Pugese

11-15 lbs
10-13"
Unknown
Pug
Chinese Crested

The Pugese is a designer hybrid between the Chinese Crested dog, a dog originally employed as a ratter on ships around the world, and the Pug, a companion to royalty for thousands of years. These small dogs are generally very loving and affectionate with their owners but may be more reserved and even anxious or jealous towards outsiders. These dogs are just as comfortable in a smaller living space as they are in larger homes and can often be quite happily entertained with indoor games of fetch or hide and seek, but they can be predisposed to separation anxiety and housetraining can present a challenge, particularly before they gain full control of their bladders at around six months of age. 

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Pug and Chinese Crested

Pugese Health

Average Size
Male Pugese size stats
Height: 10-13 inches Weight: 11-15 lbs
Female Pugese size stats
Height: 10-13 inches Weight: 11-15 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Dental Disease
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)
Minor Concerns
  • Canine Hip Dysplasia
  • Glaucoma
  • Lens Luxation
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Brachycephalic Syndrome
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  • Skin Diseases and Disorders
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Demodicosis
  • Deafness
  • Hemivertebra
  • Seizures
Occasional Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Skin Evaluation
  • Dental and Oral Examinations
  • X-rays or other radiographic imaging

Pugese Breed History

The Pugese is a designer dog, also known as a boutique dog, an intentional mix between two breeds, in this case, a very capable ship’s ratter, the Chinese Crested breed, and the Pug, a treasured companion to royalty for thousands of years. The more recently recorded of the two breeds, the Chinese Crested dog, has been sold, traded, and bartered for at several ports since the 1500s. They were so quickly popularized as ratting dogs on ships and distributed around the world, often by Chinese sailors, that their port of origin has been almost completely obscured. Some experts believe this breed to be a descendant of African Hairless dogs, while others think that they have South American or Central American roots instead. It wasn’t until the 1900s that they were popularized as a pet in the United States, and not until 1991 that they were recognized by the American Kennel Club. Although there are several dog fanciers who show elegant, well-heeled Chinese Crested dogs at traditional dog shows, most people are more likely to recognize the breed from the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition, where Chinese Crested and Chinese Crested mix dogs have taken first place in ten of the competitions since it started in 2000. The Pug may be an even older breed, as they have been recorded as part of the royal landscape of China since the Shang dynasty, a dynasty which lasted from approximately 1600 and 1046 BC. These little dogs were both prized possessions and the cherished companions of the Chinese royalty, venerated enough to be given as gifts to visiting royal families and other dignitaries who transported them throughout the known world. They became exceptionally popular in England and were notable at the court King William III and his wife, Queen Mary II, during the 1600s and again at the court of Queen Victoria during the 1800s, and in the United States the Pug breed has the honor of being one of the first 15 dog breeds that were recognized by the newly formed American Kennel Club in 1885.

Pugese Breed Appearance

The Pugese is a very small dog, the combination of two toy-sized breeds that are otherwise quite different from one another. The Pug is a stout, squarely-built animal with a short, broad head, square muzzle, soft, round eyes that frequently protrude, and short ears that are set far apart and fall forward or to the sides, ultimately laying close to the head. On the other hand, the Chinese Crested is a slender dog with a more rectangular shape, a narrow head and a slim, tapered muzzle, almond-shaped eyes, and large erect ears that sit high up on the head. Even the coats are quite different; while the Pug has a universally soft, short, single-layer coat, the Chinese Crested can come in two varieties, the powderpuff variety, a double-layer coat consisting of soft undercoat with a long, silky coat over it, or a nearly hairless coat, frequently with patches of long, silky hair on the head, tail, and lower legs. As the Pugese can take any of their characteristics from either parent breed, there can be quite a bit of difference between individual dogs, even within the same litter. 

