are usually lively and athletic--but since they're small, overall Jug exercise requirements aren't too extensive. These busy little dogs will fulfill a lot of their daily activity needs simply running around being their active selves--but they'll still benefit from walks and outdoor horseplay as well.

The typical adult Jug, depending on its age and overall activity level, will only need about 30 minutes of proper exercise per day, which you can accomplish with a couple of short walks and a brief period of play. You can start exercising your Jug puppy at 10 weeks of age by taking it on very short (5-minute) leashed walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows. And these early, short walks are a good opportunity to begin leash training the Jug puppy: make sure the pup walks beside or behind you instead of being allowed to lead or "tug" on the leash. Doing so starts the puppy learning obedience, and helps minimize its stubbornness and high prey drive (characteristics it may inherit from its Jack Russell Terrier parent).

A few things to keep in mind when exercising your Jug: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Jugs will need to be leashed when in public. These dogs might inherit the high prey drives of their Jack Russell parents, and may chase interesting-looking critters--birds, squirrels, cats, even other small dogs--if given the chance; at the same time, they can be considered prey by large dogs and other predators. A leash will help you control and protect your Jug in these situations. And finally: these dogs develop strong bonds with their owners--particularly those who train them--and suffer separation anxiety if left alone, so they'll respond much better to activities in which one or more of their human family members also participates. (Putting your Jug out in the yard to exercise alone, in other words, won't do any good; the dog is liable to spend the entire time barking and scratching at the door to be let back in!) Exercise you perform together are definitely best.

Precautions aside, it's important to give your Jug some exercise every single day. These dogs can be fussy and hard-headed, and if bored or restless they'll become even more so: they'll bark, dig, turn destructive, and be complete nuisances in general. Consistent daily exercise will be great for your Jug's peace of mid--and for your own sanity as well. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 10- to 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use your Jug's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Jugs enjoy the company of other dogs
• Blowing Bubbles: These dogs will love "attacking" the bubbles you blow

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Jug access to one or more balls or toys that will 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 dogs need little to moderate care. Jugs shed some for most of the year, but more heavily during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling isn't an issue.

Because its Jack Russell Terrier parent can have either a smooth or broken coat, the Jug coat can have some variation in length--but for the most part, these dogs have short, smooth, double-layered coats that shed moderately all year long. When a Jug "blows" its coat in late spring (and often in the fall as well), the shedding will be heavier. Owner will need to brush their Jugs once or twice per week (and more frequently during shedding season) with a bristle brush to minimize the amount of shed hair. Cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint roller use on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time for owners of these dogs.

A Jug almost never drools, though. If your Jug is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

The Jug diet will need to include animal proteins, healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to help maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Jug food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for these hybrids, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are unhealthy and may even shorten a dog's lifespan.

Jugs do best with premium food that's formulated for small breeds. Royal Canin and Blue Buffalo are recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium small-breed food.

Adult Jugs, depending on their age, size, metabolism, and activity levels, will need about two cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Jug puppies will need a bit less: again depending on age, about 1¼ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until five months of age.

For more info on feeding a Jug from puppyhood through maturity, see the following chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If these hybrids are constantly overfed (and under-exercised), they will quickly become overweight--and a fat Jug will have joint, breathing, and digestive problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Jug'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 Jug is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

Jugs are likely to suffer in extreme temperatures. They have a short coat that may allow them to become uncomfortable in very cold weather. Although the muzzle is longer than that of the Pug parent, it is still relatively short and in very warm temperatures this can cause breathing problems.