The popularity of ‘designer’ cross breed dogs has never been greater. With so many different breeds to choose from, you can find a small dog suitable for homes with limited space, or bigger breeds that are great fun for families. The first carefully bred cross-breeds came about a few decades ago when breeders set about trying to come up with a dog that didn’t shed its hair. Today, many such breeds exist. Among the most popular, and a small, energetic and very friendly dog, is the Puggle, the offspring of a Pug and a Beagle.
Cross-breeds tend to inherit the characteristics of the parent – in this case a male Pug and female Beagle – so you are guaranteed the love of fun, intelligence and loyalty of both breeds with a Puggle. This is an exceptionally friendly dog, and one that is perfectly happy to get a good deal of its necessary exercise indoors, so is perfect for city living, and one that will display plenty of affection and loyalty over the years. Let’s have a look at the Puggle in more detail, and convince you that you need one in your life.
Origins of the Puggle Cross Breed
Like most cross-breeds, the Puggle came about through careful consideration of the nature of the parent dogs (although some claim the original puppies were an accident). The fun-loving temperament of the pug and the beagle, and the friendly nature of both, shine through in what is a small – just 15inches high at the maximum – and energetic dog, which will entertain itself and all the family eagerly.
First bred in the 1980’s in the USA, the Puggle rapidly became a fashionable accessory and is now a very popular family dog. Indeed, at one point it was the most popular such animal in the USA, and also very popular across the world. These dogs are best sourced from a reputable and knowledgeable breeder, one who has success with friendly and helpful dogs, so choose one carefully for the best results.
Perhaps the main advantage of the Puggle, apart from its lovable and fun nature, is that it is a small dog. This is a dog that will happily lay on your lap, but also one that will play like a puppy well into adulthood. It will bond strongly with the owner, and want to be a part of everything that goes on, and it will get plenty of exercise in the house though play – especially if there are children around. Train a Puggle from an early age, and you will find you have a lovely dog for life.
We do feel that before we move on we should stress again how important it is to find a reputable breeder. You will get the advantage of knowing the parents have been carefully selected, and that they will provide healthy offspring. We advise never to buy a Puggle puppy from a pet shop as you do not get these assurances that way. Let’s talk a little more about the Puggle, and why this is the dog for you.
Puggle Breed Characteristics
The Puggle, as one of the smaller cross breeds, is popular for many reasons, not least its very loving nature and endearing personality. This is the perfect dog for a family with children – it will play for many hours without hesitation – and one that will also be good for someone living in a smaller space. For city apartment dwellers, this could be the perfect dog, although you should be prepared to enjoy walks with your Puggle on a regular basis.
An interesting fact about Puggles is that they are bred from a female Beagle and male Pug; this is because the smaller dog cannot cope with delivering the larger pups. Your breeder will be able to talk you through the advantages, also, of breeding from two Puggles, which is done to introduce a more standardised look to the breed.
As the Puggle is bred from two dogs with known temperaments it naturally offers you the combined nature of these two wonderful animals. A well-bred Puggle will be a fun dog to have around the house and, if trained and socialized from an early age, will also be good with kids and with other pets.
A few pros and cons when it comes to owning a Puggle:
Pros:
- The Puggle has a lovely soft and short coat so is great for people with allergies and needs little in the way of grooming
- It is a friendly and loyal breed, and one that will bring many years of enjoyable fun to the family.
- Puggles are easy to train and receptive to instruction and learning, and are intelligent dogs that will soon learn what is right and wrong
- Great with children, the Puggle will play endlessly and be great fun
- This is a dog that will make new friends everywhere it goes. It’s one that people are drawn to thanks to its cuteness and good nature
- A compact dog that will be perfect in the smaller house, great for city dwellers
- The Puggle enjoys playing in the house so needs less exercise outdoors, but will still need to be taken for walks
Cons:
- This is a dog that will cuddle up on your lap and there is nothing you can do about it, so if you don’t want a lap-dog, it’s not for you!
- As with all breeds, there are certain hereditary diseases and ailments that the Puggle can suffer from, so talk to your breeder for reassurance
- The Puggle will be relatively easy to train, but it can also be a stubborn animal so you need to have a firm hand when training your puppy.
- This might be a small dog, but it is one that will eat a lot, and if this is unchecked it can lead to obesity, so make sure you monitor its feeds.
- The Puggle is known for barking and howling – the latter is a beagle trait – and this is often down to it being left alone for long periods which it will not appreciate.
The Puggle makes a friendly, fun and enjoyable family pet, and is a great choice for people living in small homes where it will be perfectly happy if given the attention it needs.
