Chug Dog

This past Sunday, we the city of Raleigh was blessed with 60 degree weather and sunny skies. This presented a perfect opportunity to bring our chug puppy Max out for some fresh air.

We brought him to a local school’s baseball field and let him loose without a leash for the first time since we brought him home.

We were surprised at how fast and energetic he was. Being a previous pug owner lead me to expect that he would have inherited at least some of the pug’s notorious lethargy and laziness but that was not the case at all.

He ran around non-stop for about an hour and barely even panted.

So are chug puppies athletic?

It depends.

• Chi’s are quick and pugs have strong muscles, so depending on the mix you get, your chug puppy can have a mix of the two. From what we’ve read and observed, chugs are tough little dogs.
• Chugs generally bypass the poor breathing problems that pugs have, so they should have more stamina.
• Chi’s also have less body fat and fur than pugs, which is probably why Max did not pant much. (Dog painting is equivalent to human sweating).
• The best way to determine if your chug puppy is athletic is to take him outside and see what he’s got.

Kennel Cough in Chug Puppies

Chug Puppies can be predisposed to choking fits, but it is important not to mistake it for Kennel Cough. Kennel cough is an infection of the bronchial tubes that results in a hacking and hoarse cough. It often sounds as though the chug puppies airways are clogged.

Generally this illness resolves on it’s own and usually coughing is the only symptom.

It may be difficult for you to determine whether your chug puppy is coughing or choking. Generally a chug will “reverse sneeze” when it is having a coughing spell.

The videos below show a dog coughing an can be used as a base for what you should look for:

If you think your chug dog’s coughing is excessive and does not show signs of stopping, bring him to the vet immediatley.

After you have had your Chug Puppy for a few months, you will probly notice an occasional choking or hiccuping fit. At first you may be alarmed, but it is actually normal of a dog this size.

Chihuahuas are very prone to this due to their small trachea’s. If your chug puppy inherited this trait, you should keep an eye for this type of attack. This type of attack is generally caused by the dog becoming excited, nervous or over-active.

What to do if your chug puppy has a choking spell:

1. Gently massage it’s throat
2. Gently place your fingers over the pups nose (this is not cruel). It will force the chug to breath through it’s mouth and open it’s Trachea again.
3. Use a harness instead of a collar when walking your chug puppy. This will place less strain on the trachea.
4. If excitement causes the attacks, work on getting the chug puppy used to the situations that cause excitement.

If the choking is constant or sounds like a cough, take your chug puppy to the vet to make sure he does not have Kennel Cough.

Many pet owners may be surprised to learn that a chug dog’s dental health is as important as the shots they receive when they are just a puppy.

Dental problems in pets go way beyond bad breath. Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in chug dogs today. In fact at, least 80 percent of dogs suffer from it by age 2. If this is untreated it can lead to further damage in your chug puppy.

Unfortunatley, chug puppies fall into toy breed of dogs which have a tendency to develop dental problems more so than larger breeds.

Dr. Daniel Carmichael, veterinary dental specialist with the Veterinary Medical Center in West Islip, N.Y. reccomends the following for chug puppies dental health:

1. Schedule regular dental checkups with your vet. If you notice an outbreak of bad breath coming from your chug puppy, take him sooner.
2. Daily to bi-daily brushing of your dog’s teeth.
3. Choosing dog treats with dental benefits. Chewing on rawhide has been proven in clinical studies to help reduce plaque and tartar. The treats may not smell that great, but they do to your chug puppy – which means he will chew longer.

A healthy chug, is a happy chug, so make sure you pay close attention to his dental hygeine.

As with many dog, chug puppies can have allergic reactions to food, plants, insects and other allergens. This past weekend, Max the Chug awoke with a very swollen face:

Rather than panic, we called the vet and brought him in. After a shot of benadryl, our chug puppy was back in action after a couple of hours. Nevertheless, this situation needs to be taken very seriously.

How to know if your chug puppy is having an allergic reaction:

1. His face or other body parts are swollen
2. You notice rashes on your chug puppy’s skin
3. He has a rapid heartbeat (The Vets at Banfield Hospital said to look out for this.)
4. His temperature is elevated. (The Vets at Banfield Hospital said to look out for this.)
5. You notice irregular bowel movements.
6. The chug puppy is vomiting frequently.
7. He is making hacking and choking sounds.

Item number 7 is the most important, as allergic reactions can cause your chug puppy’s throat to close up, which could lead to suffocation. Elevated temperature and rapid heartbeats can also indicate a more sever allergic reaction.

