Jugs and Puggles: Are Pug Crosses Healthier Than Pugs?
In a UK study of 150 dogs, no Pug breathed normally on a standard test, while almost every Pug cross did. What crossing changed, and what it didn't.
Written by thecanineledger
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A vet assessed the breathing of 150 UK dogs using a standard grading scheme. “No Pugs were graded RFGS Grade 0 (indicating normal respiratory function), whereas all Jugs (n = 51; 100%) and the majority of Puggles (n = 47; 97.9%) were graded 0” (Youens et al., Animal Welfare 2026). A Jug is a Jack Russell crossed with a Pug. A Puggle is a Beagle crossed with a Pug.
While that is a striking gap, it comes from one small study of young dogs, mostly first-generation crosses. It doesn’t tell us whether later generations keep the benefit.
1. The study
The dogs. Owners of 51 Pugs, 51 Jugs and 48 Puggles were recruited through social media and charity channels between November 2023 and March 2024. A single vet examined every dog. The dogs were 1.3 to 8.5 years old.
The breathing test. The Respiratory Function Grading Scheme scores breathing noise and effort from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe). Grades 2 and 3 count as clinically affected.
Funding. The Animal Welfare Foundation, the RSPCA and Blue Cross funded the project. All three are animal welfare charities.
Our note: Our one-line description of the grading scheme is ours. The authors note it hasn’t been validated in crossbreeds.
→ Brachycephalic Airway Disease: Grading, Surgery, and What “Normal Snoring” Hides
2. What it found
Breathing. Almost half the Pugs were graded 2 or 3, a level the authors describe as needing veterinary care. Only one Puggle scored above 0.
Faces. Jugs and Puggles had longer muzzles and wider nostrils. Narrowed nostrils of grade 3 or worse were seen in 21.6% of Pugs and in no crosses.
Eyes and skin.
| Finding | Pugs | Jugs | Puggles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner-reported eye problems | 35.3% | 5.9% | 12.5% |
| Nasal fold present | 100% | 15.7% | 27.1% |
Vet costs. Owners estimated their total vet costs so far. Per month of ownership, the median was £41.67 for Pugs, £9.65 for Jugs and £10.17 for Puggles (GBP, owner estimates collected November 2023 to March 2024).
Behaviour and bond. Behaviour profiles and the owner-dog relationship were similar across all three.
3. What crossing didn’t fix
Weight. Over a third of Puggles (37.5%) and about a quarter of Pugs (23.5%) were severely overweight. Only one Jug was.
Teeth. Dental problems reported by owners were similar across the three, at around one in five.
Our note: Puggles were the heaviest group.
4. What the study can’t tell you
First crosses only. Most crosses were first generation. The authors caution that “greater variability may emerge in subsequent generations or with backcrossing, potentially reducing the uniformity or magnitude of these improvements.”
Young dogs. The oldest dog was 8.5 years.
Who answered. Owners volunteered online, and most were women. The authors note this is typical of online samples.
UK only. The authors say results “should be generalised with caution” to other countries and breeds.
Our note: The paper says three Pugs had had airway surgery and were excluded, but the percentages appear to use all 51 Pugs.
5. If you’re choosing between a Pug and a Pug cross
- A cross isn’t automatically healthy. Ask how the parents breathe, and whether they have been graded.
- Watch the weight of any Pug cross, especially a Puggle.
- Avoid flat-faced looks in a cross, such as very short muzzles or pinched nostrils.
Our note: These points are ours. We didn’t check whether breathing grading is available for crossbreeds.
→ Pug Health: What Australian Vet Records Show About How Pugs Die · → Are Cockapoos, Cavapoos and Labradoodles Healthier? What a UK Study Found · → Puppy Farms and Pet-Store Puppies: What the Behaviour Studies Found
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Pug crosses can’t breathe either” | Not in this study. Almost all crosses breathed normally on the test. |
| “Crossing will ruin the Pug’s personality” | Not shown. Behaviour and the owner bond were similar. |
| “Later-generation crosses stay healthy” | Not tested. Most dogs here were first crosses. |
Sources
- Youens E, et al. A solution right under our nose? Crossbreeding extreme brachycephalic dogs results in better health outcomes while preserving behavioural profiles and dog-owner relationship quality. Anim Welf 2026: vet assessments of 51 Pugs, 51 Jugs and 48 Puggles, UK, 2023 to 2024. Funded by the Animal Welfare Foundation, the RSPCA and Blue Cross
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.