Puggle

The appearance of a Puggle varies.

A Puggle is a crossbreed between two breeds of dogs, a Pug and a Beagle.

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Appearance

Puggles tend to be about 15-20 pounds, and 13-15 inches at the shoulders. While colors vary, and there are completely black as well as multicolored Puggles, the vast majority are fawn colored with wrinkled black masks (similar to Pugs), but with the longer body, slightly increased size, and longer nose and floppy ears associated with Beagles. Because Puggles are a crossbreed, the appearance of the breed is less predictable than that of a purebred dog, since there is a decreased ability to predict which attributes will be inherited from which parent.

Health

Because of longer legs, more room in the skull for the eyes, and less effusive wrinkles, Puggles in general avoid many difficulties with eyes, joints, and skin wrinkles common to Pugs; however, they may have more problems than typical Beagles. While Pugs are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, the longer nasal cavity of the Puggle makes the breed more tolerant to the heat, and less likely to overheat while running in the summer. Conversely, their nasal cavities are likely to be shorter and less efficient than those of Beagles, which could be a problem if the dog also inherited the Beagle's propensity to run, especially for long periods.

A common eye infection is cherry eye, from the Beagle side of the family.

Temperament

A Puggle at 9 weeks old.

As pets, Puggles have the mild mannered yet playful 'lap dog' qualities often associated with Pugs, mixed with the more energetic tendencies typical of the hunting qualities of a Beagle. A cheerful clown who loves to play but then quickly tires for a short nap, Puggles are mid-sized dogs which make excellent housepets, and many Puggle owners testify to their winning personality as one of their strongest points. They get along wonderfully with children- girls usually adore their lap-dog qualities, but at the same time, the pups are always ready for a wrestling match or tug of war with boys. Their playful disposition, however, makes them a bit slow to train and some can be really hyper, a trait they share with both Pugs and Beagles. That said, they retain the friendly, laid-back disposition of both breeds, but while their size makes them perfect for apartments, they need a bit more exercise and attention than some traditional apartment dogs (Pugs included). They also shed many small, light-colored hairs, and occasionally have gas. Unlike Pugs, they generally do not snore or make snuffling noises. While they have a relatively standard bark, and vary widely as to how often they bark, some inherit the odd, nasal baying of Beagles, a mix of a baying hound and the coo-ing of a pigeon (some say sounding like 'Gizmo' from the movie Gremlins). That said, their barking is much more easy to deal with than most Beagles, and many Puggles are barely vocal at all.

Miscellaneous

• Like all mixed-breed dogs, no major kennel club recognizes the Puggle as a dog breed. However, many dog sports allow mixed-breed dogs to participate, and the Beagle half of the Puggle might enjoy some such activities.

• A smaller version of the puggle is also available called the "pocket puggle." A pocket puggle is the result of a small beagle and pug mating. This puggle is about 10 pounds lighter at maturity, but has the same traits as a regular puggle.

See also

• Dog hybrids and crossbreeds

References

• Columbia News article, "Puggles have dog breeders snarling"
• CBS news article "Designer Mutts"
• New York Observer article "Frankenpup"