What Is a Jug Dog?

The Jug is a crossbreed of the Jack Russell terrier and the pug. While the jug is not recognized by the American Kennel Club as its own breed, it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club. A jug has the appearance and personality traits of both the Jack Russell terrier and the pug in varying degrees. Training and caring for a jug is similar to that of its parents, while it can be prone to diseases commonly affecting both breeds.

  1. Appearance

    • The jug has the small and compact body of the Jack Russell terrier combined with the ears and curled tail of the pug. Its face has the black muzzle and some of the wrinkles of a pug but is sharper in shape, like that of the Jack Russell terrier. Its coat is composed of short and smooth hairs and ranges in color from tan to black. Jack Russell terriers are 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 14 and 18 pounds while pugs are 10 to 14 inches tall and weigh between 13 and 20 pounds. A jug's height and weight usually falls somewhere between these figures.

    Personality

    • Like its parents, the jug is a highly intelligent, loving and playful dog. If the jug takes after its Jack Russell terrier parent, who was originally bred to hunt foxes, it will love to bark, dig and chase after small animals. It will be full of energy, which needs to be expended with lots of outdoor play, and it may not get along with other pets. If the jug takes after its pug parent, it will be more even-tempered, calm, content with minimal exercise and friendly with other animals.

    Training

    • Like both of its parents, the jug picks up tricks easily and will need variety in its training to prevent boredom. Its high level of intelligence means that it can take advantage of its caretaker's kindness and manipulate situations to its advantage if not trained properly. Without set boundaries and consistent training, the jug may develop Small Dog Syndrome, where it believes that it is the leader of the pack and not subject to its caretaker's demands. Behavioral problems such as excessive barking, snapping, separation anxiety and obsessive guarding will arise. Firm and consistent training and enforcement of rules will prevent and correct this kind of behavior.

    Health

    • With good care and medical attention, a jug will have the same life expectancy of its parents, which ranges from 12 to 15 years. Its short hair requires minimal grooming beyond occasional bathing when necessary and regular brushing. A jug, due to its short muzzle inherited from its pug parent, is prone to allergies and breathing problems. It can also be prone to health conditions that commonly afflict Jack Russell Terriers, which include eye diseases, deafness, kneecap dislocation and disease of the hip joints.