Getting Started With A Puggle Dog Breed
Heritage and Registry
History
Puggles are one of the most popular and in-demand designer breeds around.
It originated in the United States. While there are articles that say that it was a product of an accidental crossing, there are also those who are saying that the breeding was planned. The goal is to make a new dog breed that will be healthier than a purebred Pug and would have a more subdued personality than a purebred Beagle.
Was it successful?
If popularity is the deciding factor then hands down, the crossing was successful. In fact, the Puggle dog breed even set records for being widely known and a crowd’s top choice.
Even at present time, the Puggle continues to be a widely sought-after dog breed. Fur parents continue to want to get their hands on a Puggle due to its promise of sweetness and affection that would definitely steal the hearts of people around it.
Registry
Due to the Puggle dog breed being a cross between a Pug and a Beagle, it is not among the dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Even if this is the case, there are still clubs catering to designer breeds that recognize the Puggle such as the following:
- American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC)
- Designer Breed Registry (DBR)
- Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC)
- International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR)
Parent Breeds
Pug
The Pug parent of a Puggle dog breed originated in China dating back during ancient times. It was traditionally bred as a lap dog and was regarded highly being a chosen pet of different royal households.
You wouldn’t miss a pug with its adorable wrinkly face and curled tail that wags excitedly almost every time that it is around its owners.
Pugs are very sensitive dogs. Although they have innate stubbornness in their system, they love their family hard and always want to be around them. They are very playful also and are patient with children which makes them great companions to any type of family.
Beagle
The Beagle parent of a Puggle originated in England. It was traditionally bred to be rabbit hunters, especially during the 16th century because of its exceptional sense of smell and great instinct.
Beagles are small to medium size dog breeds with adorable floppy ears. They have an almost waterproof coat and they have a pair of soulful eyes that can seemingly see through you. Their coat comes in lemon, tricolor, or even red.
Beagles are easy going and they have a gentle temperament which makes them ideal family dogs.
General Information on Puggles
- Height13 to 15 in
- Weight18 to 30 lb
- Lifespan10 to 15 years
Behavior/Temperament
Energetic, Intelligent, Eager to please, Affectionate, Stubborn
Best match
Moderately active single fur parents, retirees, families with or without small kids, house with an enclosed yard, or big apartments
Parentage
Pug and Beagle
Physical Appearance
A Puggle is a designer dog breed. Since it is a Pug – Beagle mix, there are many combinations on how it will turn out depending on which parent it will take after. In fact, a litter of Puggles could even look different from each other.
A Puggle normally grows around 13 to 15 inches tall and weighs about 18 to 30 pounds. it is a small dog breed known to have short legs and a slightly long but thick body. It has a black nose and a pair of hazel or dark eyes. It could have a flat wrinkly face with a short snout. It normally has a droopy pair of ears.
There are Puggles that also grow even smaller than the above-mentioned standard size. They do not reach the 13-inches height so they are called Toy-size Puggles.
The coat of a Puggle is smooth to touch. It has a short, double coat with the top coat being a bit longer than the undercoat. This coat comes in tan, fawn, lemon, or black. It can also be a combination of those said colors with black markings on some parts of its face like a mask. This coat is effective in protecting a Puggle from different weather conditions.
Needless to say, no matter how a Puggle would turn out, it would still be adorable through and through coming from equally beautiful purebred parents.
Grooming
Brushing
You’d be happy to know that with the short coat of a Puggle, its grooming needs would be on the low-maintenance side. It would only need as much as once a week brushing which would help get rid of the dirt and sticks that got stuck on its coat as it goes on its regular walk outside. This just needs to be increased during shedding season when you don’t want its dead hair to be spreading everywhere.
Brushing can also help spread the natural oil on the coat of your Puggle. This would help keep its coat moisturized and looking healthy.
If it is not used to it, your Puggle may be resistant to your effort to brush it. This is normal. But if you start making it regular and you are giving it a treat afterwards, then trust that it would love it soon enough. It may even be an activity that it would look forward to.
Bathing
Bathing is also not frequently required for a Puggle. You can only bathe it once a month or even only when needed because bathing it often can wash away the natural oil produced by its coat.
You have to be mindful to use only dog formulated products when you bathe your Puggle. Protect its eyes and ears from the splash of water and make sure to carefully dry it afterwards.
Other Grooming Needs
Your Puggle may not need frequent bathing and brushing, but if it has the folds of its Pug parent, then these folds must be cleaned regularly. There are wipes made up for these that you can get at a pet store.