While your instinct may be to give your chug puppy an antihistamine such as benadryl, it is important to consult with your vet first, as an overdose of drugs in such a small dog can cause liver damage.

Most of all, it is important to be calm and thoughfull if you think your chug puppy is having an allergic reaction.

Having a chug puppy is a big responsibility. Sometimes it can even be like taking care of a child. Because chug puppies can be curious and energetic, they can sometimes injure themselves. Due to their small size, chug puppies may also be prone to burrowing which may result in them getting trapped in small places and injuring themselves. When that happens, it is important that you bandage your chug pup to prevent further damage.

Here are some helpfull tips to consider when bandaging your chug puppy:

1. Make sure your keep your chug puppy’s bandage dry and clean. That being said, make sure your pup stays inside as much as possible when it has a bandage. When he goes outside to do his business, make sure that you wrap the bandage in plastic. If foul odors or discharge start to resonate from the would make sure you call your vet as soon as possible.
2.  After bringing home your chug puppy home from the vet, make sure that the bandage is still in the correct place. Your pup may have been irritated by the bandage and tried to scratch or bite it off.
3. If the bandage is on your chug puppy’s leg, make sure it is not on too tight, as it could cut off circulation. Observe how the toes will appear at the bottom of the bandage at least twice a day. TAlso check for skin chaffing, redness, discharge or swelling before and after the bandage has been applied.
4. To prevent the pet from chewing the bandage because of the bothersome experience it gives, put on a funnel collar. If that doesn’t help, consult your vet for further options.

In genreal, it is a good idea to bring your chug puppy to the vet if you notice the following occuring:

1. Swelling above or below the bandage
2. Chew marks on the bandage
3. Wetness on the bandage
4. Bleeding or discharge

Since Chug Puppies are a mixture of a Pug and a Chihuahua, their appearances can vary drastically from litter to litter. Many new chug owners wonder if their ears will begin to pop up like a Chihuahua’s when they get older or if they will stay floppy like that of a Pug.

There is no real definite answer. Max the Chug’s ears always stayed down when up until he was 19 weeks old. At 19 weeks old they are beginning to pop up when he is excited or playing. There is a chance his ears will always stay in-between like this, but there is no telling until he becomes older. Many chug puppy and Chihuahua owners have experimented with different methods of keeping their puppy’s ears droopy.

How to Keep Your Chug Puppy’s Ears from Sticking Up:

1. Massage the ears daily to loosen their cartilage.
2. Apply vinegar to ear to loosen the cartilage. (Do not submerge the ear canal, though)
3. Magnetic earrings to stretch the ear muscle
4. Dog ear tape

Of course, make sure that you only use humane methods when trying to keep your chug puppy’s ears from sticking up.

We took max to the vet today for this 3rd round of shots. He has begun to remember what happens at the vets office and let’s just say, he does not like it there. The vet was greeted by a lot of whimpering, shaking and nipping.

The vet tech told us that out chug puppy’s next fecal examination was a month away, but we could get it out of the way today if we wanted to. We decided to do this and we were glad we did.

After the fecal examination, the nurse informed us that our chug puppy’s stool contained Coccidia – a fairly common intestinal worm found in young puppies. At first I was alarmed until I found out that it was treatable and very common.

How are Coccidia transmitted?

Coccidia worms are generally transmitted from other dogs feces. They may contract it after they are born, as they have a tendency to eat the feces of other chug dogs in the litter. Puppies have no immunity to the parasite until they are 6 months of age, so it is important that you look out for the symptoms of this disease.

Symptoms of Coccidiosis

• Frequent diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus.
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration

This disease, while usually not fatal, is contagious and should be treated with medications such as sulfadimethoxine or trimethroprimsufadiazine.

Make sure you consult with the vet if your chug puppy is showing any of the symptoms of coccidiosis.

If you are particularly attached to your clean furniture or if you have allergies you may be wondering if chug dogs shed.  The short answer is yes. Both pugs and  chihuahuas shed their coats, but not as much as furrier breeds such as huskies. It is also important to keep in mind that chug puppies are small and if they are a short haired mix, will have thin and fine coat. This results in less shedding overall.

You may think that shedding is a drawback to getting a chug puppy, but keep in mind that overall they have very little grooming requirements. Dogs 101 on the discovery channel even goes so far as to say that chihuahuas only need to be bathed once a month. However, we have found that if you want your pup to smell pristene, you should bathe him more frequently than that.

