What Is a Pug and Boston Terrier Mix?

If you are torn between the affectionate, calm and friendly nature of the pug and the protective nature of the Boston, you can consider getting their cross instead. Learning what a pug and Boston terrier mix is can help you understand the exercise requirements and personality traits to expect.      

What Is a Pug and Boston Terrier Mix?

A pug and Boston terrier mix, also known as a Bugg, is a cross between the Boston terrier and pug dog, officially developed in 1980 in North America. This dog has a standing height of 10 to 18 inches and weighs 14 to 25 pounds. They have short, dense, and fine coats, with the main colors being brown, black, and white. 

Due to their Boston parents, these dogs are brachycephalic, with short muzzles and smooshed faces. However, they are intelligent and affectionate companion dogs with the following physical and behavioral attributes.

Size and Weight

Both pugs and Boston Terriers can be considered to be small dog breeds. As a result, the Boston Terrier pug mix is generally small, regardless of the dominant genes. A full-grown pug weighs around 14 to 18 pounds with a standing height of around 10 to 14 inches. 

On the other hand, Boston Terriers come in three weight categories of 20 to 25 pounds, 15 to 20 pounds, and under 15 pounds. Most full-grown Boston terriers have a standing height of 12 to 17 inches. This variation in parents’ sizes makes Buggs have a wide range of size variations.

Generally, a full-grown Bugg weighs anywhere from 14 to 25 pounds with a standing height of 10 to 18 inches. The mix can even be smaller if the pug was crossed with the smaller category of the Boston, and the dominant genes are from the Boston terrier.

Coat

In most cases, the coats of bug dogs resemble that of their pug and Boston parents. They can have a mix of colors or a solid color, with the main colors being brown, black, and white. Although they don’t have hypoallergenic coats, they are moderate shedders and might be a good choice, even for people with allergies. 

The coat is generally short, making them have minimal grooming requirements. You might only need to brush the dog once or twice a week and bathe it once a month. It’s advisable to clean the dog’s ears after bathing it.   

Temperament 

The personality traits of the Buggs vary widely depending on the dominant genes. For instance, the Boston Terrier parent shares ancestry with the terriers initially bred to participate in the ferocious bull-baiting sport. As a result, Bostons have strong hunting and territorial instincts that make them want to dominate. 

On the other hand, pugs were initially bred as companion dogs, making them sedentary dogs that are friendly and affectionate to their family members. They are loyal dogs that will want to spend time with their owners. 

As a result, you can expect the Bugg dog to be friendly and affectionate towards its family members and even children if the dominant genes are from the pug. However, the dog can be unfriendly and aggressive, especially towards strangers, if the dominant genes are from Boston.

Exercise Requirements

Like other small dog breeds, Boston terrier pug mixes are energetic dogs and require some physical exercises to help them spend up the excess energy and remain physically fit. However, Buggs are brachycephalic dogs, and you should avoid engaging them in intense exercises for long.

For instance, you can take the dog for a 20-minute walk instead of jogging or short sprints. Usually, this allows the dog to burn calories more gradually without a significant increase in breathing rate. It’s also advisable to give these dogs plenty of drinking water after exercise to keep them hydrated. 

Although the exercises are mainly meant to help the dog maintain a healthy weight, it’s not advisable to exercise your already overweight Bugg. Instead, use other methods such as changing the diet or reducing the meals and treats. You can also contact your vet to help you on the best diet to help your Bugg lose weight.

Training

Training helps your pug and Boston Terrier mix develop habits and behaviors that meet your expectations in a companion dog. Although these dogs’ intelligence and eager-to-please nature make them trainable, the following instinct from the Boston parent might make the training challenging. 

• Dominance: These dogs have strong territory instincts that make them jealous and overprotective. This makes it challenging to socialize the dog with other pets, especially when sharing food. Luckily, you can prevent this through early socialization.
• Anxiety: Buggs are affectionate dogs and might develop separation anxiety if you leave them alone for a long. This breaks the bond between you and the dog, and it might no longer be willing to please or follow your commands. You can prevent this by giving the dog interactive toys when leaving it alone 
• Stubbornness: Stubbornness is more of a trait inherited from the Boston parent, where the dog simply decides not to obey your commands. You can use positive reinforcement methods to improve this behavior, such as giving the dog rewards and treats when it obeys a command  

Health Conditions

Since a Bugg is a cross between different dog breeds prone to distinct health issues, it can be prone to the following health conditions depending on the dominant genes. 

• Brachycephalic syndrome, where the upper airways get obstructed
• Fold dermatitis during the hot and moist weather
• Inward folding of the eyelid

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Final Thoughts 

Knowing what a pug and Boston terrier mix are can help you understand the best way to train it, how much food to feed it, and the health condition to look out for. Although this mix might be stubborn, it’s generally affectionate and friendly to its family.