“Pug Shih Tzu Mix”
A Pug zu is a crossbred between two purebreds: The Pug and the Shih Tzu. Its other names are Pug Tzu or Pugzu.
This dog is sweet, friendly, playful, confident, and headstrong. It inherited its sweet, friendly and playful side from the Pug while its headstrong and confident side originates from the Shih Tzu. This dog is a fun companion for first-time dog owners, kids, other dogs, and other pets.
When it comes to its lineage, this crossbreed’s parents are ancient breeds. The Shih Tzus have been around since 800 BC in Tibet while the Pugs have been around since 200 BC in China. Despite this lineage, the Pug zu only appeared during the 1980s when the breeders started thinking of crossbreeding purebred dogs.
APPEARANCE
A pug zu is a small dog, which is reminiscent of its parents. A 6-month old pug zu can weigh up to 7 pounds and can be as tall as 5 inches. A 12-month pug zu weighs 14 pounds and has a height of 9 inches. An 18-month old is as tall as 10 inches and weighs 15 pounds. An adult pug zu in average weighs 8 to 22 pounds and can be as tall as 8 to 12 inches.
Like its pug parent, its appearance can vary. A pug zu may look more similar to either of its parents or a combination of both.
Most pug zus will most likely look Pug-like. They have a more muscular body than their Shih-Tzu parent and will have Pug markings. The markings can be either black or fawn in color.
A pug zu’s coat depends on which of its parents’ characteristic it inherited the most. It is usually medium to long in length. Its coat can be normal or somewhat dense. Aside from that, its coat can have a straight texture.
This crossbreed tends to keep their hair like the Shih Tzu. They have two coats, with the outer layer growing as long as its Shih Tzu parent. Still, a Pug-like layer can be seen if the outer layer is separated from the skin.
There is a possibility that its tail may curl but not as tightly as its Pug parent. Their tail may or may not be plumed as well. The curl of its tail can mimic and grow as long as a Shih Tzu.
Pug zus eyes are commonly brown. Their nose color is mainly black. Additionally, their coat color can range from black, brown, white, fawn, apricot and brindle.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
A pug zu can live for 9 to 14 years, which is natural for a dog of its size.
BEHAVIOR
A pug zu lives on human interaction, something it inherited from its purebred parents. It likes to be the center of attention that it cannot do well when it has to stay on its own for long.
It is a dog with a full of life personality. For one, it can be single-minded as well as smart and responsive. This dog is often curious and headstrong. But it redeems itself with its sweet side, which lets it get along with everyone even with strangers.
Because of its energy and personality, a pug zu will fit in with a family. In fact, this dog can get rowdy when there are kids involved. Despite that, this trait makes them terrible watchdogs since they would rather befriend a stranger than bark.
A pug zu inherits its parents’ love for food. So, this dog can be trained by giving it many yummy treats as rewards. Despite its eager-to-please personality, you cannot expect this dog to instantly pick up any of the lessons or commands that you teach it. However, it is pretty easy to coach.
It is pretty rare for a pug zu to have a small-dog syndrome, which it might get from its Pug parent.
IDEAL ENVIRONMENT
A pug zu would require plenty of exercise and socialization because of its personality. This means, it would need some space to play and move around. This dog does not require a big space, so it can still live in an apartment and it would not bark as much.
DIET
Since a pug zu is a tiny dog, it should be fed with no more than a cup of a food a day. This meal should be served in two small separate servings and divided over a twenty-hour period. Its diet is composed of a nutrient-rich kibble that should meet its size, age, and activity level needs.
Your pet should be fed in a consistent routine. Failing to keep up with this routine would result in your pet bloating because of overeating. This is because this crossbreed can be prone to becoming obese. An obese pug zu may have joint issues later in life.
The average cost of feeding your pug zu in a month can amount to $24 to $30 while the daily cost of its food costs a dollar. It is recommended to invest in high-quality dog food so the nourishment and well-being of your pet can be ensured.
EXERCISE
Despite its size, a pug zu is quite active. Your dog should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day to keep its mind and body healthy.
Its exercise can involve walking and other playtime activities. The recommended walk mileage for a pug zu in a week is at least five miles.
A visit to the dog park is a good way for the dog to meet its activity requirements. It will allow it to socialize with other dogs as well.
Even if you live in an apartment, it would not be a problem for this dog. The dog can get enough opportunities throughout the day to stay active and fit.
This dog will have a hard time on hot climates and can get tired easily. So, you should make sure that your dog does not suffer from too much heat. Still, this dog does prefer to relax around the house.
TRAINING
Pug zus are normally easy to train. These dogs are eager to please. They love to learn new tricks and they appreciate agility toys. With this dog’s love for food, do not hesitate to offer treats as rewards to get results.
Even so, these dogs can be difficult when it comes to house-training. Still, because this dog loves to explore and tends to be more curious, you can get their attention easily by being creative. There are instances when they can be headstrong though.
If you take a consistent and patient approach with lots of praising and treats, it will make it easier for you to train your dog.
GROOMING
A pug zu’s shedding can vary. It can be like its Pug parent, which sheds minimally to frequently.
Some pug zus have long coats. These long coats require daily brushing since their coat can tangle easily. It is helpful to take a long coated pug zu to a groomer for regular hair trimming. A pug zu should have its hair trimmed or tied back as well. On the other hand, pug zus with shorter coats require less maintenance.
Pug zus do not need regular bathing. They should only be bathed when necessary and with the use of a dog shampoo so as not to impact its natural oils.
Regardless of the coat of your dog, you need to brush your pug zu’s teeth regularly. Make it a habit to check its ears weekly and clip its nails as needed.
The recommended brushes you can use for pug zus are: pin brushes, slicker brushes, and combs.
HEALTH CONDITION
A pug zu is generally healthy. Most of its prevalent health problems are inherited from its purebred parents. These problems include major ones such as patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, hemi vertebrae, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Some of its problems are minor like allergies, skin problems, and demodectic mange.
The tests that should be occasionally done for this dog are as follows: hip, knee, blood, X-rays, ophthalmological examination, and a full physical examination.
The health concerns can be avoided if you look closely at the medical history documents provided by your breeder.
WHERE CAN YOU GET THIS DOG?
Since this dog is a crossbreed, you can get it through a breeder. You can search online for breeders or ask your friends or family if they know one.
Be careful as these breeders may tend to use high-demand designer breeds for a higher monetary return. So, you should be more careful when selecting one. When you finally decide on a breeder, make sure to meet with them and see the puppy personally. Avoid online payment transfers and simply checking online posts or catalogs.
When selecting puppies, the first thing to check for in a breeder is their source. To ensure that your would-be pug zu will come from moral puppy mills, ask your breeder to let you meet the parents of the puppy. This will help you determine more of your would-be pug zu’s temperament and health. It will also help you determine its probable appearance.
CONCLUSION
A pug zu is full of personality. It will be best suited for people who are first-time dog owners, a family with kids and other pets including dogs, and those who live in apartments.
This dog is friendly and can get along well with different species. It works well as a family pet. But do not use it as a guard dog because its friendly nature will not let it bark at a stranger.
A pug zu thrives in human interaction so you will need to give it your attention at all times. It is important to feed your dog in a consistent routine to keep it from being obese. To keep its mind and body healthy, a pug zu would require exercise for at least thirty minutes a day.
Lastly, because owning a pug zu can be expensive, it is recommended to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. Research more. Check if your personality and living conditions will match with the dog. Meet honest breeders and the parents of your would-be pug zu. Most importantly, be prepared for any kind of situation that might arise when you already own the dog.