The Puggle: A Perfect Pup to Snuggle

The Puggle Dog Breed in Brief:

Origin: The United States

Height: 13-15 inches at the shoulders

Weight: 15-30 pounds

Exercise Needs: Moderate

Grooming Needs: Low

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Good With Kids: Yes

Trainability: Medium

Both the Pug and the Beagle dog breeds have been favorite pets for years. However, due to various health and temperament problems within the two breeds, the quest has been to create a dog that possesses the good traits of both breeds, while eliminating some of the negative. The end result was the Puggle - a roly-poly, fun-loving clown that seems to possess a beautiful mixture of both parents. Sweet-faced and possessing a very friendly nature, you might find that the Puggle is the perfect pet for your family.

Puggle History

The Puggle is a very new hybrid dog, often referred to as a "designer breed," due to his being bred as a cute and cuddly companion and bringing high prices in the pet stores. Many will argue that this Pug and Beagle hybrid cross is simply a fad and that they will never gain breed status, though owners of Puggles are sure to argue this with any nay-sayers. Puggle breeders take their snuggly Puggle puppies very seriously.

The origins of the Puggle are a bit on the hazy side, though it’s believed to have been the result of a secret tryst that occurred when someone escaped from their kennel and decided to get romantic. The end result of this Romeo and Juliet love affair would be a litter of puppies that seemed to possess a Beagle-like body, coupled with the sweet face and wrinkles of a Pug. In no time, the Puggle became one of the popular "designer breeds," and would be found within pet stores and offered up for sale in various newspapers and across the internet. While not yet recognized as a breed all their own, there is no disputing the popularity of this personable pup.

The Puggle Appearance

The Puggle appearance can vary widely, considering that this hybrid is still a very new cross and that one can find the puppies to either resemble one of the parents or, ideally, come out as a healthy blending of the two. On the average, however, the Puggle puppy will mature to be roughly 13-15 inches tall at the shoulder, and will weigh anywhere from 15-30 pounds as an adult.

The perfect Puggle look is a puppy that possesses a slightly longer and athletic body, like that of the Beagle parent, and a slightly longer and leaner muzzle. This eliminates many of the respiratory problems that are so commonly seen in purebred Pugs, while keeping many of the preferred Pug traits, such as the wrinkles, the round eyes, and quite often, the curled tail. Additionally, most Puggle breeders also say that the cross eliminates the puppy’s tendency to hunt, making it less likely that he will wander away from home like the Beagle breed is commonly faulted as doing.

Puggles can be found in several colors, such as the common Pug shades of fawn and black, as well as golden, or any known Beagle shade.. While white markings are not as common, they can occur and it’s not unheard of to find spotted Puggles or blue-ticked varieties. Just as some Puggles can take their body type from either parent, so also can they develop in a variety of colors, depending on the genetic makeup of their parents. The only thing that can be said, for sure about the Puggle puppy, is that he’s bound to be adorable.

The Puggle Temperament

Puggles are known to be very sweet and affectionate medium-sized dogs. Possessing a great mixture of rough and tumble rough-housing with loveable lap-dog, they are popular pets for children, suited for both boys and girls, as well as making a dog that appeals well to the parents of the household. The Puggle is also a notorious clown that loves to be the center of attention - because of this, however, some argue that the Puggle puppy can be a bit difficult to train. His mind is all about fun and games, and he likes to spend very little time doing monotonous things, such as learning to sit and stay.

One thing that one needs to be prepared for, when welcoming a Puggle into their home, is that there is a good chance that these adorable puppies will grow into very adorable but hyper dogs. The Puggle may be short in stature, but he’s a dog that loves to be on the go. If you don’t have a couple of kids who are sure to keep him entertained, or lots of toys to keep a busy boy occupied, you may end up with a troublemaker on your hands. The Puggle, while possessing a very sweet disposition, is a very social dog and does not do well when left on his own for long periods of time.

Puggle Exercise Requirements

Puggles need a moderate amount of exercise. While not long-legged, many of them inherit the hyperactivity and desire for constant entertainment that is common in both of the parent breeds, the Pug and the Beagle. A fenced-in yard works well for these busy-bodies or, if you live in the city, it’s highly recommended that they take a couple of good walks per day, as well as having a day or two a week where they can enjoy time playing in a dog park.

Puggle Grooming Requirements

Caring for your Puggle puppy is surprisingly simple and can be accomplished with a few minutes spent brushing them with a soft-bristled brush once a week. This will help to remove any dead hairs or dander, as well as distributing the skin’s natural oils through your Puggle’s coat. Doing this will give him a sleek shining coat, as well as lessening the number of pale hairs you find on your favorite black slacks. Additionally, it’s important to watch your Puggle’s ears and clean them if necessary; like most floppy-eared breeds, if left unattended, your Puggle’s ears run a risk of becoming infected.

Training Your Puggle

Because of the Puggle’s comedic personality and love of play, many claim that he can be very hard-headed and difficult to train. For this reason, it’s important that you bring a healthy does of calm and patience, whenever you enter a training session with your Puggle puppy. Never raise your voice or yell at your puppy and, under no circumstance, should you ever strike your Puggle. While he may seem a bit of an airhead at times, the Puggle will retain negative memories such as this, which will only serve to make him less-willing to cooperate. For best results, offer lots of treats and rely heavily upon positive reinforcement and lots of praise - nothing will involve a Puggle puppy more than if you make learning fun.

Puggle Health Issues

While many purebred breeders argue that these hybrids are risky and run the chance of developing the worst of both breeds, it’s more generally accepted by scientists that these mixed puppies possess something known as "hybrid vigor," due to the genetic diversity of their gene pool and the fact that roughly 90% of genetic problems are considered to be due to recessive genes. Fans of the loveable "mutt" or "Heinz-57" argue that the hybrid dogs are healthier, live longer lives, and tend to be much smarter than their purebred parents. Some health issues that may affect the Puggle include, but are not limited to:

• Respiratory problems in puppies that inherit the Pug’s short muzzle
• Heat intolerance
• Ear infections
• Skin infections, particularly around the wrinkled faces and nose
• Eye infections

Is the Puggle the Right Breed For You?

The Puggle is a loveable character, who loves to be the apple of his owner’s eye. Affectionate and fun-loving, they are perfect pets in homes with children, and also do well with other pets, such as dogs and cats. While these cute dogs can be a handful to train, the general consensus is that they are definitely worth that little bit of extra effort.

There is some controversy, surrounding the Puggle hybrid, however, and it’s important to know this, prior to making a puppy purchase. First off, the Puggle is not a purebred dog and there is no recognizable registry for them at this date. Be careful to avoid breeders who try and claim they breed purebred Puggles. Also be wary of what is known as the Pocket Puggle or Teacup Puggle, as these can prove to either be dwarf specimens, the results of heavy inbreeding, or can be the offspring of Puggles crossed with toy terriers.

Shawna L. Krautheim

2007