Puggle (Pug & Beagle Mix) Dog Breed: Pictures, Info, & Traits
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The Puggle is one of the many designer crossbreeds that has become popular in the US and is gradually gaining popularity across the globe. Puggle is made up of two fun-loving dog breeds, the Pug and the Beagle. With such amazing parents, the Puggle is destined to inherit some of their adorable looks and traits.
Puggle dogs come in various sizes, shapes, and colors, depending on how they have been produced. The Puggle may be the first cross (with one Pug and one Beagle parent), Or else, they can be bred back to one of the original breeds or be two Puggles bred together.
Breed Overview
Height:
10-15 inches
Weight:
18-30 pounds
Lifespan:
10-15 years
Colors:
White, black, fawn, red, gold/yellow
Suitable for:
Families with kids, singles and seniors, apartments, houses with or without yards
Temperament:
Friendly, playful, fun-loving, independent, eager to please, intelligent, stubborn
This dog will get along well with kids, other dogs, and household pets, making them great family companions. In addition, they tend to wander and howl though they are sweet and playful, so they will most often capture your heart. However, the dogs shed a lot, so they require regular grooming to keep them looking their best.
Like their Beagle parent, they are extremely intelligent dogs, though sometimes they can become stubborn. Due to their intelligence, they will have the ability to socialize, but they will need constant positive enforcement training from a young age.
Puggle Characteristics
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.
Puggle Puppies
As a designer dog, Puggles are one of the affordable breeds. Plus, their smaller size means their upkeep expenses will be lower.
It is crucial to do much research to determine how much you are willing to spend and if this will cover the costs of a Puggle. In addition, you need to explore the background of any breeder you are considering. This process consumes time and effort, but it will all be worth it for a happy and healthy new Puggle.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Puggle
Puggles are adorable and intelligent designer dogs that make excellent family companions. They are a perfect choice for those that already have kids and pets at home and for the first-time dog owner since they are good with kids and other animals. In addition, Puggles are extremely friendly, charming, always ready to play, and known for their tendency to cuddle.
Since they are a mixture of Pugs and Beagles, their temperaments and character traits are also a combo of their parents’ personalities. Puggles inherited their land speed and their sweet, friendly nature from their Pug parent. From their Beagle parent, they inherited the love for sniffing, the ability to jump, and their playful and inquisitive nature.
The Puggle is quite an adaptable dog, but it may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for an extended period. It is truly a family dog that likes to be close to its loved ones. Although they require minimal exercise, Puggles tend to need a lot of water during their walks since they become thirsty very fast due to their high internal temperatures.
Unluckily, these dogs may also inherit some of their parents’ breeds worst characteristics. Puggles can exhibit respiratory issues known to occur in Pugs, the tendency to wander and howl attributed to the Beagle, or the stubbornness of both. A stubborn Puggle can be more difficult to train, requiring more patience and consistency.
Even if they are not guarding dogs, Puggles tends to back and howl, which could be a downside if you leave in a condo or apartment. However, Puggles are lovable lap pups that will make the wonder of everyone around them.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
The Puggle was specially bred to be one of the best family dogs around. They will want to know everyone in your household and make a perfect choice for a kid’s first puppy.
Puggles are generally good-tempered dogs who get along well with kids of all ages. However, it is crucial always to teach your kids how to approach and touch your Puggle. In addition, make sure to supervise any interactions between young kids and dogs to prevent ear pulling and biting from either party.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Puggles are sociable and often get along well with other dogs and pets. However, they may chase small pets, especially if they have inherited their Beagle parent’s hunting intuitions. To minimize this trait, give your dog proper training and lots of exposure to small pets from an early age.
Things to Know When Owning a Puggle:
Here is a basic walkthrough of the day-to-day care and upkeep of this little adorable dog breed.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Having a well-balanced and nutritious diet put aside for your dog is one of the vital duties of every pet owner. Canines have no nutrition understanding, and they will eat anything that you put in front of their faces.
Meeting your pup’s food and diet requirements will ensure they are healthy and happy while preventing many potential health problems down the line. For Puggles, the best diet should include high-quality dry food that suits their unique requirements. That means you must choose kibble suitable for your dog’s age (puppy, adult, senior), size, and activity level.
Alternatively, you can go for cooked meals or a raw food diet for your dog at home. Both options are becoming popular with pet owners, but you should not base your dog’s complete nutrition based on guidelines you find on the internet.
Dog nutrition is complex, and only a vet can tell what your Puggle requires to stay healthy. Always consult your vet if you have any doubts about your puppy’s diet.
One of the Puggles’ favorite things is eating, and they will munch on everything, including wet food and kibble. Unfortunately, if you allow them, they will eat so much food that they will easily become overweight or unhealthy. So, make sure to feed them high-quality dry kibble with the amount suggested on the package.
You can break down the meals into two or three smaller parts, so you Puggle can eat several times throughout the day. Vets recommend 1.5 cups of high-quality dog food daily, separated into two meals. In addition, always ensure there is continuous availability of clean, fresh water.
Exercise 🐕
The Pug Beagle breed is an energetic pup that requires about 45 minutes of exercise every day. They like going on brisk walks through the neighborhood to look for the sights and sounds around them. A fenced yard will give your Puggle a space to run and play without getting hurt.
You must never exercise your Puggle off-leash since they inherit the Beagle’s chase intuition and could get lost or hit by a vehicle. When the weather is chilly, your Puggle will enjoy playing a game of fetch in the living room to burn off their energy.
Without proper exercise, this dog breed tends to howl and do so loudly. That can be an issue for you or your neighbors and may end with a local animal control agency visit. Ensuring that your dog gets plenty of exercise will help you avoid paying fines or be known as the family with the annoying dog.
