Tea Cup Chihuahua vs Pugalier - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Chihuahua is a state in the country of Mexico. From this state, the dog breed Chihuahua and the “teacup, or toy” chihuahua take their name. Interestingly the Chihuahua Club of America maintains that “teacup” Chihuahuas do not exist and that the size differential is normal for the breed. Chihuahuas or their ancestors have been around a very long time, sadly the exact origins of the Chihuahua are lost into the pages of history, but archaeological clues such as wheeled dog toys, art, and pottery link the Chihuahua to Mexico and to the Techichi dog. The Techichi dog at the time of the Spanish Conquistadors was sold for food (not unlike we sell beef or chicken) and also as a companion dog to death. Cortez even mentioned the Techichi dog in a letter sent back to Spain, describing them as being raised for food and sold in the marketplace.

When a death occurred a dog was chosen as a companion and cremated with the deceased. It was believed that the dog helped the soul of the decedent reach their eternal destination. The Techichi dog from which the modern-day chihuahua likely descended was very plentiful in the central American area that is now the country of Mexico and raised by the ancient Toltecs and later the Aztec people.

Chihuahuas are little dogs and come in a variety of coats, head shapes and even (within the designation small) sizes. The designation “teacup, toy or pocket” while not an official breed name is a useful descriptor, since they are the littlest of an already small breed and these minute pets, as puppies, may fit into a teacup or a pocket.

Fortunately while no longer a food source, the chihuahua is now sought after as a loyal and lively pet and companion.

The Pugalier is a designer dog which dates to the 1980s and 1990s. Being a fairly new dog breed, it doesn’t have a long or detailed history.

It is thought that they were first bred in the United States. There was a purpose behind the crossing of the Pug and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Dog enthusiasts were looking for a dog that would have less breathing problems with a longer nose.

There are a few dog breed registries that recognize the Pugalier as a designer dog breed, one of which is the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Chihuahuas are small. Even the bigger ones are only about six pounds and a “teacup” or “toy” is often three pounds or less. Their bodies are slightly longer than they are tall, but even the tallest are not over nine inches. Chihuahua standing under five inches in height is not uncommon in the “teacup” or smallest of these dogs. They have two different head types and a domed skull. One type of head shape is like a deer while the other is described as an apple-shaped head. The apple-shaped heads are more popular than the deer shaped heads, although sometimes in the “teacup” especially the soft spot fails to close at maturity when growth is complete and the bones should knit, therefore leaving a soft spot in their skull – this is called a molera.

Like different shaped heads chihuahua may have long hair or short-haired coats. The short-haired coats are smooth. The Chihuahua coats may be a large variety of colors ranging from black to white, with red, brown, fawn, cream and chocolate and they may be solid-colored, spotted or sabled. Personal preference is the determining factor on the type of coat a pet Chihuahua has since the breed does not have a preferred color, pattern, hair length or feel. Their muzzle (nose/mouth combination) is short and pointed. Chihuahua have have naturally erect pointed ears and large round eyes. A Chihuahuas tail is relatively long and mostly either curled up and over the back or carried up.

The Pugalier looks fairly similar to a pug but with a slightly longer nose and longer ears. The tail isn’t as coifed as with the Pug, but is longer and straighter, sometimes curling slightly over the back.

As with any crossbreed, the dog’s appearance can vary between the two dogs. They can be small to medium sized, usually standing at between 30 and 35cm in height and weigh between 6-10kg.

Pugaliers mostly have a fairly short coat but there are some which have longer hair because of the Cavalier's influence. The coat can be an apricot color, white, brown or even tri-color - white, black & tan.

Temperament:

Friendly, social ad loving, the Pugalier makes a splendid pet. He will easily adapt to life in the city or the countryside and he also gets along well with children and other dogs. They can also be amusing and entertaining, while being intelligent too.

You’ll find your Pugalier easy to train as he is intelligent and then he becomes a splendid pet with training and socialization, being obedient and well mannered wherever he is.

Children friendliness very interactive with family but has been known to nip at small children and bark, so no not really

2. Special talents more stamina than expected in such a small dog and barking

3. Adaptability yes but they are better off in apartments and homes not out in the country where their size makes them targets for predators.

4. Learning ability average ability to learn but Chihuahua can be but stubborn which may impact ability and willingness to learn.

