Is There Such a Thing as a Miniature Pug?
A miniature pug, also referred to as a pocket pug or a teacup pug is a hybrid breed not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as of 2010. These dogs are bred between a pug and a chihuahua.
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Features
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The miniature pug looks much like a pug but, altered by the chihuahua's physical characteristics, tends to have a slightly longer snout. According to the AKC, a full-grown pug should weigh between 14 and 18 pounds. Because of the chihuahua genetics, the miniature pug weighs only three pounds as an adult and, due to its small size, can be quite fragile.
Designation
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Miniature pugs are a cross-breed resulting from designer dog breeding. In this case, a pug and chihuahua are purposely bred to create a new breed of dog, one that resembles a pug but is as small as a chihuahua.
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Considerations
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The term "mutt" has come to describe a dog with uncertain ancestry. Designer dogs, however, are differentiated from mutts because they are descendants of two, purebred dogs. Designer dog breeders are expected to provide documentation of the purebred parentage.
End Results
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Most every purebred dog's ancestry can be traced back to some form of cross-breeding. However, the AKC only recognizes those breeds that have been bred to the point of having established and typical physical, temperamental and genetic traits. If, over time, there is enough interest and proper standards are established, the AKC may recognize miniature pugs as an official breed of dog in the U.S.
Because the deliberate cross-breeding of the pug and the chihuahua is still in its infancy, there is no guarantee of which purebred features will dominate the physical aspects or personality traits of the breed.
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References
- Photo Credit Santa Pug image by wingsinmoonlight from Fotolia.com
