Daug

The doggy delight that is a Daug, also known as a Pugshund, is a hybrid mix between a Dachshund and a Pug. This distinctive looking fellow can best be described as a stretch or long-wheel-base pug, since they have many pug-like characteristics but with the long low carriage of the Dachshund.

A sturdy, small-to-medium sized dog, the Daug makes a loving, low maintenance canine companion that requires only moderate exercise. Thus, they may be perfect for seniors seeking companionship and to get out and about, but without the commitment of a majorly energetic four-legger. However, the downside of this canine cutie is their voice, and a love of barking, which means they may rile close neighbours.

About & History

As a hybrid dog the Daug’s story is really that of the parent breeds.

The Pug

The Pug originated from ancient China, around 200 BC to 200 AD. One theory is they are a derivative of the Tibetan Mastiff, albeit a much smaller version. They were the companions of the Chinese emperors and lead a life of luxury commensurate with that position. It wasn’t until the 16th century that they came to the attention of the wider world, when Dutch traders encountered the dog and fell in love with them.

The pug’s appearance has changed subtly over the centuries. The most noticeable of which is their nose, which was originally more of a pronounced snout, but has become flatter in response to changing fashions.

The Dachshund

The Dachshund has their roots in Germany, where they were bred as hunting dogs. That distinctive long body and short legs came about to facilitate them entering badger sets and fox holes. Indeed, the long straight tail was said to help hunters haul their dog out of a hole should they get stuck.

Appearance

The Daug has an interesting blend of looks inherited from both sides of the family tree. They are a small-to-medium sized dog with a sturdy build, being somewhat longer than they are tall. The Dachshund gene tends to draw out the length of the flat Pug nose, making for a sensible snout. They have cute flap ears and large, appealing eyes.

The typical coat colour is fawn with a dark mask, as commonly seen on a Pug. However, other coat variations do occur, such as Black, Merle, or Black & Tan. The hair length is more commonly short, but can be long if they inherit a long-hair gene from the Dachshund.

Character & Temperament

The Daug is a great character and makes an entertaining, playful, and loving companion. However, they are not without their faults, since they have a strong prey-drive, making them prone to chase other pets. They can also be territorial, which manifests itself as unwelcome barking.

Key to a well-adjusted Daug is a good upbringing that includes positive socialisation experiences in puppyhood. This helps reduce the likelihood of them become overly anxious adults, which could lead to a tendency to snap or bite. Also, the Daug can be a little ‘needy’ and dislikes being left alone, which leads to barking. Therefore, the wise Daug owner gets their pet used to spending time alone from an early age, to reduce the risk of full-blown separation anxiety developing.

Trainability

Training a Daug is an intriguing prospect, depending on which parent they most take after. Whilst Dachshunds are highly intelligent and can be independent-minded, the Pug is more food motivated but prone to being chilled.

Combine the two and the Daug should respond well to reward-based training methods. Just be sure not to frustrate or bore him with heavy handed training or sessions that go on for too long. Regular short-but-sweet fun training times will produce the best results.

Health

Both the Dachshund and Pug have distinct health problems, but as yet, there is a lack of definitive information about the Daug’s predisposition to disease. However, there is an overlap in certain health concerns in both parent breeds, and so it’s reasonable to assume these are at greater risk of developing in a Daug.

Cushing’s Disease

The Dachshund is strongly linked with Cushing’s Disease, where the body produces too much natural steroid hormone. This results in symptoms, such as increased thirst, urinary accidents, a pot belly, thinning hair, and lethargy.

The condition is diagnosed with a combination of blood tests and an ultrasound scan. Medical treatment is available for the most common form, but can work out pricey since the drugs are expensive and required for the rest of the dog’s life.

Cataracts

Cataracts affect the lens in the eye, causing it to become opaque, which blocks the passage of light to the retina at the back of the eye. Early cataracts are amenable to a specialist procedure called phaecoemulsion, which prevents deterioration and restores sight.

Mature or well-established cataracts are difficult to treat and can result in complications developing, such as glaucoma. In addition, affected dogs will be blind, so it is important to discuss the implications of cataract formation with your vet as soon as you become suspicious the problem is occurring.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes is the result of a mismatch between insulin and blood sugar levels. In some cases, the dog doesn’t produce enough insulin, whilst in others, the receptors at a cell level fail to respond to the insulin that is produced.

Diabetes is highly treatable with a combination of a good diet, weight control, and insulin injections. With treatment, the dog can live a full and active life, but untreated complications are likely, such as cataracts, a weakened immune system, and periods of ill health, that may be life-shortening.

Disc Disease

The long low proportions of the Daug can put a strain on their back. The bio-mechanics of having a long back puts undue pressure on the discs, which may rupture and impact on the spinal cord.

Symptoms of disc disease range from episodes of extreme discomfort, right through to paralysis. The latter cases require emergency surgery to decompress the spinal cord and give the dog the best chance of recovering feeling in their limbs.

Exercise and Activity Levels

The Daug has little legs that are ill-suited for covering lots of ground and therefore they have only moderate exercise requirements. But this isn’t an excuse for not taking the dog out at all, because they definitely need the mental stimulation of twice daily walks. Just let the Daug take it at their pace, which may very well involve a lot of sniffing and following scents.

Plus, give them the opportunity to go bananas chasing a ball or fetching a Frisbee. They do love to sprint when the mood takes them, and a strong prey drive makes chasing a toy especially satisfying.

Grooming

The Daug’s coat is easy to care for and generally requires little more than a regular brush over with a slicker. Typically they have a short coat, so grooming is all about removing shed hair and spreading the coat’s natural oils for maximum gleam. However, this does in part depend on the coat length of the Dachshund parent. Dachshunds can be short-haired, long-haired, or even wire-haired, and should the genes for long-hair dominate the Daug, then daily combing is required.

The Pug parent may gift the Daug some facial folds and wrinkles. These should be daily for any signs of infection, since skin folds provide a warm breeding ground for bacteria. Also, just like people, all dogs should have their teeth brushed at least once a day. This is especially important in small dogs which can be prone to tartar build-up and dental disease.

And finally, the laidback exercise requirements of the Daug can mean their nails don’t get adequately worn down. It is a good idea to get a Daug puppy used to having their paws handled from an early age, and start as you mean to go on by bugging sharp or long nails with a course emery board.