Training 🎾
An intelligent crossbreed, Puggles are relatively easy to train. However, they tend to be stubborn, so you must make their training session fun and interesting.
Be consistent with your training techniques but try to mix things up as well. For example, look for a few shorter sessions mixed with a bit of playtime. Keep them entertained, and they will not have a chance to be stubborn.
Early socialization is the key to ensuring that your Puggle grows up into a well-behaved dog. As with every other canine, reward-based positive reinforcement training is the most effective way to train.
Puggles are obsessed with everything edible, so make sure to use this to your advantage. You will quickly have a new great friend when you reward your Puggle with small treats during training sessions.
Negative reinforcement or punishment-based training is closer to abuse than training and should be avoided at all costs. In addition, this crossbreed enjoys agility training so keep that in mind if you are looking for an opportunity to change up your dog’s training regime.
Grooming ✂️
Puggles shed, and although they might not shed as much as their Pug or Beagle parent, they still shed fairly frequently. Puggles have a double coat, meaning they will shed more during the winter and in the summer.
Puggles grooming needs are quite lower. Brushing their hair twice a week will keep their short shiny coat healthy. It will also ensure that any dead furs will be picked up rather than find themselves on your clothes or carpet.
Due to their proneness to skin allergies, it is good to use grooming products specifically designed for dogs with sensitive skin. If your dog has a wrinkly face, then ensure to clean its folds with a cotton wool ball and specialized Pug products.
Make sure to keep their eyes clean too and wash them with water if you can see any dirt in them. In addition, it is crucial to regularly check their large floppy ears since they may often become infected with wax build-up and dirt.
Other grooming requirements include nails care and dental hygiene. Trim your Puggle’s nails at least once or twice a month, as necessary, and brush their teeth two or three times a week to get rid of tartar build-up and the accompanying bacteria.
Begin grooming your Puggle at an early age to get them used to it. Handle their paws gently since dogs are sensitive about their feet and look inside their ears and mouth. Make grooming a positive experience filled with rewards and praise, and you will lay the base for easy vet exams and any other handling when your Puggle is an adult.
Health and Conditions 🏥
The Puggle is generally a healthy dog breed that enjoys an average lifespan of 10-15 years. The Beagle is a healthier breed than the Pug, so the Puggle is a healthy alternative to the Pug dog. The best way to find out what your Puggle may be prone to is by looking at the recommended health tests for both parents.
Both their parents suffer from Hip Dysplasia, the abnormal formation of the hip joint, so make sure to look out for signs of painful walking. In addition, both their parents suffer from several eye conditions, particularly the Pug. That means cleaning and monitoring their eyes are essential.
Epilepsy is also common in Puggles, and so when you suspect they are having a seizure, take them to your vet immediately.
The Puggle is likely to inherit the Brachycephalic face of the Pug, resulting in several health problems. It can leave your dog with difficulties in breathing or cause difficulty for their heat regulation. Therefore, on a hot day, make sure to monitor your Puggle closely.
If they appear to be struggling, calm and cool them down immediately with a cold, moist towel placed over your dog. If it is too hot, then either stick with early or late walking when it is much cooler or simply don’t walk your dog at all. However, the symptoms will be slightly alleviated since they will have a slightly longer muzzle than the average Pug due to the Beagle influence.
Minor Conditions
- Hip Dysplasia
- Corneal Ulcer
- Patellar Luxation
- Epilepsy
- Cherry Eye
- Hypothyroidism
- Glaucoma
Serious Conditions
- Stenotic Nares
- Intervertebral Disc Disease
- Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
- Entropion
- Congenital Heart Defect
Male vs Female
A male Puggle is a bit larger and more likely to display sexually aggressive behaviors, such as humping and mounting or marking their territory with urine. Contrary, the female Puggle is a little more delicate and less chunky. They are usually quieter and more relaxed than their male counterparts.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Puggle
Here are three fascinating facts about Puggle dogs that will make you fall in love with this pet.
1. The Puggle’s Mother Is Nearly Always a Beagle
Although a Puggle’s parents can be a Pug mother and a Beagle father, that rarely happens, and breeders have discovered that breeding a male Beagle with a female Pug often leads to the death of the puppies or the mother. Almost all Puggles in existence have been produced by breeding a male pug with a female beagle.
2. Puggles are New Dogs
Puggles were first produced in the 1980s, so they have not been around for very long. Though these dogs might have existed before the 1980s, they did not gain popularity until a Wisconsin dog breeder known as Wallace Havens came up with the name ‘Puggle.’ He then registered the crossbreed with the American Canine Hybrid Club.
Other breeding organizations such as the American Kennel Club don’t recognize Puggles as formal dog breeds. However, they might recognize them in the future since the Puggle popularity continues to grow.
3. Puggles are Known to Be Great Family Dogs
Puggles are a few dog breeds that are good for families since they usually need as much attention as possible. They are not likely to want to be with only one family member and not others, though they can bond closely with their owners. The Puggle temperament is often extremely friendly and intelligent, though they can also be stubborn.
Final Thoughts
The Puggle is intelligent and charming, and it is a lot of dogs in a small package. The dog can fit with just about any family, younger or older kids, and many other dogs and pets. Combined with their high levels of intelligence and curiosity, this unique Beagle Pug crossbreed has a lot to offer.
Puggles enjoy being with their human pack. If you can give them basic exercise requirements, the dog will shower you with love and appreciation every single day. So, if you are happy with a Puggle that loves to cuddle, then this dog breed might be your perfect match.
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Featured Image Credit: ifd_Photography, Pixabay
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