Husky pug mix | Pugsky | Is Hug dog right for you?

An interesting designer dog breed that is made by crossing Pug with Husky is the Hug Dog. It is also known as Pugsky.

Husky pug mix aka Hug Dog is a beautiful crossbreed between two popular dogs pug and husky. They are bred as family dogs and are popular for being affectionate, smart, alert, and loyal dogs.

Interesting fact – Due to the size difference, Husky is always the mother for Husky Pug mix.

Husky Pug mix at a glance

Husky Pug mix – Appearance

As with other designer dog breeds, Husky Pug mix appearance may vary based on which parent genes are more dominant.

Their muzzle may vary from a defined one of a Husky to a completely flat face of a Hug. Typically their face will be somewhere in between. Wrinkles on the face like a Pug are also possible.

It is often seen in Hugs to have the beautiful blue eyes of Husky parents. They have pointed ears. The coat of a Pug husky mix is short and shiny that comes in varied colors like Black, Gray, White, and Silver.

Husky pug mix can grow to anywhere between 10 to 22 inches in height and 30 to 60 pounds in weight. The lifespan of a husky pug mix is around 12 to 15 years.

Hug Dog Temperament

Playful, loving and loyal

Husky Pug mix are cheerful and affectionate dogs who are loyal and devoted to their owners.

Attention seeker

They will try their best to be the center of attraction with their clownish actions. They are also prone to separation anxiety if left alone for long.

Intelligent but obstinate

Pugsky are intelligent dogs who can be obstinate. This makes them difficult to train.

Alert but not aggressive

Being alert, they will notify you with bark and do well as watchdogs without being aggressive to strangers.

Energetic or lazy?

Being lazy or energetic would depend on which parent breed genes are more prominent. If it is Husky, they will be quite energetic but if Pug genes are dominant, they will be lazy.

Children friendly

Most often, they would love to play and cuddle around with children though as with other dogs, adult supervision is recommended when children are with them.

Not suitable for confined spaces

Husky, a working dog, is one of the parents of Husky Pug mix. This makes them active dogs who need to vent out their energy. Thus they are not suitable in a small living area and need space.

Experienced owners preferred

These dogs are intelligent but can be obstinate as well with their independent attitude. They shed moderate to heavy and are also prone to Pug / Husky ailments. This makes them difficult for a newbie owner.

Husky Pug mix – Care

Nutrition

The size of Hug dog parent breeds, namely Pug and Husky, differs a lot. Also while Husky would say no to food when his stomach is full, the pug is a greedy eater. This makes Husky and Pug’s nutritional requirements a lot different.

This also means food for your pooch would differ based on which parent breed’s genes are more dominant.

If Husky genes are more dominant, you should look for food that is packed with proteins and calories. Huskies tend to eat less and conserve their energy for long times.

If Pug genes are more dominant, you should look for food that has minimum calories. This is because Pugs are prone to obesity being lazy and greedy eaters.

We would recommend NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Large Breed – chicken if your pooch is similar in shape and size to a Husky.

If your Pooch is short in size and similar to a Pug, then we would recommend Nutro wholesome essentials small breed – chicken.

Here is a link to our recommended dog foods for Pugs

Exercise

While Husky is an active dog and part of the working dog breed, Pugs are toy dogs and considered to be lazy. Pug Husky mix has moderate to high energy levels.

It is best to have a yard where they can play and vent out their energy. If you can’t manage that, it is recommended to have 1/2 to 1-hour long walk daily.

If your dog is shorter and Pug like 1/2 hour should be sufficient else 1 hour long walk daily is recommended.

Another important point to be aware of is that Pugs are flat-faced and are prone to Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS).

This means they can get overheated quickly and you should not go for exercise with them in direct sunlight.

Be extra careful if his size and temperament are of Husky but face is like a pug. This would mean Pugsky would be quite active and can get overheated quickly which can become Life-threatening.

It is better to engage him with play and games indoor so as to subdue his urge to sprint.

Grooming a Husky Pug mix

As both the parents of Pug Husky mix shed heavily, they will also shed heavily. Huskies have a double coat and most of the Pugs except few like the black pugs also have a double-coat.

Thus there is a high chance that Husky pug mix would also have a double coat.

This means that the Pug Husky mix will shed moderate to high and you will need to brush at least twice a week. We would recommend FURminator to capture most of the hairs.

Training a Husky Pug mix

Hug dog is intelligent with an independent attitude to make the best decisions for himself. This will make it difficult to train.

It is recommended to start obedience training and socialization at the puppy age. Positive reinforcement training is recommended for them.

Health

This is a new designer breed and hence not much has been studied about them. They are considered to be prone to ailments of their parent breeds. Few are mentioned below.

Hip dysplasia

It is a medical condition in which thigh bone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. This could be painful in varied degrees and slowly leads to arthritis.

This is an inheritable disease and dogs having this should not be bred.

Elbow dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia means abnormal development of the elbow joint. This causes damage to the cartilage surface of the joint and again leads to arthritis. This is also an inheritable disease and dog having it should be neutered.

Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)

This is a medical condition prone to dogs having a flat-face like Pugs. Flat face dogs have a reduced skull length and excess soft tissue in their airways which may obstruct airflow.

This leads them to find difficulty in breathing even after a moderate level of exercise. It is best to consult the vet if you see any symptoms. Tips to reduce any severe impact include

1. Avoiding exercise in a hot climate or direct sunlight.
2. Avoid excessive exercising
3. Keeping the dog hydrated
4. Keeping his weight in check

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

This is a medical condition of eyes where the retina slowly degenerates. Symptoms start with night blindness and slowly turning into complete blindness in one to two years. This is also a genetic issue.

Dermatitis

If your pooch has wrinkles on his face like a Pug, he may become prone to skin-related issues. Like with all wrinkle dogs, care should be taken to keep the skin folds clean from dust and moisture.

This blog post provides list of Wrinkle dogs and how you should care for them – https://yourdogsworld.com/b/wrinkle-dogs/

Pros and Cons of a Husky Pug Mix

FAQ – Husky pug mix

How to get a Husky Pug mix?

Though relatively popular among the designer crossbreeds, it is still rare to find a breeder of repute to get a Husky pug mix. We suggest you to first check the local shelters of Pugs and Husky to find one.

If you want to go for a breeder, make sure to not get carried away to get one quickly. You should do some groundwork like below.

• Do a reference check of the breeder and see what has been his feedback from locals or past owners.
• Check for all the health records of the puppy and the parents as Pugsky is prone to many genetic diseases.
• Check the area where Puppies are kept for cleanliness and lighting.

Origins

Let us also give you an overview of their parent breeds so you have the complete picture of how Husky Mix may be based on the dominant genes of any of them.

Husky

Huskies are known for their wolf-like appearance and striking blue eyes. They were originally bred by the Chukchi tribe in the polar regions for their intelligence and endurance.

Tribal people used to use them for sledding loads in winters and leave them to roam free in summers. So they developed their independent attitude for survival.

Huskies love everyone and may befriend an intruder as well so yes they are not good guard dogs. Instead, they are good working dogs. They are full of energy and are very active.

Be cautious if you pet a Husky. They are known to be escape artists and may find ways to escape the fence. Huskies don’t bark much but are still noisy with their howls. They have a high prey drive.

Due to their charismatic wolf-like appearance many dog lovers make this breed as their pet. Often realizing later that they are not suitable for them.

They can be obstinate with their independent thinking and are quite difficult to train. They need lots of exercise else they can become destructive.

An adult Husky can grow to a size of 20 to 23 inches tall and weigh approximately 35 to 60 pounds. Their average lifespan is around 12 to 15 years.

Popular Husky mix are:

1. German Shepherd Husky mix
2. Rottweiler Husky mix
3. Newfoundland Husky mix
4. Chihuahua Husky mix
5. Samoyed Husky mix
6. Husky Poodle mix

Pug

Pugs are an old dog breed that originated from China. They are known for their witty humor and the bonding they make with the humans.

Their naughty tricks have earned them the title of Clown of the dog’s world. They are small loyal companions who will keep you cheerful with their funny acts.

Be aware, Pugs have prominent eyes on their face and you should be careful as they are prone to eye injuries. They also have wrinkles on their face and you need to keep the skin folds free from dirt and moisture else they may become prone to skin ailments.

They are small loyal dogs who have a flat face and are prone to heat exhaustion. Due to this, they should not be left or made to do exercise in high temperatures. They should be kept under shade or best indoors.

Pugs weigh approx 14 to 18 pounds and are generally 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder. The average lifespan of a pug is around 12 to 15 years.

One of the popular Pug mix is Pug German shepherd mix.

Is Husky Pug mix the right breed?

Well, there are couple of ways to think about it.

Would the new breed be healthy?

We know that if we make a crossbreed, they may have some unusual genetic defects. This being a new designer dog breed, not much study has been done on them so we don’t know yet on this. Still, they may be genetically prone to their parent’s ailments.

At the same time, we know crossbreeds can be healthy due to what is known as hybrid vigor. Check more about this in References link 2 below.

Would it be ethical to breed a Husky Pug mix?

Many believe it is not right. As it is not feasible to make a crossbreed naturally due to the huge difference in size. This cross breed is only possible with the help of IVF treatment, the advancement of science.

Do we recommend?

We don’t recommend this breed as it is not natural for the two-parent breeds to mate and produce offsprings. It is like playing or going against nature to do this. While we respect that few may have different views on this subject.

Nevertheless, choose Husky Pug mix after carefully reading the above details. So you understand what is expected from you as a responsible dog owner that will make both Pugsky and you happy.

Hope we gave you good insights on Husky pug mix. Do let us know how you feel about this new designer dog breed in the comments below.

References

1. https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/pug-brachycephalic-airway-obstruction-syndrome
2. https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/the-myth-of-hybrid-vigor-in-dogsis-a-myth
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561692503060
4. Image source – Instagram/ @legend_of_norma_jean amazing Insta channel for Husky Pug mix.