Eye Color Possibilities
blue Pugese eyes
Blue
hazel Pugese eyes
Hazel
brown Pugese eyes
Brown
amber Pugese eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black Pugese nose
Black
brown Pugese nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
black Pugese coat
Black
fawn Pugese coat
Fawn
blue Pugese coat
Blue
brown Pugese coat
Brown
cream Pugese coat
Cream
pied Pugese coat
Pied
white Pugese coat
White
sable Pugese coat
Sable
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Pugese straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Pugese Breed Maintenance

The grooming requirements for this hybrid can vary from dog to dog, depending on which coat your specific dog has inherited. The short coat of the Pug is very easy to care for, requiring infrequent bathing and short weekly brushing sessions with a slicker brush or grooming glove to remove shed hairs and to keep the coat soft and shiny. The coat and exposed skin that characterizes the “hairless” Chinese Crested tends to necessitate more frequent baths than for other dogs, often requiring bathing as often as a few times a month and the crests and plumes of hair require combing a few times a week to prevent tangles from forming. It is particularly important to be selective in choosing your shampoo for these dogs due to their tendency to develop acne and other skin conditions. The Pugese hybrids that inherit the long, double coat of the powderpuff variety require brushing on a daily basis and tend to have the same sensitive skin as the hairless variety, so while they do not require bathing quite as often, it is still needed around once a month or so.  

Brushes for Pugese
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Comb
Scissors
Scissors
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Pugese requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Pugese Temperament

The Pugese is typically a pleasant companion, fairly high-spirited, even a little clownish on occasion, but also capable of conducting itself with dignity. Both parent breeds are known for being very affectionate with their chosen person or people, but may be more reserved with strangers. They are generally amicable towards other animals and not prone to chasing, although some may develop jealous behaviors, particularly if socialization is neglected, and they may be more prone to separation anxiety than other dogs. These diminutive canines may be affectionate, but they are understandably intolerant of teasing or rough behavior, and interactions between these tiny dogs and children or larger animals should be carefully monitored for the safety of the child and the canine. These little dogs can be stubborn, smart, and independent, a combination that can make them somewhat difficult to train; training is generally most effective if started early, kept short, and paired with food as a motivator. These puppies may be unable to fully control their bladder or bowels until they are around six months old, further complicating housetraining efforts. 

Pugese Activity Requirements

This hybrid is generally an energetic and high-spirited animal, but it doesn’t typically require a great deal of exercise to remain happy and healthy, and they are generally content with just 30 minutes of vigorous activity per day. Exercise and activities for these small dogs are typically most effective if they are split into two or even three shorter sessions each day. It is particularly important to take weather conditions into consideration when exercising the Pugese as brachycephalic dogs are susceptible to heat exhaustion and dogs with bare skin may require protection from exposure to either the ultraviolet rays of the sun or the drying or damaging effects of the cold.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
5 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes
activity minutes

Pugese Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Pugese Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Pugese size stats at six months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs
Female Pugese size stats at six months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 10.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Pugese size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 13.0 lbs
Female Pugese size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 13.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Pugese size stats at 18 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 13.0 lbs
Female Pugese size stats at 18 months
Height: 11.5 inches Weight: 13.0 lbs

Pugese Owner Experiences

Moji
9 Months
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Play
Walking
He is a funny, friendly and playful dog, very outgoing with people and other dogs. Enjoys walking very much.
2 years, 11 months ago
Ozzie
2 Years
2 People
Studio
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Obedience training
Cuddles
Fetch games
Long walks
Weve just adopted Ozzie from a rescue agency 2 weeks ago. He is already learning well some basic obedience and good manners. We live aboard a narrowboat in the UK and he is living being a boat dog
4 years, 9 months ago
Missy
9 Months
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
cuddletime
Treattime
grooming
Missy is an awesome dog who thinks she is human. we live in an apartment but that's ok because missy does not like going out much
4 years, 2 months ago
Fudge
10 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Treat time
sitting
Riding in Car
Very quiet, does not like to be hugged, steals other dogs food. A little overweight: 24lbs. Likes to be tucked in when it gets dark.
4 years, 1 month ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd