Have you ever heard of a Pugshire? This very interesting hybrid breed combines the iconic Pug and the wildly popular Yorkshire Terrier. This is a relatively newer mixed breed that has only been seen in likely the past two decades.
If you are interested in learning more about this mix regarding temperament, size, and even housing requirements, I encourage you to keep reading on to learn more about the Pug Yorkie mix.
Pug Yorkie Mix History
The Pug Yorkie mix is a hybrid dog breed that was likely created in the past two decades. This means that this hybrid is still relatively new and won’t have a lot of information about its history. For example, it is not known if the breed was created purposely or due to accidental breeding. Here you will find historical information about both the parent breeds.
Pug
The Pug dog breed has a very interesting history. Some people say the Pug is one of the oldest dog breeds dating back to early B.C. However, the breed originated in China and was kept as dogs for the wealthy. These dogs were even guarded to ensure they wouldn’t get stolen.
Eventually, like all things do, the Pug breed spread from China to around the world. Still keeping its royal reputation, it because a dog for the nobility. It wasn’t until after the civil war that the Pug breed came to the United States and quickly grew in popularity here.
The American Kennel Club accepted the Pug breed into it in 1885. Today many people love and adore the Pug breed. However, it is still and will remain a popular lapdog breed.
Yorkshire Terrier
You may already know, but the Yorkshire Terrier originated in Yorkshire, England. This is where the breed got its name. The breed was originally created to hunt vermin inside of factories in England. The breed was created by combing a variety of different Terriers with a Maltese.
Eventually, women of the noble class got acquainted with this dog breed, and it became a huge success. Noblewoman loved the breed because it was the absolute perfect lap dog. However, it wasn’t until the 1870s that the Yorkshire Terrier made its way to the United States.
Of course, when the breed was in the United States, it gained even more popularity. The breed made a shift from a working dog breed to a companion one. Today this is still one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
Pugshire Appearance
Appearance can vary greatly depending on which traits your Pugshire takes from which parent. So based on this, each Pugshire may look a little different from one another. This will be a small dog breed almost medium in size.
The Pugshire will definitely have floppy ears. The ears will not really have that velvet feel the Pug parent. Your mix may have the classic smushed face that all Pugs have but can also take on a longer muzzle to resemble more of the Yorkie appearance.
Your Pug Yorkie mix may have the classic curly tail that a Pug has, or it can take on a straight tail like a Yorkie. Also, the coat of this mix may be longer than that of the short coat of a Pug but not as long as a Yorkies coat. Just remember that this is a general estimate of how your Pugshire might look.
Pug Yorkie Mix Coat
As I mentioned in the appearance section, the coat can be short like the Pug parents, but it will not be as long as a Yorkie. So now your Pug Yorkie mix can have a longer coat than the Pug parent. This coat will be straight as both parents sport a very straight coat.
The breed can sport a wiry feel to the coat. Now even though the Yorkshire Terrier is a non-shedding dog breed, the Pug parent is not. So, expect your dog to shed but maybe not as much as the Pug parent. Below you will find the coat colors that your Pug Yorkie mix may possibly come in.
What Colors Do They Come In?
The Pugshire can come in a lot of colors based on both parents, they are:
- Fawn
- Brown
- Merle
- Pied
- Brindle
- Black
- Silver
- Blue
- Red
This mixed breed will likely have brown eyes and a black or brown nose.
Pugshire Temperament
Your dog’s temperament will be a good mixture of the traits from the parent breeds, the Pug and the Yorkie. Both of these parent breeds are popular around the world for many reasons, one being their loyalty.
You will notice loyalty being a trait that your Pugshire will inherit. If you want a family companion that will lay by your side and play with you, I recommend this dog breed. This is also a very social dog breed that will be friendly if trained to do so towards animals, children, and even strangers.
Sometimes the breed can be stubborn or yappy, but you can easily teach your dog some basic obedience with consistent training. Training will take some time but not to worry, this is a smart hybrid breed.
Overall, you will find that the Pug Yorkie mix is a very affectionate, caring, and loyal dog. You will get traits from both parent dogs just know they will vary from dog to dog.
Pug Yorkie Mix Size
Size is another thing that can be very difficult to determine in mixed breed dogs. Since the size of a Pug and Yorkshire Terriers are quite different, each Pugshire can range in weight and height. So here, we will give you an estimate on the size of your Pug Yorkie mix.
The Pug parent is known to be 10 to 13 inches in height and 14 to 18 pounds in weight. The Yorkshire Terrier is 7 to 8 inches in height and weighs around 7 pounds. So with this information, if you breed these two parents together, you get a mix with an estimated size of 8 to 13 inches and weighing 7 to 15 pounds.
Again, do not get surprised if your Pugshire varies in its weight in height, as this is only an estimate. If you own a Pugshire and want to share its weight and height, do it in the comments section at the end of this page.
Pug Yorkie Mix Health Problems
All dogs will have some sort of health issues. Thankfully, mixed dog breeds tend to have less as it breeds out some health issues. Below you will see some issues that your Pug Yorkie mix can possibly inherit.
Patellar Luxation – This is quite a painful condition in which the knee cap actually slides out of place and dislocates. This can be a very painful issue for your dog, so you should definitely have it looked over by a veterinarian.
Tracheal Collapse – Tracheal Collapse is actually the weakening of your dog’s cartilage rings in the trachea. This is a very serious condition that will require medical condition, and medicine will need to be taken by your dog to help with the condition.
Brachycephalic Syndrome – This is a common respiratory problem that Pugs develop. This is due to the smushed face that the Pug breed has. This can make it harder for your dog to get to breathe
Obesity – Obesity can happen in this breed if you overfeed it. This trait comes primarily from the Pug parent, who always seems to be hungry. Make sure you are only feeding your dog the required amount of dog food per day.
Cataracts – Cataracts is an eye issue that can cause vision problems and even blindness in older dogs. You can get your dog a surgery performed to remove cataracts if it bothers your dog.
Life Expectancy of a Pugshire
Life expectancy is another thing that can be difficult to determine. Even know mixed dog breeds breed out certain health conditions, it is still unknown how long your dog may live. We can give an estimate, but truly every dog is different.
The Pug parent can live between 12 to 15 years, and some Pugs even live longer. The Yorkshire Terrier has a life span of 13 to 16 years. The Pug Yorkie mix can live between 12 to 16 years in length. Make sure you do what you can as a dog owner by taking your dog to checkups and feeding your dog high-quality dog food.
Living Conditions
The Pug Yorkie mix is a small to medium-sized dog breed, so it will be perfect for apartment or condo living. The breed should be fine in a small yard or not one at all if you live in an apartment or small condo.
Another great thing is that this mixed breed does not need a whole lot of exercise each day. This breed only needs around 30 minutes, so if you don’t have a ton of time to exercise with your dog, this may be a good breed for you.
This is also a great family companion as this breed will be great with children. The Pugshire also likes to be a lounge dog that will lay on your lap. You will definitely be able to cuddle this dog if you want to.
Pug Yorkie Mix Exercise
The Pug Yorkie mix does not need very much exercise. This mix doesn’t have as much high energy as other small dog breeds. Give your Pugshire at least thirty minutes of exercise each day. I do not recommend doing all thirty minutes of exercise in one session. You should break it up into two or three sessions.
There are a variety of exercises you can do with your dog. Some exercises you can do are going for walks, playing with toys outside in the yard, or you can even take your dog to a dog park. Since this mix doesn’t require a lot of exercise it will be the perfect dog breed for an elderly person or someone who doesn’t have the time to do a lot of things outdoors.
If your dog is bored, it can sometimes lead to bad or destructive behavior. You can fix this by taking your dog outside for exercise or through training.
Pugshire Feeding
Both Pugs and Yorkies can have sensitivities when it comes to their dog food. Unfortunately, some dogs can have very bad allergies, so it is important to purchase a high-quality dog food that follows the nutritional guidelines of the parent breeds.
Your Pugshire will need at least one cup of dog food per day. You will want to break your dog’s food down into multiple meals, preferably three separate meals throughout the day. You can use dry dog food or a combination of wet and dry food.
Remember when purchasing a dog food that the protein source your dog gets is in the first ingredient or in the first three shown. Try not to overfeed your dog because it can lead to obesity. The Pug parent may pass down the trait of always wanting to snack, so don’t give in, or your dog will put on the pounds.
