Dr. Sergey Uhanov
Last updated: 27th February 2026
Muggin Dog
By
Dr. Sergey Uhanov
Last updated: 27th February 2026
The Muggin Dog was developed by crossing the Min Pin and the Pug. These small size dogs are known to be loyal and love to see their masters happy. They are characterized by floppy ears, often a folded forehead, and a well defined body along with sturdy legs.
The Muggin dogs can vary in looks. While one might take the pug’s curly tail and short snout, the other might develop a shorter tail and a longer snout of the Miniature Pinscher parent. However, since, in recent times, other breeds are also being used by the modern breeders for the betterment of their gene pool, there might be variations in the looks between individuals.
Muggin Dog Pictures
Quick Information
| Also known as | Pug Miniature Pinscher Mix, Min Pin Pug Mix, Pug-Pin |
| Coat | Short, fine |
| Colors | Silver, Brown, Red, Black |
| Type | Toy dog, Designer dog, Companion dog, Watch dog |
| Group (of Breed) | Crossbreed |
| Life Span/Expectancy | 12-15 years |
| Height (size) | Small; 10-14 inches (adult) |
| Weight | 12-22 pounds (full grown) |
| Personality Traits | Loyal, independent, energetic, agile, loving |
| Good with Children | Yes |
| Good with Pets | Yes |
| Climate Compatibility | Not good for cold climate |
| Shedding | Moderate |
| Barking | Occasional |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Competitive Registration/ Qualification Information | DBR, IDCR, ACHC, DDKC, DRA |
Video: Muggin Dog Playing
Other Similar Breeds
Temperament and Personality
The muggin is a very loyal and affectionate dog that would love following its owner like a shadow. They love to cuddle and get hugged, resting with its loved ones. This trait has also induced a sense of separation anxiety in them, if they are left alone for too long. Some muggins might also develop the habit of nipping.
Because of their occasional independent behavior and strong will, they might not prove to be too well-situated for first timers. They are an active breed, being friendly with all children and pets in the house. In fact, they do well when placed in company of other dogs.
The Pug Min Pin mix dogs might not be too comfortable with strangers. However, it wouldn’t also take time to be sweet to the ‘stranger’, once it understands he is your guest. An otherwise quiet dog, they wouldn’t hesitate to bark to draw attention, if they hear a strange noise, or come across something fishy. This makes them qualify as a good watch dog.
Care
Exercise
These dogs love to run. Take them out for regular jogs, as well as for walks on a daily basis.
Grooming
Though their short coat needs minimal grooming, the muggin dogs tend to shed regularly during Winter and Spring. So you should brush its coat thoroughly during these months to ensure cleanliness.
Health Problems
Generally a breed without any issues specific to them, like other crosses, they too can develop any kind of health problems that had been in their parent breeds.
Training
Don’t be surprised if your dog suddenly shows whims and self-willed behavior, when it comes to training. Training a muggin dog might not be too easy, since it needs a consistent and experienced owner/trainer to teach them things.
It’s not unnatural for some muggin pups to be prone to biting people’s heels since they often feel the urge to chew something. To prevent your puppy from nipping, use some redirection method of distraction. Engage the muggin puppies in non-contact games involving chewing, as in tug or war, or retrieving things like chewing toys, etc.
You need to keep a check on your pup’s probable separation anxiety right from childhood. Teach it to accept its crate, and reward it for every success. Give it company, but not too much of attention. Set its boundaries, and let it learn to entertain itself by toys.
Socialize your dog vigorously to help it abstain from its strong-willed nature. If you see your dog is way too independent minded, take it to the dog parks on a regular basis where it can mix, play, and learn from other dogs. For that purpose, you can even join an obedience class so that your dog can witness the bonding and interaction between other breeds and their owners, and learn to practice proper behavior.
Diet/Feeding
This breed is prone to gain weight easily. It is advisable to separate its daily amount of food between 2-3 meals. 1-1½ cups of good quality dry kibble is enough for this little canine.
FAQ’s
We LOVE our Muggin! His mother (out of a MinPin by a Pug) died soon after welping, my husband brought home the whole litter of five. Fortunately we had three of us to feed and clean up after the litter around the clock. At 5 weeks the only female went back to the original owner. The female in one of the males looks much more like Pugs with their short snouts. Two males looked much more like MinPins with longer snout and longer legs. And then there was one in the middle. We chose one that looked more like a MinPin. Unfortunately, without a mother to teach him, he never learned good dog etiquette, and is more likely to parallel play with other dogs.