You mustn’t overlook this particular care because it can cause irritations and even infections.
You have to regularly clean the ears of your Puggle too and clip its nails. Moreover, you shouldn’t forget also its dental care.
Understandably, this additional grooming needed by your Puggle can be scary to do on your own. This can be an unnerving task, especially if you are a newbie. But you don’t need to fret because there are professional groomers around to help you out.
They are very thorough when it comes to providing the grooming needs of a Puggle.
Food and Feeding
Puggles are enthusiastic eaters. They are not picky and they love to eat everything edible that you put in front of them. This is why their diet should be planned accordingly.
Puggles would need different dietary nutrition throughout their life. It’s a good thing that there are many dog food available commercially that could meet these requirements. Whether you choose kibble or canned food, then there is something available out there that would be a great choice for you.
The only tricky part when choosing the right dog food is that you need to be selective when it comes to their ingredients. There are varieties of dog food out there that were made with fillers and too refined ingredients. Needless to say, your Puggle won’t get much nutrition from these.
When you choose a brand of dog food, pick one that is made with whole grains. Choose one that is from a trusted brand and has already proven to be high-quality dog food for the likes of your Puggle.
The recommended kibble serving for your Puggle dog breed is about 3/4 to 1 1/2 cups daily. This should be distributed equally into 2 feedings. The amount can still be increased if you have an active Puggle or can be decreased when you think it is getting rotund.
There are fur parents who prefer cooked food or raw ones for the diet of their Puggle. There are no issues with that as long as you can make sure that it is composed of complete nutrition your Puggle would need.
The ingredients should be balanced and should contain high amounts of protein. Carbohydrates should only be of minimal amount because it could cause your Puggle to gain unnecessary fat. With its size, it would have difficulty if it gets overweight.
Some fur parents also give their fur babies treats. That is also just fine in moderation. Giving your pets a lot especially in-between meals could ruin their appetite.
If you want to be thorough in meeting the nutritional requirements of your Puggle, you can also supplement its diet with vitamins. This can boost its strength and can even help make its coat look shinier and healthier.
Your vet can recommend good vitamins for your fur baby.
Training
Training a Puggle shouldn’t be difficult because it is naturally smart. It can easily learn new commands and tricks when taught with patience and consistency. Even if you are a new owner or trainer, you wouldn’t have any issues teaching it.
The only challenge is that there are instances when a Puggle can be stubborn having been descended from a Pug parent. It may just start to ignore you and not focus on what you are trying to teach it.
If this is the case, rewards-based reinforcement may be a good strategy to redirect its focus. Give it treats or praises for every desired behavior achieved. You can also keep the training short to maintain its focus.
Negative reinforcement should never be used on a Puggle no matter how stubborn it can be. You will achieve nothing when you resort to intimidation. It may even break your bond with your Puggle and may cause a negative impact on its temperament.
Starting your Puggle at a young age could also help in making the training successful. You can start with simple obedience training as early as 8 weeks old. While you are at it, you shouldn’t also forget about potty training and socialization.
Potty training is a way to instill discipline in your Puggle. It teaches your fur baby not to do its smelly “business” inside the house. Socialization, on the other hand, will teach your Puggle confidence in different surroundings. It will train it how to act around people and prevent a Puggle dog breed from being aggressive.
The training and socialization your Puggle will be exposed to would help mold its behavior as it grows older.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Puggles are an active designer breed. Once you are around them, you won’t fail to notice how seemingly untiring they are and always curious about the things around them.
With the energy Puggles have, it is only needed to exercise them daily. Nothing intensive and a 15 to 30-minute walk around the neighborhood would do considering that they are not the athletic type. The minutes can even be divided into two schedules depending on the capability of your Puggle.
The important thing is that you make sure that your Puggles don’t get overworked. On the first sign that it is already struggling or lagging during a walk, or exhibiting fatigue, you should already give it a rest.
There are instances when despite the exercise schedule you are giving your Puggle that it still exhibits boredom and restlessness. If this is the case, you can also allocate some playtime with it. You can do it with your Puggle for an enjoyable bonding time or you can let it play alone too supplemented by its toys.
If you have an enclosed lawn, that would also work well for a Puggle. Just remember that a Puggle can also be a good earth digger. So you may need to monitor it as it plays in the yard especially if you have treasured plants. The supervision would also keep it from getting into trouble with bigger animals that would perceive it as prey.
