Mixed Breeds

Siberian Husky Pug Mix: Hug Dog Breed Facts & Information

Emma Braby Picture

Last Updated: September 13, 2022 | 11 min read

Husky Pug Mix

The Siberian Husky Pug mix is a hybrid dog, whose designer name is the Hug, and with a name like that you know that this guy is going to be special. Whilst his name makes him sound perfect, it is important that you spend time thoroughly researching the breed so that you know exactly what you are letting yourself in for, and to see if he will suit your lifestyle. He is a fantastic pup, but he may not be everyone’s cup of tea!

They are both ancient breeds who are very popular throughout the world as a beloved family pet. They both have plenty of character, and so you will never be bored with the Hug around.

So without further ado, I introduce to you, the Hug!

 

Designer Dogs

The term ‘designer dog’ is just another way to describe a mixed breed, and in the Hug’s case he is the designed mixed breed of the purebred Siberian Husky, and the purebred Pug. Designer dog have increased in popularity across the world, with a particular rise over the last decade in America.

There is scientific evidence to suggest that the process of cross breeding purebred dogs will result in a healthier pup, who will be more vigorous and hardier when it comes to his fitness and predisposed health conditions. This process is called hybrid vigor, and unfortunately many purebred fanatics would like you to believe that this is a myth, but it really isn’t.

The Hug will be slightly healthier than his Pug parent. Additionally, if you are struggling to decide between the Pug and the Husky, then combining the two and hopefully getting the best of both breeds will make that hard decision much easier for you!

Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky was developed thousands of years ago in Siberia to haul supplies over vast expanses of icy terrain between indigenous tribes, and thanks to their limitless stamina they performed their job well. Once his daily chores were completed, the tribe who developed him took him back to their family homes where he would be lucky enough to join them for dinner meals and snuggling up to keep warm at night. The Siberian Husky is a race car by day and a hot water bottle by night. Because of their sweet nature, they are often mixed with other breeds as well, making designer dogs like the husky golden retriever mix, or the border husky.

He was relatively unknown outside of Siberia until 1925, when a Husky called Balto famously led a pack of dogs during a life saving 658 mile hike, and carried a life-saving antidote to the town. Ever since this achievement, the Husky has been a popular family dog across the world, and in 2019 he is listed as the 14th most popular breed out of a whopping 193 breeds by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Pug

The Pug is also an ancient breed dating back thousands of years ago. The Pug was an instant hit within royal circles in China, all of whom had a soft-spot for small flat-faced canines. He was strictly kept by royalty, and only those who were gifted a Pug had the pleasure of owning one. When Dutch travelers in China returned to their homeland, they did so with the Pug in tow. He became the mascot of the House of Orange in the Netherlands, as a result of warning a Prince about intruders, and consequently saved his life.

It would seem that the Pug has charmed people of all classes across the globe, and he makes a wonderful family pet. In 2019, the AKC listed him as the 28th most popular dog breed in America.  Pugs are popular mixed breed pups, and are often combined with the chihuahua or other breeds to make a “designer dog.”  They are typically fawn with a black muzzle, but on occasion can have leucism which means they have no pigmentation.

The Hug

The Hug, with his two life-saving parents’, is a brave and sprightly dog who loves to be the center of attention and join in all the family fun. The Husky is a hard-working pup whereas the Pug has enjoyed a life of luxury in Chinese Palaces. Their popularity reflects what wonderful dogs they are, and the Hug is no different thanks to his combination of genetics!

But how exactly does the Husky and the Pug make it happen, I hear you ask?! Well, the Husky and the Pug get a little help through artificial insemination; the mother is always the Husky parent, and the father is always the Pug parent, otherwise things would get very complicated and dangerous.

Both of his parents are full of life and personality so you will not be disappointed with the Hug. They are cheeky pups, who are very affectionate and loves to spend time with their family.

Puppies

The cost of a Hug puppy will start from around $1,250 and upwards. Here appearance traits play a big part in the pricing of puppies, and if the puppy is an even mix of both the Pug and the Husky the more expensive he will be. Additionally, if he inherits his Husky parent’s coat markings, particularly around his face, with his bright blue eyes, then this will also bump up the price even more.

Remember, that with any hybrid dog there are no strict rules as to what genes he is going to inherit. For this reason it is important to meet the pup before any deposits are placed, to ensure that he is what you are expecting.