Pugshire Training
It is important to train your Yorkie Pug mix early at the age of a puppy. It is possible to train your dog when it is older, but it can be harder. You should definitely begin training your dog as a puppy. Start with the basics, such as potty training and socialization.
Socialization is very important because it turns your dog into a friendly dog towards other people and even children. Obedience is also important to ensure your dog has good behavior. Sometimes the parent breeds of this mix can be yappy, and training can help with this.
Always reward your dog when you are training. Treats will work great, especially dogs who are driven by treats. You can also praise your dog through love and affection. Make training your dog fun and not a stressful experience.
Pug Yorkie Mix Grooming
While the Yorkie parent is known to be a non-shedding dog breed, the Pug parent isn’t. So expect your Yorkie Pug mix to have some mild shedding and more during heavier shedding months. One way to reduce shedding around your home is by frequently brushing your dog’s coat.
The coat will be either short or longer than the Pug parents but shorter than a Yorkies. You can use a pin brush to brush through the coat. This will also make the wiry hair of your Pugshire look nicer.
When bathing your dog, you should use a shampoo that will be compatible with the mix. I recommend using a shampoo and conditioner that works for dogs with sensitive skin. Try not to bathe your dog but once every three weeks.
When grooming, make sure you check over your dog’s body for any sores or areas that may be infected. You will also want to clean out the ears to prevent ear infections. Clip your dog’s nails every few months to ensure they are not getting too long.
Pug Yorkie Mix Puppies
Finding yourself a Pug Yorkie mix may be quite a difficult task. You will first want to search for a reputable breeder that you can trust to purchase a dog from. Puppy stores should be avoided because you will not get much information about their breeding practices.
When purchasing from a breeder, you are allowed to ask questions and sometimes even visit the facility so you can check on the dogs they have. Your search may be hard, but I am sure some breeder out there is currently breeding Pugshire puppies for sale.
If you can’t find one from a breeder, another viable option would be to check adoption places and rescues. Again, you may not be able to find a puppy, but there might be an adult Pug Yorkie mix looking for a wonderful home.
Typically, mixed breeds are cheaper than purebred breeds unless it’s a designer breed. While I don’t know of an exact price of a Pugshire, it would likely range from $700 to $1,500.
Pug Yorkie Mix Litter Size
Litter size is a lot like life expectancy that it can be hard to determine. There are many factors to play into litter size, such as the parent’s size and which parent is the female that is expecting.
Pugs tend to have a litter size of four to six puppies, and Yorkshire Terriers can have between one to five puppies in a litter. With this information, you can expect your Pugshire to have between one to six puppies in a litter
Key Takeaways
In this section, I like to summarize my article in key points. These will be the main points of the article and what you should essentially take away if you want to get a Pugshire of your own.
- The Pug Yorkie mix does have a nickname that it is commonly called: the Pugshire.
- This will be a small to medium-sized dog breed.
- The mix will have an appearance that takes after both parent dog breeds.
- This mix may have some health issues, but none are too major.
- If you keep your dog healthy, it can live quite a long life span between 12 to 16 years.
- Pugshires only need around thirty minutes of exercise each day.
- The Pug Yorkie mix should be fed a nutritious diet full of protein, carbs, healthy fats, and vegetables. In addition, make sure you are feeding your dog a high-quality small-breed dog food.
- Begin training when your dog is a puppy or best results. This will result in a friendlier dog around other animals, children, and people.
- Even though one of the parents is hypoallergenic, you will still need to watch out for shedding. Shedding should be moderate, but you can brush your dog often to help with it.
- Make sure you purchase your new dog from a reputable breeder that can provide proof of the health of the parent breeds and the puppies.
FAQ
Here you will find some common questions asked about the Pug Yorkie mix.
What is a Pug Yorkie Mix Called?
How Much is a Pugshire?
How Long Do Yorkie Pug Mixes Live?
Close relatives of the Pugshire
Here you will find some other dog breeds that are similar to the Pugshire for you to check out.
- Pug
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Corgi Pug Mix
- Boston Terrier Yorkie Mix
- Pugapoo
- Pug-Zu