Note that when you neglect the exercise need of your Puggle, it can lead to misbehaviors. You may observe your Puggle suddenly barking a lot even for no reason. It can also be destructive to the point of gnawing your favorite pair of shoes or even your furniture.
Health Concerns
Puggles are technically healthier dog breeds than their purebred parents. However, there are still instances when they develop health issues, especially when are in poor health or when they inherit it from their parents.
Among the common health conditions commonly observed on Puggles are the following:
Hip Dysplasia
While it has been believed that this only normally affects bigger dog breeds, it was proven over the years that it can also affect small dog breeds.
This is a disorder affecting the hips of a Pug-Beagle mix. This is when the ball and socket joints are not a perfect fit for each other which leads to displacement or dislocation. This is extremely painful and can cause lameness on the hind legs of a Puggle. As such, you will observe a Puggle suffering from this to have difficulty moving around. It will be as if it is dragging its hind legs or sometimes there is also a bunny hopping motion as it goes from one place to another.
Hip Dysplasia has no known cure especially if it is hereditary. But this can still be managed with the help of pain medications and sometimes even surgery.
Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)
This is a condition your Puggle could suffer from especially if it takes after its Pug parent in terms of having a flat face which increases its risk of developing respiratory illnesses. Some of the symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, snoring, and choking or vomiting while eating or drinking.
At the onset of the symptoms, you should immediately seek the assistance of a vet. Many owners make the mistake of disregarding the symptoms as a normal occurrence until it is too late.
Obesity
This is one of the most common health conditions a Puggle could suffer from. This is characterized by excessive weight gain when its diet is not managed properly or when a Puggle doesn’t have a healthy lifestyle. When Obesity is not immediately addressed, a Puggle may have a high chance of developing other illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer.
Skin Infections
If your Puggle has the facial characteristics of its Pug parent, then it is likely that it has facial folds also. When these folds are not cleaned regularly, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria that later on could result in a skin infection.
You know the skin of your Puggle is starting to get irritated when it is suffering from non-stop itching. There may also be the appearance of red bumps and even small wounds. If this is the case, you may want to bring it already to the vet who could recommend topical creams or medicated soaps.
There is no way to predict what health conditions your Puggle could suffer from. But the probability of them suffering from hereditary conditions can be lessened if you are going to source them from a reputable breeder.
It is also important to always maintain the healthy diet of your Pug-Beagle mix. Ensure that it is always in good condition and it has a strong immune system all the time.
Lifespan
Puggle has an average life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.
You can expect that this is still highly affected by the lifestyle of a Puggle dog. The healthier it is, the longer is its life expectancy. Thus, it is very important to provide it with the right diet, exercise, and medical care throughout its lifetime to ensure that it will be in excellent condition all the time.
Temperament
A Puggle dog would give you a healthy dose of both its purebred parents’ character traits.
While it is energetic and fun-loving, it could be pretty laid back too. It is a very sweet little pooch that would want nothing more than to please its fur parents.
There is no doubt that the affectionate nature of a Puggle would win your heart in no time. It keeps a close eye on its favorite people and is rarely away from their side. It is also untiring in showering its smooches as they come home at the end of the day. It even knows when you need a break from the chaos and you just need a cuddle.
Puggles are not aggressive dogs especially if they are trained and socialized starting from puppyhood. Although they could be excitable at times, it was out of character for them to just bite. They love people even if they could have reservations around strangers.
Overall, Puggles are happy dogs. They have an even temperament that makes people, young and old, want to be around them.
Puggle Dog as A Family Dogs
With its sweet nature and happy personality, it is not hard to accept a Puggle in a family. The Puggle temperament brings forth a great companion that would be enjoyed by all family members. Plus, it is not aggressive too which bodes well especially if you have children.
A Puggle does not need a lot of space given that it is not that big. Yes, it will be happy to run and dig around if you have a spacious yard, but it would just be equally happy in a roomy apartment as long as it has sufficient space and you can spare some time to exercise it daily. Thus, being an urban dweller shouldn’t stop you from getting one.
The only thing you should be aware of is that a Puggle can be an incessant barker too. But if it only develops it because it is bored and it needs an outlet for its excess energy, it can easily be addressed by more exercises and some toys to keep it entertained.
A Puggle dog may be energetic but it is not an athlete type. So if you have only a moderately active lifestyle, you will find that it can be a great companion for walks or some downtime at a dog park. It will be a great cuddle buddy too because as much as it loves pleasing the people around it, it also loves to be showered with attention which it can get during a cuddle session.