Training

Both of his parents are intelligent, but they are also very stubborn, which means sometimes they will be really excited for a training session with his master, but there will also be days where he won’t even acknowledge your efforts to train him. If it does not benefit him then he will probably not engage with you. For this reason, he is not recommended for the novice dog owner, and nor is he suited for a family who do not have the time to invest in training him.

Whichever parent he takes after he is going to have a stubborn streak, and as such it is important to begin obedience training as early as possible. In addition, it is always imperative to socialize your pup early, with unfamiliar surroundings and plenty of other dogs of all shapes and sizes. The Hug will respond well to positive reinforcement training.

Exercise & Living Conditions

The Pug and the Husky also widely vary in their exercise needs. The Pug is a small medium energy dog who needs around 40 minutes of exercise a day, whereas the Husky is one of the most energetic canines on the planet, and he needs at least 90 minutes of intense exercise a day. Whilst the Hug may take after either parent, his exercise will also be dependent on his size, if he is smaller he will need less exercise than if he were similar to the size of his Husky parent. For this reason, if you are welcoming a Hug into your home you should be prepared to exercise him for at least an hour a day.

Both the Pug and the Husky are known to suffer with separation anxiety, and so the Hug does not like to be left at home all day, and he should not be left longer than 4 hours or so. A great way to tackle this is to crate train your pup from an early age, which helps him to learn that his crate is his safe space, and as such he will be less anxious whilst you are away.

The Hug will likely be a small to medium sized dog, and as such he is suited to both apartment living as well as living in large abodes. If you do live in an apartment with no garden, you need to be prepared to take him for more frequent, or longer walks, in order to give him the exercise he needs.

The Hug, with his Husky parent’s intense exercise needs, will also require plenty of mental stimulation throughout the day, and a great way to provide this is by giving him a treat filled puzzle toy to keep him occupied. It is unlikely that the Hug is going to be a sedentary pup.

Additionally, as his Pug parent is a Brachycephalic dog, and this means that because of his flat face, he will struggle to breath, especially during exercise. For this reason, it is important to monitor the Hug during exercise sessions, and if he appears to be struggling to breath then you should stop the exercise and calm him down.

This can often cause problems with the Hug, because if he has inherited his Pug’s Brachycephalic face, but his Husky parent’s intense exercise needs, then he will need to expel his energy yet struggle to do so. This will undoubtedly be difficult to manage.

Size & Appearance

The Hug’s parents are completely different in their sizes, and as such the Hug’s size will vary massively, even within the same litter. From the relatively new information there is on the Hug, both males and females will measure 10 to 23 inches in height, from paw to shoulder, and they will weigh anywhere between 14 and 60 pounds.

It is quite difficult to ascertain what size the Hug will be when he is young, and as such you should be prepared for your pup to fall on either side of the size spectrum. Generally, however, if he looks more like his Pug parent as a pup, then he will be smaller than those who look more like the Husky. Their muzzle length will vary, as will their tails and their ears. But it really is a lucky dip when it comes to the Hug’s size.

Health

Because the Hug is a hybrid, he will be hardier than most purebred pups, however, this does not mean that he is exempt from any health issues. As he is a relatively new breed there is little information on his specific health issues, and as such there are no current breed standards.

Overall, the Pug parent suffers more health issues than the average dog, whereas the Husky suffers much less than the average dog. For this reason, the best way to determine what health issues he may be predisposed to is to look at his parent’s health conditions and be aware of all of them.

Based on his parent’s health concerns the Hug is predisposed to the following health issues:

Eye conditions – Because of his flat face, the Pug is predisposed to many eye conditions, such as the common Progressive Retinal Atrophy, as well as cataracts and entropion. However, he is also prone to Pug specific issues, such as Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome. Additionally, because of his bulging eyes he is more prone to eye injuries.

Skin conditions – generally the Pug will suffer from sensitive skin, and he is also prone to specific skin issues such as demodectic mange, yeast infections, and cheyletiella dermatitis. He is also prone to getting skin infections in between his wrinkles and rolls.

Brachycephalic Syndrome – this is a condition that is suffered by flat faced dogs, who suffer with breathing difficulties and heat regulation. Whilst his flat face looks cute, it can be very dangerous for the pup. For this reason, it is suggested to use a harness rather than a collar and a leash, so to protect his windpipe and breathing.

Pug Dog Encephalitis – whilst this disease is linked to the Pug, it is possible that the Hug might inherit this condition. It is characterized by an inflammation of the brain tissues which causes pain and seizures. It often reduces their life expectancy significantly, however, the pain can be alleviated with medication.

 Hip Dysplasia – one of the only common concerns of the Husky is Hip Dysplasia, and this is caused by an abnormal formation of the hip joint, and can eventually cause painful arthritis.