Adrian is 11.5 y o now. He is friendly and sheds like a Pug. Because he eats like a Pug he is very food motivated when it comes to his training. He is smart like a MinPin and knows several tricks. Unfortunately, “No bark” and “No whine” are not on the trick list. My husband likes to say Adrian “barks at the wind” when he’s outside, annd I swear I have seen him do it! Adrian has several different barks. His barks include:
•Let me in please.
•Alright already, would you Let Me In!!
•Someone is walking past our house (the school bus stops at the end of our block), or in our driveway!
•Bunny! BUNNY BUNNY BUNNY!!!!!!! This bark is quite shrill, and he also uses this bark for the neighbor’s cats, squirrels, ground squirrels, possums, and the deer that wonder through our yard, etc.
•if we say “TV” he will look up and bark at the animals on screen. Sometimes, if he is watching the TV and sees a dog he will bark ( he love the Pet Collective)
He whines to be let out, to curl up under my husbands left arm, to o be fed, and in the car whenever the turn signal is used. And he barks at all the other dogs he sees and whines to be able to play with them. We would not call him a quiet dog.
Like MinPins, Adrian loves to run and chase and will retrieve a ball for food.
Like many MinPins, Adrian loves to burrow under the blankets, and he has his own for his bed. If we’d let him, he would be happy to sleep with us. He is our constant companion and we love him so very much.
lost my little muggin mix too.. unexpectedly.. 2 months ago.. 2 weeks before her ninth birthday.. best little dog ever..
Really been trying to figure him out lol. We rescued Buddy when he was 5 about a year and a half ago. His papers said min pin but he looks much more like a rottwieller. My wife always insists that he is mixed with a Pug because of his tail and loose skin on the back of his neck. I would always say he is not a Pug!!! Well I decided to check that out and by the looks of it he is Either Muggin or a Carlin Pinscher.. He has most of the traits I see here but he never nipps. He is like the perfect dog eccept when he begs for attention from EVERYONE that comes through the door. Gotta love him.. He is my shadow… I am disabled and often spend my days in a recliner do to pain issues. He spends most of his time in my lap and sleeps next to my leg at night. If he is not in my lap he often begs me to play with him.. Trying to get him not to play keep away… He is very smart, he knows if he grawls at his toys he is more likely to sway me to try and play… Love him to death and would definitely have another…
The Muggin and Carlin Pinochet are the same
Depends on whether out of a Pug by a MinPin or out of a MinPin by a Pug.
my dog Scooby also looks like a rotti and he acts like one too! He is a muggin as well and he loves HIS people but strangers not so much. He is the best guard dog! No one is getting in the house without me knowing it! I love him very much and he is very lovable with people he knows. He also likes chasing my maltese around in a game of you can’t catch me. I haven’t seen another dog look quite like mine but I do see two breeds in him.
Our Muggin JoJo came into our life when she was 3wks old now she is 2+ and still acts like a puppy..what should have been a full pug turned out to be min pin mixed and we are extremely happy with her.. this page is very informative and helpful especially the separation anxiety issues.. She never seizes to make us smile!!
Our Muggin,JoJo, we have raised since she was 3wks old she is now 2 1/2 and such a great part of our family.. I honestly think she thinks she is human because we treat her like she is a diva princess.. this page describes her in a lot of ways especially the separation anxiety.. What should have been a full pug turned out to be a mini pin mix and I’m very happy about her being a Muggin.
Just lost my muggin unexpected it was my little love looking for a brown colored female with the pug face and curly tail
Looking for a muggin we lost ours after 12 years missing her badly
May I ask cause of death? I have a 13yr old Muggin and he seems healthy
Looking for a female Muggin puppy lost mine after ten years 2 months ago
I’ve had our muggin for a year now he is now 2 yrs old. I have to say your blog describes him to a T! Chews everything & is extremely energetic. For a while we didn’t know what he was mixed with. The rescue we got him from didn’t know either they told us he was just a pug mix. It’s hard to find more info on this mixed breed so this is very helpful. Thank you so much!!