General Appearance
The Puggle is a very cute and endearing dog, with a lovely friendly face and a stocky stature inherited from the parent breeds. It is so cute that people will continually want to talk to your pet, and he or she will enjoy new friends. The coat of a Puggle should be short and soft – it sheds lightly and should be regularly groomed using a de-shedding tool during the shedding season – and it has a bright and friendly demeanour.
With short legs and its rounded, stout body, the Puggle is an amusing animal to look at, and one that will never leave you short of laughs. It is, however, a very pretty dog, and you will undoubtedly enjoy its company. Your breeder should be happy to show you the parents so you will know what to expect, but be sure you want a Puggle before you view a litter as the puppies are simply irresistible!
Puggle Colours
Because the Puggle is a cross-breed, there is no standard colour that you should expect. Your breeder may be able to give you an idea of the colours to expect, but there are no guarantees. It is probably best to check a litter before you commit to a particular dog, as you may find a colour that really takes your fancy. The colours listed below are some you can expect, and all are very attractive.
- Fawn – Quite a common colour for a Puggle, this shade of light brown is particularly attractive on its own, and also with black or white
- Black – all dogs look amazing in black, and a black Puggle puppy will be subject to an endless stream of compliments – they really are quite stunning!
- White – this is the preferred colour for some owners, but beware if you regularly take your dog on walks as it will become dirty!
- Tri-colour – a mixture of all three, these markings can be quite wonderful on a Puggle.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of Puggle coat colours, but it should give you an idea. One thing to remember is that many Puggles also have a black mask on the face – an endearing feature that gives them a little bit extra – and your breeder will be able to guide you as to the best colour combinations to expect.
How to Groom a Puggle
Thanks to the parent dogs, the coat of a Puggle should be smooth and soft. There can be variations with a little longer coats, but these are unusual. As such, the Puggle does not need grooming as much as some other breeds with longer hair, so it is a low-maintenance dog.
As with many cross-breeds, the Puggle is bred not to shed; it does, however, shed at certain times, but very lightly. It is best to groom your Puggle during the shedding season in order to remove the loose hair. This will not only ensure the dog is more comfortable, but you will minimise the risk of allergies by getting rid of loose hair before it drops.
There’s nothing wrong with having a professional groomer attend to your Puggle once in a while, and it should be bathed on a monthly basis. This should start early so that your dog gets used to the routine.
If you desire to do the grooming yourself, be sure to get a grooming table and a grooming hair dryer.
The Temperament of a Puggle
Everybody wants a pet dog that has an even temperament and good nature, and this is one reason why cross breeds have become so popular. The carefully chosen parent dogs are vetted for health and character, and will be known to provide a steady and acceptable offspring, and your breeder will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
As with all cross-breeds, no breeder can actually guarantee the temperament of the puppy you purchase. What they can do is assure you that they have well-bred parent dogs, whether they are of different breeds or a pair of Puggles, and that they have been successful in the past. Usually, a Puggle will be a very friendly, even-tempered and loyal animal with a lovely nature, and one that is non-aggressive and good with children.
We could list many reasons why a Puggle makes an excellent pet, either for a family or for a single person, and one is that it will soon build a bond with the owner that is unbreakable. Be prepared to have your little friend follow you around the home everywhere you go, and want to get involved in everything that goes on. This is a dog that is guaranteed to provide you with many years of wonderful companionship, without a doubt.
This is a dog that will be excellent with children of all ages, not just those that are young, and that will provide many years of pleasure and entertainment, companionship and love. You will never tire of your Puggle, as there will always be something amusing to enjoy with your puppy around.
Be aware that, as with many dogs – and especially smaller breeds – your Puggle will crave attention, and will form a very strong bond with the owner very quickly. This means that, when left alone, it may become distressed. As we have mentioned, Puggles in this situation may bark as well as howl – a Beagle trait that comes with breeding – so if you are out all day and leave it in an empty home, it will no be a happy dog. Make sure you spend plenty time with your puppy, and give it the attention it deserves.
One further word of caution: Beagles, by their very nature, like to chase small animals, and they also like to dig. This can be a problem with Puggles, too, so it is perhaps not a dog that is ideal if you have a cat, or if you like your garden neatly tended! Good and firm training at an early age can often iron out these characteristics, so be prepared to put the time in.
In many ways, the Puggle is just about the perfect family dog, is relatively easy to train and will soon learn who is in charge if you are willing to take the time, and will get to know its place in the home. If you follow our tips on training – read on for those – and select a well-bred dog from a reputable breeder, you will enjoy your Puggle for many years to come.