As with any pup, be sure to make yourself aware of their potential health problems and thoroughly research them, and monitor them for the symptoms. If you have any concerns, then speak to your Veterinarian.

Overall, if the Hug inherits his Pug parent’s health conditions then he will be likely to suffer more health issues than if he were to inherit his Husky health genes, but as with any mixed breed you can never be certain what he is going to inherit. The Hug’s life expectancy will range from 10 to 15 years on average.

Nutrition

The Pug and the Husky’s nutritional needs vary, with the Husky needing higher calorie food to satisfy his exercise needs, with the Pug needing much less. Dependent on the Hug’s size and energy levels they will consume around 2 cups of food a day. It is important to feed the Hug age appropriate food as his Pug parent is prone to obesity.

Coat & Colors

The Hug’s coat can also vary in length, either short after his Pug parent or long after his Husky parent, however, whatever the length it is commonly soft and smooth. The Hug’s coat can take the color of black, gray, fawn, red, silver and white, or any combination of those colors, and he can also inherit the facial mask colors that both the Pug and the Husky have. As with everything else surrounding the Hug, it really is pot luck when it comes to his coat and coloring.

Grooming

Generally, and regardless of the coat that the Hug inherits, he will only require brushing thoroughly once a week, and a quick brush every few days to keep their coat manageable. Other grooming needs, such as nail trimming, ear and dental cleaning are the same as any other pup. The only specific grooming issue to consider, is that if your Hug has wrinkles or skin folds like his Pug parent, then you will need to invest time into thoroughly cleansing them with cotton wool buds and specialized products.

As Family Pets

  •  He is a fun loving and cheeky pup.
  • He will provide you and your family with hours of fun and laughter.
  • The Hug will need an average of 60 minutes of exercise a day.
  • He he will not do well being cooped up all day long.
  • He is very sociable with his immediate family and outsiders.
  • He believes everyone is his friend so he doesn’t make the best guard dog.
  • The Hug is very affectionate with children and other animals.
  • He will do well with a young family or a multi-pet household.
  • He is not hypoallergenic, and he is a medium shedder.
  • This makes him less suited to a family with dog allergies.
  • The Hug is independent, and as such he can be difficult to train.
  • He is not the best pup for a first-time owner.

Finding A Hug Breeder

The Hug is relatively new and rare in the hybrid world, and as such it will take slightly longer to find a breeder compared to another hybrid mix. The best way to find a reputable breeder is to thoroughly research breeders online who are in your area, and likely much further afield as they are rare, and then to read reviews and ask about their breeding practices. Alternatively, you could speak to local Pug and Siberian Husky breeders, and ask them for referrals to Hug breeders.

Rescue & Shelters

Not all families have the time to invest in raising and training puppies, and as such it is sometimes easier to adopt an older dog who will likely have the training in place already. If this is something that you are interested in then be sure to get in contact with local shelters, and some shelters have waiting lists in place for certain breeds, and they may be able to contact you if a Hug is placed in the rehoming shelter.

Whilst adopting a pooch is an amazing thing to do, there are some negatives to this. Often you are not fully aware of his history, and whether he was bred from reputable breeders or healthy parents, or if he has experienced any traumatic experiences. But if a rescue center does not think that the dog is suited to you then they will not allow you to rehome him, and so for that reason in most adoption cases the pup is perfectly okay.

Final Thoughts

The Hug is a gorgeous pup who is affectionate with his family, but he is also lively and fun. He is great for young families, and does not have strong guarding tendencies, so he is super friendly with strangers. He is slightly independent and stubborn and therefore difficult to train, and therefore he is better suited to owners who have the time to invest in his training.

The only real downside to the Hug is the combination of the Brachycephalic related health issues that he may inherit from his Pug parent, and the energy level of his Husky parent. This can often lead to the need to exercise intensely but having the inability to breathe sufficiently to keep up with his energy needs.

If this is something that you are prepared for and think you can manage effectively, then he makes a wonderful family pet.

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2 Comments

  1. We have a Hug called Max. It was an accidental union resulting in 7 puppies. He is absolutely fantastic. Fawn in colour with a wonderful personality. He has the stubborn streak in him and even though I’ve trained him for recall and obedience, when we walk he has to be infront but will walk with a slack lead as long as he is slightly forward of me. We love him.

    1. Kelly Wilson

      Sounds like an amazing dog, Ken! Hugs are truly unique mixes! Thank you for stopping by to comment!

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