Pugs make great pets. They are fun, loyal, and loving and will usually get along with all family members and most other pets. However, dogs like the Pug are somewhat contentious because their development has led to a range of potential health problems, mainly due to their brachycephalic facial features. Their squished face can lead to breathing and other respiratory issues.

German breeders looking to counteract these health problems while retaining the same loving characteristics and traits of the breed have crossed the Pug with the Jack Russell Terrier. The resulting mix is called the Retro Pug. They have a similar body and other features as the Pug, but they typically have the longer snout of the Jack Russell Terrier.

Read on for more information about this new breed and to see whether it would make a suitable dog for your home and your family.

Breed Overview

The Retro Pug was bred in an attempt to reproduce the positive traits of the Pug but without the negative health complaints that arise as a result of the snout and other facial features of that breed. As a result, the Retro Pug does have a slightly longer life expectancy and tends to be healthier than the standard Pug. They also tend to enjoy exercise more because they don’t get out of breath as easily. Otherwise, owners can expect the same fun-loving dog that requires a great deal of attention and companionship.

Retro Pug Characteristics

Retro Pug Puppies

Retro Pug puppies are similar to standard Pug puppies. This companion breed not only needs but also craves attention and companionship from their humans, and this starts from puppyhood. If you will be going out during the day, whether to work or school, and you need your puppy to get used to being alone, you should start with short sessions when they are young and build up over time.

This is also the best time to start training and socializing the Retro Pug. The breed usually gets along well with other dogs and people, but early socialization helps minimize the risk of the dog jumping up or acting inappropriately toward people they don’t know. It can also teach the puppy that they shouldn’t approach all dogs or animals.

Training a young Retro Pug means teaching them what is considered acceptable behavior and what you believe is unacceptable. House training is one of the first steps, and the Retro Pug will usually take to this well, but you will need to be consistent and use positive reinforcement. This means encouraging and rewarding positive behavior while ignoring negative and unwanted behavior.

The Retro Pug is still a relatively new breed, and there aren’t too many breeders around. This means that it can be difficult to find one. It also means it’s unlikely that you will find Retro Pug puppies in shelters and rescues.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Retro Pug

The Retro Pugs is typically a mixture of a Pug and a Jack Russell Terrier. This means they are intelligent dogs that get along with most people and animals. But it also means they can be a little on the independent side.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Pugs have become so popular because they get along with people incredibly well. They are quite robust for small dogs, so they get along with children and adults. The Retro Pug has a similar disposition, and they will usually get on well with all family members,  visitors, and strangers. The downside is that if they get their companionship traits from their Pug parent, the Retro Pug won’t do well when left alone for long periods. If your family goes out to work and school all day long, you might find that your dog exhibits signs of separation anxiety, including destructive and other unwanted behavior.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

The Pug isn’t just known for getting along with people. They get along with other dogs, and since they’re about the same size as cats, they will usually get along with them too. However, the terrier in the Retro Pug can change this. Terriers don’t always get along well with cats and smaller animals, and they can challenge some other dogs. Ensure that your Retro Pug is well-socialized from a young age, and if you do want to integrate them into an existing group of animals, take introductions slowly and carefully.

Things to Know When Owning a Retro Pug

The Retro Pug will usually get along with their humans and strangers. They can also get along with dogs and cats, though it may require more careful introductions than with a regular Pug. However, the Retro Pug needs companionship and might struggle with a family that is out of the house for long stretches. They also have some other requirements and traits that mean they might not be the best pet for all owners.

Food & Diet Requirements

Although the Pug is prone to overeating and putting on excess weight, the Retro Pug can be given more exercise. This means that they will usually have a bigger appetite and that you can provide more exercise to help shed the pounds and keep your Retro Pug in good shape.

Exercise

This small breed doesn’t require excessive exercise. Expect to provide an hour of walks a day. The Retro Pug can also do well in agility and other canine sports classes, which can help provide mental and physical stimulation while building a bond between the two of you.

Training

Pugs and Jack Russells are intelligent breeds, but while the Pug can lose concentration easily, the Jack Russell is independent. This combination means the Retro Pug is a little more challenging to train than the standard Pug. You will need to be consistent with your training techniques, and you should use positive reinforcement training techniques. Sign up for puppy classes as soon as possible. These not only teach some of the basic commands that you will need, but they also teach you how to train your dog, and they allow for early socialization between your puppy and other dogs and people.

Agility classes will keep your Retro Pug’s mind and body active, so these can also be beneficial for the breed.

Grooming ✂️

The Retro Pug has minimal grooming requirements. Their coat is short and easy to look after, but you are still responsible for their other grooming needs. You will need to brush the dog’s teeth at least three times a week or ideally, every day. The claws also need regular clipping, typically every 2 months. Claws may only need trimming every 3 months or so if the dog is regularly walked on an abrasive surface like concrete.

Health and Conditions

The primary reason for breeding the Retro Pug was to create a dog that was similar to the Pug but that was largely free of the respiratory complaints that the brachycephalic facial shape caused. As such, the mixed breed is largely free of these and the eye-related problems commonly found in the Pug. Overall, the mixed Retro Pug is considered a healthy breed with a longer lifespan than the standard Pug.

Male vs. Female

Generally, male Retro Pugs will grow to be a little taller and heavier than females, but not much. Males are also considered more mischievous and confident, while females are thought to be easier to train. Females are also the more affectionate of the sexes, but they can be moody and more likely to nip if they feel threatened or aren’t getting their own way.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Retro Pug

1. They Live Longer Than Standard Pugs

The difference isn’t huge, but Retro Pugs do have a slightly longer expected lifespan than regular Pugs. Standard Pugs have a life expectancy between 12 and 15 years, and Retro Pugs live between 13 and 16 years. The actual age that a dog lives to depends on many factors, though, not just breed, so you can’t assume that your Retro will live to be 16 years or more.

2. They Need to Burn More Energy Than Standard Pugs

The Retro Pug has been bred so they don’t have the same squat facial features as the standard Pug. These features mean that the original breed is prone to certain conditions. In particular, the Pug quickly gets short of breath if they are given too much physical exercise, but this isn’t the case with the Retro Pug. Therefore, Retro Pugs need more exercise than their Pug counterparts.

This is a small breed, however, so you shouldn’t have to provide more than an hour of exercise a day to ensure that your Retro remains fit and healthy.

3. They Are Less Likely to Suffer Respiratory Problems Than Standard Pugs

Retro Pugs are also less likely to suffer eye conditions than standard Pugs. While most crossbreeds are said to benefit from hybrid vigor, which means they are not as prone to the same genetic conditions as their purebred counterparts, there are obvious advantages to the Retro Pug. Besides yielding a longer life expectancy and a greater need for physical exercise, these differences also mean a potentially healthier dog.

Conclusion

Pugs are popular pets because they are friendly and fun. However, there is much debate over whether the breed should be recognized by kennel clubs and whether breeders should even be allowed to breed them, as the shape and features of the face lead to many health issues.

The Retro Pug is a mix of a Pug and another breed, typically a Jack Russell Terrier, and was developed to try and overcome the respiratory and other health problems commonly associated with the standard Pug. The Retro Pug shares many of the same beneficial features and characteristics, but they have a longer snout, so they can breathe better.

• Related Read: Breeds That Are Similar to Pugs

Featured Image Credit: Erik Lam, Shutterstock