Hug Dog Breed

The Hug is a recent addition to the "designer hybrid" group that is quite an interesting mix. He hails from two very different breeds. The medium-large Siberian Husky is a tough working companion while the Pug is purely companion and has been considered a treasure since ancient times. The Hug breed is suited to any household, however, new owner's might have difficulty training them. The following Hug facts may aid you in deciding whether this is the right breed:

PROS

• Loving, loyal and cheerful
• Gentle with children
• Friendly with other pets
• Well mannered with visitors
• Not aggressive towards visitors
• Alert barks but is otherwise pretty quiet
• Should have less respiratory issues than the purebred Pug
• Exercise needs are not too difficult to meet for the average owner
• Interesting mix that will likely receive attention

CONS

• Training may be very difficult for a first time owner
• They shed quite a bit
• Shouldn't be a solely outdoor dog
• May be prone to separation anxiety
• May be prone to obesity
• Not a guard dog
• Not an intense exercise partner

Hugs are a rather strange cross of Siberian Husky and Pug. Some will take on the energetic, friendly and alert personality of the Husky while others will be charming and loving like the Pug, regardless, they will likely take a mischievous attitude and gentle manners from both parents. We recommend visiting both parent breed pages to learn more about what traits your Hug dog may inherit.

This breed is likely to be mischievous and may be hard for a first time owner to train. If they inherit the Husky's high energy and the Pug's willfulness, this will be especially true and it recommended to begin training and socialization as early as possible; you will need to be firm, consistent and dominant. Treats, toys and games are great motivators for this breed.

Hug dogs are loving, loyal and happy dogs. Sometimes they are high energy like the Husky but many are a bit on the lazy side (like the Pug). They should be gentle and even-tempered around kids and other pets. They may alert you when a stranger approaches but are not aggressive dogs by nature. Your hug probably won't be happy being left along all day, make sure you allow him to be part of the family when you are home from your daily activities.

This breed's exercise requirements will depend upon whether they are more Husky or Pug like. Some will be couch potatoes and others may love to play for hours. At least 30 minutes of outdoor activity is recommended daily and a yard is recommended but not required. This breed will enjoy moderate walks, trips to the dog park and games with toys.

The Hug will vary greatly in appearance based on which dominant traits they inherited. Some will look mostly Pug-like while others will resemble the Husky. Generally, expect them to be larger than the Pug with a stockier, longer body as well as longer legs. The face is usually rounder than that of the Husky with a short neck and "squished" facial features, but not nearly shortened to the extent of the Pug's. This breed's ears are triangular and hang alongside the face or stand erect before flopping over midway up. Tails can be straight or curly and the coat length will vary too, perhaps being shorter like the pugs or a bit longer like the Husky's. Overall, he should be a medium sized dog since Huskies are medium to large (35-60 lbs) but Pugs are small (14-18 lbs); the best way to guess the size your Hug will attain is to judge from the size of the parent dogs.

Since the Hug is a cross of dog breeds that are quite different, individual Hugs can differ quite a bit from one dog to another. Their faces can be squashed (Pug) or long (Husky), the ears can be hanging or erect, the tails short or medium in length. Many breeders employ the use of F1b breeding (which is 75 percent of one breed, 25 percent of the other) in their selective breeding to have their dogs favor one breed in size and physical features. An example of this F1b breeding would be to cross an F1 Hug (purebred Husky x purebred Pug) with a purebred Pug; those Hug offspring would be smaller on average, and would likely have more squashed faces and smaller ears.

The coats can vary in length and thickness, and can be short and glossy like the Pug's or thick and double-layered like the Husky's.

Size variations are probably the greatest of all. Huskies average 50 pounds in weight, and Pugs about 15, so a Hug can weigh anywhere in between.

Husky x Pug crosses should produce puppies that live to be healthier than their purebred parents, especially first generation crosses. As this is a new (and not yet popular) hybrid there isn't much specific health information for them. We recommend visiting both of our parent breed pages for the Siberian Husky and the Pug to familiarize yourself with possible health issues that can be passed down to your Hug.

Remember, choosing a responsible breeder that can answer all of your questions is key, as are routine trips to your vet. Both the Husky and Pug have lifespans of 12-15 years, on average, so you can expect your new pet to live a similarly long life.