A comical, devoted cross between a Pug and a Chihuahua, clownish charm in a sturdy little body with a mind of its own.
Designer crosssmall breedPug and ChihuahuaParent profiles checked
About this profile: the Chug is a cross, also known as the Pughuahua, not a recognized breed with a standard. Size, lifespan and care figures here are estimates drawn from our full profiles of the two parent breeds, the Pug and the Chihuahua, and individual dogs vary more than purebreds do. That variation is normal for a cross and is stated plainly rather than hidden.
The Chug is not recognized by the AKC and has no breed standard, no registry and no guarantee of traits. The AKC recognizes the parent breeds, the Pug and the Chihuahua, but not their cross. Coat, size, temperament and health vary more in crosses than in purebreds, and two puppies from one litter can grow into noticeably different dogs. Any breeder who promises an exact adult size, a non shedding coat or a fixed temperament for a Chug is promising something no one can deliver. Judge litters by the actual parents: their health testing, their temperaments and how they are raised.
The Chug crosses two ancient companion breeds with opposite silhouettes. The Pug brings a sturdy, square body, a clownish love of people and a flat face that needs lifelong care. The Chihuahua brings tiny size, fierce devotion and a watchdog streak. Most Chugs land in between: small, affectionate, funny dogs with a slightly longer muzzle than a pure Pug in many litters, though that outcome varies and is never a promise a breeder can honestly make.
Chugs are a modern designer cross with no registry and no standard. Muzzle length, build and coat vary a great deal by litter, precisely because the parents differ so much: some puppies look like small Pugs, others like sturdy Chihuahuas. Because one parent is a flat faced breed, judge litters by the Pug parent breathing, build and health testing above every claim about the cross being an improved Pug.
Charming, mischievous and people centered. Chugs typically adore their families, greet visitors happily, play in cheerful bursts and then claim a lap. The Chihuahua side adds loyalty to one favorite person and a barkier watchdog note; the Pug side adds patience and comedy. Early socialization keeps the mix balanced, and kind, consistent training suits a cross that can be quietly stubborn about house rules.
Energy (3/5)
Trainability (3/5)
Grooming needs (3/5)
Shedding (4/5)
Barking (3/5)
Good with children: Good with children
With other dogs: Good with dogs
With strangers: Friendly with strangers
Apartment life: Well suited
Coat: A short, smooth coat, often double like the Pug and shedding more than its length suggests. Some puppies carry a slightly longer Chihuahua style coat.
Colors: Fawn, silver and black from the Pug side, plus the Chihuahua wide palette of cream, chocolate, red and mixed markings.
Wipe any face folds clean and dry, brush weekly and keep nails short. The lifelong duties are weight control, because extra pounds load flat faced airways, and heat discipline: exercise in cool hours, never leave the dog in a warm car and learn the signs of overheating. Teeth need daily attention, as both parents crowd teeth in small jaws.
Thirty to forty five minutes a day in sessions matched to the individual dog breathing, always in the cool of the day in warm weather. A fit Chug enjoys garden play and neighborhood walks, but enthusiasm is not a safety gauge: stop at noisy, labored breathing.
Light: a weekly brush, fold cleaning where folds exist, ear checks and dental care. The effort saved on the coat belongs in the budget for vet care, because the Pug side carries above average health costs.
Chugs are bright enough and eager for rewards, with a stubborn streak from both sides that makes consistency matter. Reward based training, early socialization and a solid recall make them easy companions. House training takes a strict routine, and polite greetings are worth teaching before the clown routine becomes jumping.
A strong city and family dog for owners who love the Pug character and accept flat faced care rules without exception. Chugs suit flats, travel well and are happiest where someone is around for much of the day. They fit gentle children well, with the usual supervision, and they ask mainly for company, measured meals and cool air.
About $10 per month for a typical 12 lb adult eating roughly 0.7 cups a day of a standard quality food ($1.60 per lb). Full breakdown in our food expense calculator.
Plan 30 to 45 minutes a day of walks, play and training. Under exercised dogs of most breeds invent their own projects, and they rarely pick good ones.
Estimated US range $52 to $90 per month for accident and illness cover, estimated from the parent breeds' published ranges on this site; see the insurance estimator and the insurance guide.
On the monthly figures above, a typical adult year runs to about $120 for food and $624 to $1080 for insurance, before routine vet care, grooming and gear. Year one costs more: vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, a crate, bedding and training all land at once.
How weight typically builds with age for this cross, estimated from the parent breeds sizes.
| Stage | Age | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | 8 weeks | about 1 to 3 lb |
| Puppy | 4 months | about 3 to 6 lb |
| Puppy | 6 months | about 5 to 9 lb |
| Young | 9 months | about 6 to 12 lb |
| Young | 12 months | about 7 to 14 lb |
| Adult | Full grown | 8 to 16 lb (typical range) |
| Senior | From about 10 years | Healthy weight stays in the adult range; watch for slow gain or loss |
Growth figures are estimates interpolated from the adult weight ranges of the two parent breeds, following the size class growth pattern used across this site. Cross puppies vary more than purebred puppies; steady growth matters more than hitting any single number, and your vet's growth checks come first.
Puppies need careful heat management, gentle handling and early fold and teeth handling habits. Adults are playful, settled companions when kept lean and fit. Seniors need weight discipline, breathing aware exercise and prompt attention to eye and skin changes.
Breathing comes first, as with the Pug parent: ask whether the Pug parent was breathing graded, and ask about patella, heart and eye screening on both sides.
Health notes summarize the conditions the two parent breeds profiles and breed guidance most often flag. They are general information for choosing and caring, not a diagnosis or a substitute for your vet. Parent profiles: Pug and Chihuahua.
There is no standalone cost guide for the Chug: as a cross, its adult size, coat and health risks land between its two parents, so the honest figures live in the parent guides. See the Pug cost guide and the Chihuahua cost guide, and run your own mix in the cost calculator.
A typical lifespan is 11 to 15 years. That range is an estimate drawn from the two parent breeds, and weight control, dental care and buying from health tested parents give a dog the best chance of reaching the top of it.
Food for a typical adult runs about $10 a month at a standard quality tier, and accident and illness insurance is estimated between $52 and $90 a month in the US, based on the parent breeds' ranges. Try the full cost calculator for a complete year one and yearly picture.
Good with children. As with every breed and cross, supervise dogs and children together and teach children to respect the dog's space and rest.
Plan on 30 to 45 minutes a day, split between walks, play and training games. Puppies and seniors need gentler, shorter sessions.
Sometimes somewhat, in breathing, when the Chihuahua parent contributes a longer muzzle. But the Pug parent is flat faced, outcomes vary by puppy, and no breeder can guarantee an individual Chug airway. Parent breathing grading still decides most of it.
The Pug profile The Chihuahua profile All breeds Compare breeds
This page is general information drawn from the published guidance of the organizations listed under Sources below. It is not veterinary advice, and it does not replace your own veterinarian, who knows your dog. If your dog is unwell or has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 straight away. A consultation fee may apply on the helplines.
Last updated: November 2026. Cross figures on this page are estimates drawn from the two parent breed profiles and are labeled as estimates wherever they appear. How we work: our methodology.