- Retro pug breeders cross Jack Russell terriers with pugs for a healthier dog with a longer life.
- Dr. Candy Akers, a holistic veterinarian in Colorado, had a retro pug who lived for 18 years.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dr. Candy Akers, a Colorado-based holistic veterinarian, expert in cold laser therapy for pets, and founder of Healthy Happy Dogs. She had a retro pug named Kasey who lived to be 18 years old. This story has been edited for length and clarity.
I met Kasey while waiting on acceptance letters to veterinary school.Designer breeds were just becoming popular at the time, and the woman I got Kasey from marketed her as a miniature mastiff. I didn't know until later that she was actually a retro pug or "Jug": a cross between a pug and a Jack Russell terrier.
All I knew was that I couldn't resist her adorable face. She quickly joined my mini Dachshund to become part of my family, going on to live for 18 amazing years.
How healthier retro pugs came about
Pugs date back to 400 B.C. Tibetan Buddhist monks and Chinese royals kept these sweet and loyal dogs as pets — but those pugs looked a lot different from most pugs you'll see today.
Hundreds of years of selective breeding compacted their bodies, shortened their legs, increased their wrinkles, and gave them that squashed face many people find so adorable.
But this selective breeding did a lot of damage. Compared to many other dog breeds, modern pugs have a higher risk of ear, eye, and skinfold diseases, as well as obesity.
Plus, due to their flat faces, they're nearly 54 times more likely than many other dog breeds to have brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. This life-threatening condition causes serious breathing issues.
So, to improve pugs' overall health and lifespan, 21st Century dog breeders began crossing them with Jack Russell terriers, a breed with fewer health issues.
They got the retro pug. These playful, energetic dogs have longer snouts, longer legs, larger ears, thinner bodies, and a tail with a looser curl.
Not only did retro pugs resemble historical pugs, they had improved genetics, fewer health issues, and a longer life expectency than purebred pugs.
Pugs usually live about 13-15 years. But in my experience, retro pugs might live up to 16 years — or even longer, like Kasey did.
I've treated many pugs with eye problems
Eye issues are common among pugs and retro pugs, but I've found retro pugs can heal much faster than their purebred relatives. A simple infection or scratch on a retro pug's eye that takes two weeks to clear up may linger for up to eight weeks in a purebred pug.
Dry eye is another common issue. It's less likely to affect retro pugs, but it still can. For most of her life Kasey battled this condition, which eventually caused her to lose most of her vision.
We tried numerous eye drops (like cyclosporine drops), supplements, and a home-cooked diet. She eventually grew resistant to the drops, but the diet and supplements still gave her some relief.
When treating eye issues in retro pugs, my go-to recommendation is this combination of dietary changes, conventional eye drops, and whole food supplements.
Despite her blindness, Kasey remained a spirited and unstoppable furball of joy in her later years.
Vaccine reactions are another common health issue
Small breeds like retro pugs and pugs commonly have vaccine reactions, like vomiting, diarrhea, facial swelling, and hives.
Retro pugs tend to have less severe reactions than pugs, in my experience — and the reactions they do have pose less of a medical emergency.
Personally, I give pugs anti-inflammatories before their vaccines and try to give only one vaccine at a time. I've found these practices help reduce the risk of reactions.
I recommend responsibly bred pugs and retro pugs
Retro pugs are super tough little dogs that draw from the strength and speed of the Jack Russell terrier, for everything from zoomies to jumping off furniture to hiking.
I believe crossbreeding can help reduce some of the genetic health issues in purebred dogs. Retro pugs are a great breed, just as long as breeders design their specific cross-genetics carefully.
That's why I think amateur backyard breeders should stop breeding pugs and leave this up to professional, reputable breeders.
If you're thinking of getting a pug, it's important to have a realistic expectation of the extra care this breed requires — even if you choose a retro pug, like I did.
Kasey did have some respiratory irritation, reverse sneezing, and a tendency to overheat on walks. That said, she didn't snort or snore and loved going on long hikes in Colorado.
And nothing made me smile more than her happy little tail when I walked in the door after a hard day.