Click here for more information on chug puppy grooming and hygeine.

So you have your little chug puppy home and it’s time to feed him. It is important to feed him the right amounts at the right intervals so he does not overeat or become malnurished.  Chug puppies have a tendency to become hypoglycemic due to their small size an active behavior. If your chug puppy has a good mix of chiuaua, he might also be prone to shaking which causes him to metabolize food fast. However, all of this can be managed with proper diet and feeding times.

How Often Should You Feed Your Chug Puppy?

Most vets (including the ones at Banfield Pet Hospital) reccomend feeding small breeds such as chug puppies 3-4 times a day.

How Much Do Chug Puppies Eat?

This is relative to the size, but if your chug puppy is built more like a pug, he may require more food than a chiuaua would. Generally one cup of food for each feeding should suffice. Many times the bag of dog food will specify amounts as well. Feeding him more than this may cause obesity, lethargy and other symptoms.

What Should I Feed My Chug Puppy?

Try to avoid table food whenver neccesary. Do this at a young age and your chug puppy will be less prone to begging when he becomes a full grown chug dog. Max, the official chug of this site only eats dry dog food. If you mix soft food in with a chug puppy’s meals, he may become more prone to diarrhea. Vets also suggst giving your chug puppy an egg a few times a week, as it helps the shine of his coat. Click here for a list of quality food for your chug puppy.

Always make sure your chug puppy’s dish is full of water as well.

From its start as a puppy, your chug depends on you for general hygiene. You want him to have clean ears, teeth and a coat free from fleas and ticks are all the conditions you check for a healthy pet. Bath time can be a great bonding time for you and your chug puppy.

A healthy chug puppy actually does not need to be bathed as often as most people think. Although most chugs don’t like to be washed, they appreciate the contact and attention that they receive from their owners during a bath. It is also a good time to perform some other necessary hygeine maintenance, such as cleaning the ears, checking for ticks and fleas, and brushing the teeth. Most chug puppies may dislike these activities, so it may be best to get it all done in one shot – like ripping off a band aid.

Brushing your Chug Puppy’s Teeth

Brushing your chugs teeth is just good dental hygiene. Most vets recommend that it be done at least twice a week to ensure your chug dog maintains healthy teeth and gums. The chug dog should have its own toothbrush and special toothpaste designed for dogs. You can brush the back teeth in a small circular motion like you would your own. For the pointy teeth, brush up and down. If you struggle brushing your chug dog’s teeth, the next best thing you can do is give him teeth cleaning chug dog biscuits. Greenies are popular and ususally result in fresher breath.

Checking for Ticks & Fleas

Fleas will generally be found under your chug puppies fur. They tend to look like little pieces of pepper or a mole. The fleas themselves can vary in size, from tiny infants to larger adults, which are about an eighth of an inch long. They can’t simply be picked off the chug dog like ticks can, they will jump before you can catch them. If you do find a flea or their droppings, you know it’s time to start the chug dog on a program to control and eliminate these pests.

For your family’s sake, make sure you check your chug puppy for fleas often, as they can cause lyme disease.

Cleaning his Ears

Pet supply stores sell special solutions for cleaning your chug puppy’s ears. Chugs can easily get ear mites due to their often exposed ear canal. These small insects live in the ears and feed on the waxy secretions inside Over time, the bodies of these short-lived creatures build up and form a black, dirty substance. Use a cotton swab to apply the solution to the chugs ear.

Taking care of your chug puppys hygeine will not only make him smell great, but it will also keep him healthy as awell.

As you should already know a chug puppy is a mix of a pug and a Chiuaua. Pugs are generally husky and can take the cold weather. However chiuauas have a tendency to be tiny and less chubby than pugs. They also tend to have a little bit more anxiety than pugs. Many small dogs have anxiety and this can sometimes result it shaking. However, there are times when your chug puppy’s shaking can cause concern.

When to be concerened about your chug puppy’s shaking:

1. The shaking is continuous.
2. They shake frequently in very warm temperatures.
3. The shaking is accompanied by panting and heavy breathing.
4. The dog is acting very tired when shaking.

If any of these symptoms become present, contact your vet immediatley. Many times a chug puppy’s shaking can be solved buy cuddling them or putting on a warm sweater, but you do not want to take any chances.

An estimated 10 percent of the population is allergic to pets. But because more than 70 percent of U.S. households have a dog or cat, these pet allergy sufferers may frequently come in contact with animals, and sometimes even have pets living in their own homes.

Chug puppies are not hypoallergenic but they do have less fur than a lot of other breeds. It should also be noted that All puppies produce some level of dander – even the hairless ones. So the only real way to escape puppy allergies is to not get one.

Understanding Pet Allergies

Most people think it is the chug puppy’s coat that causes allergic reactions. However, it is actually the saliva and proteins in animals’ dander that trigger symptoms, such as sneezing, and nasal congestion.

Tips for preventing allergic reactions to your chug puppy:

1. Keep your chug puppy in rooms that don’t have carpeting or upholstered furniture, such as the kitchen.
2. Minimize the time a your puppu spends outdoors on days with high pollen counts. Your chug puppy can track it into the home
   take your chug puppy for a walk.
3. Vacuum floors and upholstered furniture frequently to remove pet dander. Surfaces like hardwood or tile floors are preferred over carpeting for allergy sufferers as dander can easily be removed from them. You may also want to invest in a vacumm that is good at removing pet fir.

With the right precautions and know-how, even someone who is highly allergic to dogs can have a trouble free relationship with their chug puppy.

Today our chug puppy Max had stool in his blood. Generally, any chug puppy owner would immediatley freak out in this situation. That is exactly what Max’s mom did. After some doing some research and consulting with our vet, I learned that is not always cause for immediate alarm. Many people immediatley think that the dog may have Parvo – which causes irregularities in a chug puppys immune system.

What to do if you find blood in your chug puppy’s stool:

• Check for worms in the stool.
• Check his dish. Make sure that his appetite has not changed over the past couple of days.
• Examine your chug puppys energy level and make sure that he is not lethargic.

If everything checks out with the above items, then your chug puppy is probably ok, but it would still be good to consult with your vet. Puppys often overeat or eat objects that may cause tears in their digestive lining.

If your chug puppy does show any of the symptoms above, immediatley get him to a vet, as he may have a more serious condition.

Conditions that cause blood in Chug puppy stool:

• Bacterial infections like ‘Clostridium’ and ‘Salmonella’
• Certain allergies from food additives, emulsifiers or fats
• Contraction of the anus or colon, due to cancer, trauma or inflammation
• Different intestinal parasites like whipworm and ringworm
• Disruption of colon or rectum, due to fractures in the pelvis area
• Inflammation in the anal sacs or ‘Anal Sacculitis’
• Inflammation of the colon (Colitis) or the rectum
• Overeating or ingestion of sharp things (bone, plastic, needles)
• Presence of benign and malignant tumors in the abdomen
• Presence of protozoal agents like ‘Coccidiosis’
• Sudden change in the dietary plan or consuming food meant for people
• Viral infections such as ‘Parovirus’ and ‘Coronavirus’
• Other bleeding disorders in the body

Source: http://pets.iloveindia.com/dogs/blood-in-dog-stool.html

While finding blood in your dog stool can be upsetting, quick action and a confirmed diagnose can stop the problem from getting worse. Make sure you consult your vet and feed your dog quality dog food.

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Itching and scratching in chug dogs can worry pet owners. Noone wants to think their chug dog is suffering. It is important to find out the cause of the itch which can sometimes be difficult. 

The condition of frequent itching is called pruritus (itching) according to veterinarians. There are a wide range of causes and severity of itching and scratching in chug dogs with skin and coat trouble.

The top 10 conditions that cause itching in chug dogs are:

• Fleas
• Airborne allergens
• Parasites, such as ear mites, scabies or cheyletiellosis
• Skin infections caused by bacteria
• Ticks and lice
• Food allergies
• Fungal infections, including yeast infections
• Seborrhea
• Contact allergies
• Whole-body illnesses, such as liver disease, immune-system problems and some cancers.

Itching it chug dogs can be broadly grouped under General Itching, Persistent Itching, Chronic Localized Itching and Chronic/Severe Itching.

In General Itching, the chug chug dog scratches the skin regularly but hardly shows any visible signs of localized problem. The most common reason for this could be fleas and ticks.

The best possible ways of treating itching in chug dogs is a combination of proper medication and skin treatment. Persistence in treating the itchiness topically while you are addressing the underlying causes through diet, supplements and medication will greatly benefit your chug dogs� ability to heal and reduce his or her stress as well.

