If you’re curious about a Pug-Husky mix (otherwise known as a “Hug”), you’ve come to the right place.
Over the past several decades, many new “designer dog breeds” have become quite popular.
One of these breeds is known as the “Hug”… which is a mix between a Pug and Husky.
In this guide, we’re going to explore what this means (including some controversy!)
… and let you know all the things you MUST know before you get one.
Let’s take a closer look.
Is The Husky Pug Real?
A “designer” dog breed isn’t actually a traditional dog breed at all.
The phenomenon originally started in the 1980s when a man named Wally Conron bred a Labrador to a Standard Poodle.
He did this because he wanted a large dog that wouldn’t trigger his allergies.
Although he hasn’t ever stated why he didn’t simply adopt a Poodle… the decision was made and the first intentional Labradoodles were created.
To be clear, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, even a Poodle.
That being said, certain breeds do cause less of a reaction, with the Poodle usually being in this category.
The puppies from this first litter were so cute that dog lovers went crazy over them and others began to intentionally breed the mix. Mr. Conron has since stated he regrets his decision and this first litter ultimately did more damage than good.
“Instead of breeding out the problems, they’re breeding them in,” Conron shared in an interview.
“For every perfect one, you’re going to find a lot of crazy ones.” But, with a cute face and a cute name, it wasn’t long before Labradoodles were popular all over the world.
Then, other designer breed ideas were spawned.
The Goldendoodle, Jug, and Chiweenie are just a few examples.
None of these designer dogs were created for any specific purpose, other than to be cute and have a cute name.
This brings us to the “Hug”, one of the more recent designer breeds to become popular, and it’s essentially a mixed breed that’s created with a Pug and a Husky.
What Does a Husky Pug Mix Look Like?
As you’d expect, the “hug” has an appearance that’s influenced by both the Husky and Pug presence.
They’ll often be short and stocky while having the familiar squashed look of a pug, along with a dark mask based on the parent breeds.
Their weight can vary depending on which parent’s genes are more dominant, but they’ll usually be somewhere around 12 and 20 inches in height.
If they’re on the smaller side, they could weigh around 20 lbs, while the bigger versions can be 55 lb or more.
The coat markings will also be determined by which parent’s genes end up being more dominant. So this means they’ll have the markings of either a pug or a husky.
The pug version will have a dark snout and brown fur, while the Husky is more likely to have bold separations of color that’ll be gray, white, and black.
Their ears can be floppy like a Pug, or they can stand upright like a Husky.
They can have a straight tail or twisted tail depending on which they inherit from their parent breeds.
How Much Exercise Does the Husky Pug Mix Need?
Any husky owner knows how energetic they can be… whereas pugs tend to be on the lower side.
A mixture of the two breeds tends to result in a medium-level energy level that needs somewhere between 30 minutes and one hour of exercise per day.
So, it’s a good idea to walk them for at least 30 minutes and make time for some other play or physical activities as well.
Making sure they get enough daily exercise is key to a happy, healthy Husky Pux mix.
But if your Husky Pug inherits their energy level more from the Pug side, then it’s possible they’ll be a lazy couch potato who doesn’t want too much activity!
Is The Husky Pug Mix Child-Friendly?
There aren’t any noteworthy aggressive tendencies to this breed.
Instead, both huskies and pugs are friendly and affectionate, so the mixture of the two is about the same as well.
They’ll get along well with children and other pets too, just as long as they’re well socialized, so they can make for great family dogs.
Are Siberian Husky and Pug Mix Dogs As Cute as Expected?
Their cuteness level is always somewhat subjective, but some of them can be “cute”, while others can look… somewhat unconventional.
It often depends on which characteristics they’ve adopted from their parents.
Are Husky Pugs Difficult To Train?
The Hug breed isn’t going to be easy to train… and it’s certainly possible they’ll have a stubborn streak.
Pugs are known for being easily distracted, and they can be somewhat rebellious and won’t have a long attention span.
The Husky is also difficult to train.
While they’re very intelligent, they can also be very independent and challenging overall. If they lack enough stimulation and company, they can develop separation anxiety easily, and it may lead to destructive behaviors later on.
As such, combining these two breeds isn’t a recipe for being easily trainable.
However, positive reinforcement techniques still work, and with proper training, you should be able to teach them the basics.
Short, focused training sessions will be best for the Pug Husky mix. If they’re getting bored, they’ll likely become distracted or reveal some stubborn behavior.
In many cases, extensive obedience training isn’t going to be easy with this one.
Facts About The Husky Pug Mix
In order to understand what to expect if you bring home a Pug Husky mix… you first have to understand the two breeds that it’s been bred from.
The Pug
Pugs originated in China.
The breed is known for being playful, affectionate, and cheerful.
They were bred as companions to the ruling families in China and were highly treasured.
In fact, they were guarded by soldiers when not with their emperor owners!
Pugs spread throughout Asia and were finally introduced in Europe. History says that the Pug became the official dog of the House Of Orange after the pet of the Prince of Orange saved his life by alerting him to would-be assassins.
Over time, Pugs have been bred to be smaller and stockier, with shorter legs and flatter snouts.
The Pug is also known as a brachycephalic breed, which means they’re flat-faced breeds with shorter noses (which can also lead to breathing problems). They’re also prone to skin conditions.
They tend to have lower energy levels, which means they won’t usually need heavy exercise.
The Husky
The Siberian Husky was first bred by the Chukchi people in northeastern Asia.
The breed was created to be companions and to work as sled dogs.
These dogs were so cherished they were allowed to sleep in the family home at night… (an unusual occurrence prior to modern times.) It wasn’t until 1909 that the Siberian Husky was brought to the United States, to compete in a sled dog race in Alaska.
From then on, the breed became a favorite among mushers.
