The Truth About Miniature Pugs

Is There a Miniature Pug?

With the Pug dog being the largest of all toy breed dogs, there is confusion among many people as to whether there is an actual breed of the Miniature Pug or "Pocket Pug"

The Answer

There is no such recognized breed as the Miniature Pug dog. The AKC (American Kennel Club) and other major dog breed clubs do not recognize this dog.

However, there is a dog that is called a Miniature Pug. This dog is a mix of a Chihuahua and a Pug dog. The result is a canine that looks extremely similar to a Pug, however one can notice a difference in the length of the snout which will be just a bit longer. This mixed breed dog will weigh a total of approximately 3 pounds (1.36 kg) when fully grown.

Is This Safe?

Yes and no. Breeding a Chihuahua and a Pug is acceptable, as long as one does not wish to have an AKC recognized dog.

However, the majority of Chihuahuas must give birth via Cesarean section and this does pose a health risk. If both parents are healthy and all goes well during delivery, the pups will be as healthy as any other dog.

Pocket Pugs

While a breeder can in fact breed a Chihuahua with a Pug to produce what the public knows as a Miniature Pugs, there are others who claim to have "Pocket Pugs"

Some breeders will take 2 runt Pug dogs (dogs who are the smallest of their litter) and then breed them together, hoping to produce very small Pugs.

There are even some breeders who take this one step even further and will induce an early labor for the Pug dam. Others will falsify the pup's age so that one will believe that they are receiving a small Pug when that dog is actually younger than the papers show.

Caring for a Miniature Pug

If you have obtained the "Miniature Pug" care. It will follow along the same rules of the care of smaller dog breeds i.e puppy or poodle. This is because this type of dog is approximately 3lbs when fully grown. A pug this small will need to be handled with care. When i am driving in my car and i have a miniature pug with me i need to make sure that it is fastened safely with a seat restraint.

However this type of dog will be vulnerable to failing off the car seat during a sudden stop or slamming of the brakes and can be injured easily. Also care must be taken when family members are walking around the house so that they do not step on it by mistake.

Children especially must be aware that these types of dogs can scoot under their feet quickly. In the process great harm can be done.These miniature pugs sleeping in an owner's bed can pose a risk. Being so tiny can make it possible for the owner to suffocate it while sleeping.

This smaller type of pug may not be able to hold the call of nature for a long time so patience should be given in regard to house training. These miniature pugs will be considered an "underfoot dog", as they should be. The weather may affect the pug more than usual. It is recommended that any miniature dog breeds have dog clothing for the outdoors.

A small dog should be protected from the cold, most importantly. It is advisable to invest in rain gear for the miniature pugs. If your miniature dog breeds are a cross between a Pug and a Chihuahua, there may not be any extra health concerns.

Health issues may arise as a result of ethical breeding. Owning a pug means giving daily loving care. Owning miniature pugs means giving even more important care. As a caring pug owner you need a huge amount of information to properly care for the pug and also create a happy home.