The Pugalier gets his characteristics from both the popular parent breeds he comes from – the Pug and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Both these dog breeds are immensely popular, friendly, loving and amusingly entertaining. He is an excellent dog choice for the first time dog owner.

The Pugalier is an intelligent dog breed and easy to train too. When you bring such a sweet dog into your home, you open the doors to a deep, meaningful friendship and loyalty from your canine pet.

Chihuahuas live on average fourteen to eighteen years. There are some issues that may cause concern or lower life expectancy.]

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is something to watch for. Low blood sugar can cause death in just a few hours but when caught is very easily treated. Some of the symptoms are being uncoordinated when walking, acting sleepy or lethargic, unfocused sight, fainting, having a seizure or having spasms in the muscles of the neck. First aid can right this condition with a sweet supplement like corn syrup, or honey. This is more common in puppies, but the teacup chihuahuas are susceptible.

• Hydrocephalus (water on the brain) can affect many toy dog breeds. The puppy or dog will appear to have an oversized head, and be slow (display lethargy) and grow slower than its littermates.

• Pulmonic stenosis (a heart condition) occurs when the right ventricle is impeded. Teacup Chihuahuas are also susceptible to heart murmurs.

• Collapsed trachea this occurs when the cartilaginous rings in a Chihuahua do not form completely or weaken. This can be hereditary or an acquired condition and occurs in other small breeds of dog.

• Molera – where after finishing growth a soft spot remains in the skull and the bones do not knit. As a puppy, the owner must remain vigilant about head injuries.

• Obesity (overweight). Most of the time this is a result of the Teacup Chihuahua being overfed. Obesity can contribute to a shortened lifespan and chronic bronchitis.

• Cold susceptibility. Cold weather can cause Teacup Chihuahuas to shiver or tremble when exposed and during cold temperatures, the dogs may need to wear a sweater and boots outside and cuddle with their owners under blankets or bask in the sun to stay warm.

• Infected or injured eyes. Due to the prominent eyes, exposure to irritants such as dust, allergens, or dry air can cause the dog to develop this beginning with watering eyes.

Less wrinkles and a longer snout make the Pugalier a healthier dog than the purebred Pug. The dog, when well cared for, can still reach a good age of 14 or so years.

Eye problems can still be a problem as both the Pug and the Cavalier have protruding eyes.

Patellar Luxation is another health issue to watch for. The patella or the kneecap is dislocated and the dog will have difficulty with putting weight on the leg. Your vet may perform surgery on your dog and the prognosis is very good if arthritis hasn’t already developed.

1. Feeding the Puppies. Puppies should be fed four times a day. Underfeeding can cause the issues of low blood sugar and overfeeding can result in obesity increasing the risk of other health complications.

2. Feeding the Adult. Adult teacups are also vulnerable to hypoglycemia and obesity. Of course, the low blood sugar will be much more acute than obesity and need prompt care if it occurs. Adult teacups should be fed twice a day.

3. Points for Good Health. The chihuahua generally exhibits more vigor and endurance than pet owners expect from such a small breed of dog.

4. Games and Exercise for Teacup Chihuahua. Go ahead and run and play but remember even with the unexpected stamina and endurance this is a very small dog, small legs, using discernment, judgment, and restraint so the games and exercise is fun and builds health and is a special bonding time, without jeopardizing the sugar levels or causing exhaustion or misery.

Exercise:

Your Pugalier will require daily exercise, and he will just love a walk. The Pug part of him will tell you to go slowly with exercise and to ensure it isn’t too strenuous.

The Spaniel part of him will love a robust ball game or running backwards and forwards between two people throwing a frisbee. Watch the Pugalier during exercise and don’t allow him to get overly hot and bothered.

Grooming:

Pugaliers do shed hair and you will need to brush him twice a week. Check his eyes and inside his ears and make sure all is as it should be.

Trim his nails and look inside his mouth for bad teeth. Dog’s can’t tell you they’re in pain and bad teeth can cause terrible pain and a lot of health issues throughout the entire body.

Diet:

Every dog needs an excellent diet if he is to ward off illness and live a long life.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market so read the packaging carefully and avoid those ones with low quality ingredients like colorants, lots of preservatives and fillers.

High quality dry kibble can be made more inviting when you add in some home-cooked food twice a week. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be excellent for him – it is simple and nutritious.

Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble. Also, your little pet will thrive on some raw meat occasionally too as this keeps the coat shiny and and the skin free of infections. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.