The Siberian Husky is energetic, friendly, and one of the most intelligent breeds.
There’s a lot of power and endurance packed into the medium-sized body of this hard-working dog breed… and as such, they need lots of exercise.
3 Things To Consider Before Getting A Husky Pug Mix
When purchasing a purebred dog, you can generally know what to expect.
Even though individual dogs can have very different personalities… it’s normal to anticipate a certain energy level or behavior.
But when two very different breeds are mixed, it’s a total gamechanger.
Here are 3 things to consider before bringing a Husky Pug mix into your life:
1. Size Could Be An Issue
If you’re seeking a small dog then you shouldn’t consider a pug husky mix.
Genetics are somewhat random and while a Husky Pug might end up being pug-sized, maxing out at 18 pounds, it could just as easily end up weighing up to 60 pounds!
2. You’ll Need To Groom Your Husky Pug Often
Huskies are known for having thick double coats and for shedding an extreme amount. Pugs, even with a shorter coat, also shed.
If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t need to be groomed, don’t consider the Husky Pug mixed breed… because you’ll have to keep up with removing the dead hair that lingers in their coats.
Pugs are also vulnerable to skin issues, and their wrinkly skin folds are prone to dermatitis, yeast infections, and skin irritations if they’re not looked after correctly.
It’s wise to use a damp washcloth daily over your dog’s skin folds to keep them clean and reduce the chance of skin conditions developing over time.
3. Pug/Husky Mixes Are Often High Energy
An apartment likely isn’t the right setting for a Husky Pug mix.
These pups will need to be regularly exercised and will do best in a home with a yard.
Regular exercise and frequent walks will be needed if they’ve inherited mostly from the Husky side.
10 Serious Health Issues Pug/Husky Mixes Could Have
Just because a “Hug” is a mix of two breeds doesn’t mean it’s less likely to have health issues.
Depending on which breed they take after the most, Husky Pug mixes could be diagnosed with:
1. Stenotic Nares
When a dog has stenotic nares, it means their nostrils are narrowed.
This can cause snoring, snorting, and can make it difficult to breathe. Typically, stenotic nares need to be corrected via surgery.
2. Elongated Soft Palate
The soft palate is the part of the body that separates the mouth from the throat, protecting the respiratory tract from food.
When the soft palate is too long, it extends past the epiglottis and the tonsillar crypts.
Basically, it partially blocks the throat, causing breathing and eating issues.
Elongated soft palates can be fixed through surgery.
3. Laryngeal Collapse
Laryngeal collapse occurs when the cartilage in the larynx becomes weak and losses rigidity.
When the larynx collapses, dogs have great difficulty breathing. Some cases can be treated with sedation, anti-inflammatory drugs, and oxygen therapy.
However, some dogs require a tracheostomy.
4. Patellar Luxation
The patella is the kneecap.
The kneecap is supposed to sit in a groove on the femur, sliding up and dog as the leg bends and moves. However, when a dog has a patellar luxation, the kneecap will move out of the groove and move in an unnatural way.
This can be painful and many dogs with a luxation will hop or skip as they move.
Patellar luxations are graded to indicate the severity and may require surgical correction.
5. Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease causes the sudden and spontaneous degeneration of the head of the femur. This results in arthritis and the disintegration of the hip joint.
Most dogs are diagnosed with this condition at a very young age, between five and eight months old.
6. Entropion
When a dog is with entropion, this means that their eyelid is inverted or folded in.
This causes the eyelashes or fur to rub the eyeball causing irritation and ultimately damaging the eye enough to cause ulceration.
Entropion surgery can correct it.
7. Allergies
Food and environmental allergies present in many ways, including vomiting, diarrhea, skin infection, and hair loss.
Dogs with severe allergies should be tested to determine exactly what their allergies are.
8. Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE)
The cause of this neurological disease is unknown, however, it’s suspected to be hereditary. It’s also suspected to be an autoimmune disease.
Dogs, meaning pugs and pug mixes, that are diagnosed with this disease suffer from an inflammation of the brain that causes seizures and ultimately death.
This disease usually occurs in dogs that are around 2-3 years old.
9. Juvenile Cataracts
Juvenile cataracts occur in dogs as young as 6 months and as old as 6 years. Cataracts can damage the eyes quickly and should be treated quickly.
Your veterinarian might recommend surgical correction of the lens.
10. Hip Dysplasia
Thi condition occurs when the thighbone isn’t fitting correctly into the hip joint.
Hip Dysplasia is common in Huskies, so if the husky parent passes on this condition it will occur in the Hug pup, too.
The reality is that all dogs, no matter the breed, come with potential genetic disorders.
It’s important to always understand the medical conditions your dog might be at risk for prior to adoption.
How Long Does a Husky Pug Live?
This mixed breed tends to have an average life span between 12 and 15 years.
But due to the many health conditions they risk inheriting, the quality of life isn’t guaranteed through every life stage.
Their medical expenses can become costly if they develop a few difficult conditions, which is something to keep in mind when considering the Pug Husky mix.
Final Thoughts
The real issue with Pug Husky mix designer breeds is that some irresponsible breeders have started making these mixes just to make money.
These breeders will charge exorbitant amounts, and with the increase in popularity also comes the increase in the number of designer breeds in shelters.
Remember: A reputable breeder will also care about the welfare of the pet… rather than merely the profit that can be made.
If you have a certain type of dog in mind, why not check your local rescue organizations first?
You might just find your perfect companion waiting for you to come for a visit.
There are plenty of rescue center dogs who need homes.
And don’t forget about adopting older pets.
They’re often overlooked, but there are some great ones out there.
If you’re adamant about getting a Husky Pug, make sure you choose a responsible breeder who’s doing their best to create healthy, happy dogs, rather than just making a quick buck.