Puggles would also be great even if you have small kids. Even if it is not that big, it is not very small also which makes it not too fragile during playtime with your young ones. Of course, it still needs to be handled with care. But needless to say, no overcompensating is required that would remove the fun during playtime.
Do you have other dogs or other animals as pets? That shouldn’t be a concern also if you have a Puggle because it won’t have issues getting along with it particularly if they were raised together. If they’re not, then that shouldn’t be an issue as well.
You can introduce and socialize them first with each other under your supervision until you are already comfortable with their level of familiarity. A Puggle is friendly and sociable so it won’t be surprising if it would be friends fast with your other pets.
A Puggle may be a ray of sunshine on most days. However, it can also get depressed and anxious easily when left behind. This is the reason why it is not good for a frequent traveler fur parent.
But if you are a fur parent that frequently stays at home, whether single, a retiree, or even families with kids, then getting a Puggle would be a perfect choice.
The Cost of Getting a Puggle Puppy
Purchase Price
Given all the wonderful things about a Puggle, it won’t be a surprise if by now, you are thinking about getting one.
The average cost of this little designer dog is something between USD1000 to USD2000. A Puggle pup below this value should raise a red flag because it was likely that is of a poor quality pup with health issues that you’d only discover in the long run.
Most of the puppies produced by backyard breeders or puppy mills are like this. They come at a cheaper price because they do not conduct a strict screening process for the parent breeds that would be crossed. They do not check first if both are in good health condition before they are mated. They are in the business for bucks, thus, they do not mind much the quality of the pups they are producing.
The result of this can be costly to the would-be fur parents as the Puggle grows older. This is the reason why fur parents need to buy only a Puggle pup from a trusted and professional breeder.
Trusted breeders do not compromise the quality of the puppies they produce. You know you are getting the best value for your money when you buy from them.
They consider not only the well-being of the purebred parents but the litter that would be produced as well. They even take care of the nutrition and medical needs of the puppies until they are released to the fur parents. They are very thorough that when you receive your Puggle pup there’s nothing more you’d need to do aside from the follow-up care.
A win-win for you!
Other Costs
Deciding to get a Puggle puppy for yourself is easy. However, it is also important to consider first the costs it would entail and whether or not you can afford them.
Many fur parents make the mistake of not considering this which just result in a big heartbreak over time. No one wants to let go of a pooch they already learned to love just because they weren’t able to foresee that the cost of its upbringing is not within the budget.
Taking home a Puggle pup is a big responsibility. It would have needs that should be met for it to have a comfortable life.
The basic necessities are food, medical care, and shelter. It would also need dog accessories such as a leash, dog bed, bowl, and the likes. Let’s not also forget services such as grooming that it may need from time to time.
These may not seem too costly at first glance but note that these are continuous expenses that would be provided to a Puggle throughout its life.
Conclusion: Why Pick a Puggle Over Other Dogs?
There is no doubt that a Puggle is a good choice if you want an extremely affectionate dog. It won’t get tired of showering you with lots of love that it will show through smooches and a lot of tail wagging. It is sociable and good for both kids and adults alike.
It is like having another sweet and lovable member of a family with a Puggle. Thus, it is not surprising why it is a
However, getting a Puggle will be a responsibility. It is best to gauge first the risk before taking one home with you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why are puggles so bad?
A: Puggles are not bad to have. This can even be good to you if you are looking for a sweet and affectionate companion. It is very sociable too which bodes well even if you have kids and other pets.
Perhaps, one of the disadvantages of a Puggle is that it can be prone to respiratory illnesses if it inherits the flat face of its Pug parent. But the vet could help. Just bring it in at the onset of the symptoms.
Q: What problems do puggles have?
A: Puggles are a healthy cross breed. But they can still inherit health issues from their parents. The most common health concerns among Puggles include Hip Dysplasia, Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS), Obesity, and even Skin Infections.
There is no exact way to stop healh issues from occurring but bringing your Puggle for a regular check-up and ensuring that it has a healthy lifestyle could help.
Q: Are puggles lazy?
A: Puggles are a very energetic cross breed. They are adorable bundles of pure joy. While they can be excitable, they also know when to just keep their fur parents company.
Puggles will only be lazy if it is not getting the daily exercise it needs. It may also develop other unfitting behavior. Thus, the daily exercise of Puggles shouldn’t be overlooked.
Q: What is the Puggle’s life expectancy?
A: The average life expectancy of a Puggle is between 10 to 15 years. The healthier it is, the higher is the probability that it will live a long life.