Are you curious as to how big your chug puppy will get? Most chug owners are. Many people are drawn to the chug breed because of their small size. Based on research the average Chug Puppy is between 6-10lbs, but this can vary. Since chug puppies are not pure breeds, their growth rate can be somewhat unpredictable.

Since chug puppies derive from the Toy Group of dogs, you can generally expect them to reach full size in 4-5 months. The smaller dog groups stop growing earlier than the larger ones.

We’ve seen large chugs such as the ones in this video:

We’ve also seen smaller ones like our chug Max (shown above).

Our chug’s father was a 7lb Chihuahua and his mother was 23lb pug.  His growth since we got him is listed below:

• Week 9: 2.5 lbs
• Week 10: 2.7 lbs
• Week 11: 3.o lbs
• Week 12: 3.3 lbs
• Week 13: 3.6lbs
• Week 14 :4.0lbs
• Week 15: 4.2lbs
• Week 16: 4.3lbs
• Week 17: 4.6lbs
• Week 18: 4.9lbs
• Week 19: 5.1lbs
• Week 20 5.3lbs
• Week 21 5.3lbs
• Week 22: 5.4lbs
• Week 23: 5.6lbs

Your chug puppys growth rate may vary but in general, they tend to remain pretty small in size. Your vet may be able to give you a more accurate prediction of your chug puppy’s size.

We asked ourselves this question a lot before we bought our chug puppy max.  After lots of research and talking to breeders we got our answer: “it Depends”.

Since Chug Dogs are not pure breeds, it is difficult to predict what mix of each breed your chug will have.

However vets at Banfield Animal Hospital have told us that mutts are generally healthier than pure breeds, which is good news if you are considering a chug puppy.

From what we’ve read and witnessed, chugs generally avoid the most common health issue that pugs have - which is breathing and respiratory problems. Our chug max has a longer snout than most pugs and seems to breathe just fine. However, he does sometimes grunt like a pug, but we find that cute.

Here are a list of common health problems found in Toy breeds that your chug puppy could possibly inherit:

• Subluxation of the patella (loose kneecaps).
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar. often present in puppies).
• Collapsing Trachea (coughing, shortness of breath, exhaustion)
• Molera (common in Chihuahua’s, a small soft area in the top of the skull. Usually fades with age)

Chugs tend to have big beading eyes, so be prepared to wipe for “eye boogies”. We do this a few time a day with our chug. Also, depending on how much pug they have in them, you may have to clean under their wrinkles.

Any animal can have health problems. Conditions like these certainly are not a reason to avoid buying the chug puppy your family wants. Just make sure you watch over them and get them checked by a vet regularly.

We started our Chug on Purina Puppy Chow but have heard mixed reviews of the product.

Tonight, we searched the web and compiled a list of the top rated dog foods. Mind you, they are a bit expensive.

Check them out here.

So our chug Max was acting a bit naughty tonight and had to be put in his crate. After that he went out for his nightly walk and tripped and fell off the sidewalk. He landed on his side and did not appear to be injured.

After we brought him inside he started to act very docile and inactive. Generally evening time is when he likes to run around the living room and play with his toys. My girlfriend became worried and thought that the reason he was acting awry was because he may have gotten a concussion from his fall.

After some research on the internet we discovered that he did not have any of the symptoms associated with a concussed dog. However, we were still not convinced. We then approached our chug while he was laying down with a treat and he immediately sprang up and began to play again after almost 3hrs of loafing around.

Given that chiuauas are a bit fiesty/yappy and pugs are stubborn/docile, it makes sense that your chug dog may exhibit some erratic behavior. This is what makes a chug a chug, though.

Sometimes you may get a chug from a breeder before he gets his shots. When we bought our chug Max, he did not have any of his shots because we were anxious to get him and wanted the first pick of the litter.

We consulted a vet at Pet Smart’s Banfield Pet Hospital (which is kind of pricey by the way) and we got his first round of shots and an exam. Due to his size and age, the administration of the rest of his shots will have to be staged.

The cost of the first visit was $140 and included the parvo vaccination, general exam and fecal test for worms.

The doctor recommended the remaining course of treatment afterwards. We have posted it below so you can use it as a reference for your chug puppy.

Timeline of the shots and vaccines your chug puppy will need:

• 6-8 weeks: Leptospirosis,Distemper,  Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo, and Corona virus (DHLPPC)
• 10-12 weeks: Second DHLPPC
• 14-16 weeks: Third DHLPPC and rabies
• Annually: DHLPPC and rabies booster