Living with a Puggle
When you make a decision to buy a puppy, you are not just buying a cute little ball of fluff that you have fallen in love with. You are buying a new family member, one that will be as loyal and loving as any, and one that will be with you for a long time. This is no small investment, either, so we cannot stress to strongly why you need to check out breeders before you make a decision, and why you should be prepared to travel to find the right dog.
Living with a Puggle is nothing if not fun! The Pug and Beagle are both fun-loving dogs with a wonderful temperament, and each has bags of character, too. They are also intelligent dogs, which gives the Puggle an inquisitive nature, so don’t be surprised to find your Puggle puppy is strong-willed and wants to investigate! The upside is that intelligence means the dog will learn quickly, so training will be enjoyable and fruitful.
There is no doubt that a Puggle makes a great pet for a family. Its boundless enthusiasm and liking for entertainment makes it fun for younger family members, and it will never fail to amuse even the adults with its antics. This is a dog that is perfect for someone who lives alone, and even for first-time owners, and will be ideal in smaller homes, too. It does require exercise, although not on the level of bigger dogs or some other smaller cross-breeds, so short, enjoyable walks will become part of your daily routine.
We mentioned above that the Puggle may well inherit the Beagle’s strong prey drive; this is the instinct to chase after other small animals. This can be a problem in dogs that are not properly trained, and it is recommended that until you are confident you have control of your Puggle, it is kept on a lead when out on a walk. If well-trained, you may be able to eliminate this trait, but in some dogs it remains a problem.
A Puggle is a sociable animal, so be ready for it to want to get to know every new dog it meets when out and about. Make socialising a part of your early-years training routine, and you will find that your dog is everyone’s new friend!
In short, living with a Puggle is fun, rewarding and worthwhile, and you will struggle to find a better, more loving and loyal four-legged friend!
Training Your Puggle
As we said before, buying a puppy is a major commitment, and one that involves more than simply getting your dog and taking it home. You then have to start a strict and effective training regime, and be aware that while this can be fun, it may also be hard work. Fortunately, a Puggle is easy to train, so here are a few do’s and don’ts that may help you get the best out of your bright, fun and lovable new puppy.
First, some things you really must not do:
- Shout – you need to keep a strong tone to your voice when training your Puggle, but shouting will serve no purpose and may even teach the dog to be wary of you.
- Use physical reactions – Toy dogs such as this can be fragile and easily hurt, so you need to train your Puggle without the need for physical intervention.
- Lock it away – Never shut a puppy away on its own for being ‘naughty’; remember, the dog is just young and has a lot to learn and won’t take to being left alone.
And some advice on what can bring the best results:
- Start early – this is an essential in dog training; the earlier you start training your puppy, the sooner it will learn how to behave.
- Socialize – it is very important that you get your Puggle puppy to socialise early in its life, both with people at home, elsewhere, and with other dogs and animals. This will help it know how to handle such occasions in later life.
- Be positive and firm – Your Puggle is an intelligent animal and will notice how your tone of voice and attitude changes; this is a dog that will respond well to your instructions, and will soon learn who is in charge.
- Patience – be prepared to take the time to spend with your dog on a regular basis. It is a long process training a dog, and one that requires a lot of time and effort, so make sure you have it to give.
All in all, enjoy your time training your dog, as it will allow you to get to know your new puppy, and it to get used to you.
Puggle Health Care
There are many hereditary diseases that can be found in Puggles – and in other dogs of a wide variety of breeds – and your breeder will be able to give you assurance that the parent dogs have been checked and vetted as best can be. You can never be 100% certain that your dog will not, later in life, suffer, but it is the best assurance you can get. This is another reason we recommend strongly that you find a breeder with a strong reputation – and that you search far and wide for the right one – so you have complete peace of mind.
Getting Your Own Puggle
There is an option to a breeder, and that is to get a rescue dog. The problem with this route to Puggle ownership is that you do not know the parent dogs. If you do go for a rescue, you should find out as much as you can about the breeding history of the dog, and also why it is in need of rehoming. If this information is not available, we recommend you do not choose the dog.
A breeder will be able to provide you with a full breeding history of the dog, and there are many breeders of quality Puggles. Be prepared to pay as much a £800, as these are very popular and in-demand puppies.
Breeds Similar to the Puggle
If you are still undecided as to whether the Puggle is the right dog for you, there are other small cross-breeds to look at. The Morkie, a cross between a Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier, is also a wonderful choice of pet, and also a small and friendly dog, while for something a little bigger, check out the Cavapoo for its wonderful temperament and cute looks.
Puggle Last Word
There is no doubt that a Puggle is a very wonderful pet, and one that will fit into a family with ease, so if you have decided that it is the dog for you, find a breeder, and you will enjoy many years of fun, excitement and amusement with this very friendly and loyal small dog.