Puggle

The Puggle is one of the many designer crossbreeds that has become popular in the US and is slowly growing in popularity around the world. The breeds that make up the Puggle are two fun-loving canines, the Pug and the Beagle. With such adorable parents, the Puggle is bound to inherit some of their good looks and traits.

However, when it comes to Puggle dogs, there are plenty of varieties in size, shape and colours, depending on how they’ve been bred. The Puggle can be a first cross (with one Beagle and one Pug parent), they can be bred back to one of the original breeds or be two Puggles bred together.

Height

The usual height of a Puggle varies widely depending on the parents, but it can be up to 40cm. Beagle - 33-40cm. Pug - another breed classified by weight and not height 6.3-8kgs.

Colours

The colours of a Puggle vary as well as they’re a mixture of the two parents and their extremely diverse coat colours. Beagle: Tricolour; blue, white and tan; white and tan; badger pied; hare pied; lemon pied; lemon and white; red and white; tan and white; black and white; and white. Pug: Silver, apricot, fawn or black

UK Kennel Club Groups

Toy (Pug) and Hound (Beagle)

The need-to-know

Dog suitable for owners with some experience
Extra training required
Need to be aware of potential health issues
Enjoys active walks
Enjoys one to two hours of walking a day

Small dog
Some drool
Requires grooming every other day
Chatty and vocal dog
Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual

Generally friendly with other dogs
Gets along with other pets with training
May need additional supervision to live with children
Needs a small garden
Can happily live in the city

Can be left occasionally with training

Generally healthy breed

There is often a degree of variation in the health conditions and issues that crossbreeds are predisposed to. This is because some individuals retain more of the characteristics of one breed over the other.
The Puggle crossbreed is likely to have fewer respiratory concerns than a Pug as the cross with a Beagle means there is less shortening of the muzzle and potentially larger nostrils.

For more information on the health problems that may affect this crossbreed, visit the Pug and Beagle breed pages.

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Personality

Like most crossbreeds, the personality of a Puggle depends on the parents and how they have been bred and reared. But both parents are affectionate, cheerful, friendly dogs, traits that the Puggle puppy will no doubt choose from.

The Beagle is a happy, easy-going dog who is full of life and fun to be around. Beagles are good natured and, as they were bred to be pack animals, will get along with most other dogs. They love children but need to be exposed to cats at an early age in order to develop good relationships with them. However, they and may never be safe with strange cats or small furries. The Beagle is a good watchdog, barking at anything unusual, although once the burglar is indoors, the Beagle may prefer a game with him!

The Pug is a charming, good-tempered toy dog who makes a happy, sociable companion as he is friendly with both owners and strangers. He is playful and funny, good with other dogs and animals and, while pocket-sized, still robust enough to cope with family life. These little dogs have big personalities, and this charming, good tempered, funny dog is beloved of old and young alike. He can be calm and quiet but he can also have his mischievous, clownish moments. A super companion if you can offer him the time he needs. He does not like to be separated from his loved ones for too long.

The personality of a Puggle seems to be more consistent when they are first crosses (F1). As a line is successively bred, they can be either bred back to one of the original breeds (and so strengthen either the Beagle or the Pug personalities) or be bred to another Puggle - in which case there is less predictability in temperament (and in-breeding becomes more of a potential issue).

Family-friendly:	3/5
Exercise needs:	3/5
Easy to train:	2/5
Tolerates being alone:	3/5
Likes other pets:	5/5
Energy level:	3/5
Grooming needs:	5/5
Shedding:	3/5

To understand more about the origin of the breed we need to look at the two breeds that go into the formation of the Puggle.

The Pug

Country of origin: China

The Pug is an ancient breed whose origins have been lost in the mists of time.

It is however thought that the Pug came from China where it had been known for some time (and may be one of the ancestors of the Pekinese), before accompanying traders to Europe, where they developed largely in the Netherlands. They then travelled to England with William III and Mary II when they came to the English throne in 1688.

The Pug quickly developed fans around the world - especially in the courts of Europe. Queen Victoria was a fan of the breed, keeping 36 of them and indeed breeding and showing them. This passion was passed on to members of her family, including King George V and King Edward VIII.

Beagle

The Beagle is the smallest of the British pack-hounds and was developed many centuries ago to hunt hare and rabbits. They were developed as ‘foot hounds’, for hunters to follow on foot rather than horse-back, hence their diminutive size when compared to larger pack hounds such as the Foxhound.

Most hounds were owned by nobility and the Beagle was no different. For a while it was known as the ‘Royal Beagle’ but the ability to be able to follow them without a horse, made them become more popular with less regal sportsmen as well. Their cheerful disposition won them many devotees from outside of the sporting field and they moved from the hunting field to the show ring with ease at the end of the 19th century. It is now one of the most popular of the hounds and a much-loved companion dog.

The Puggle can have any combination of the two breeds in their appearance, behaviour, temperament and nose length.

Ideal Puggle owners will understand that as a crossbreed the Puggle may have more of the traits of one parent breed than the other – if you do not like the traits of the Pug or the Beagle, reconsider! You should be ready for a scenthound, with their desire to follow a scent and inability to hear recall cues whilst doing so, and a clever, sparky Toy breed mind, one step ahead of you at every turn. Be prepared to work hard on training, and don’t skimp on exercise just because they’re small!

With such different parents, the exercising needs of a Puggle are difficult to predict. It depends whether this breed turns out to be more Pug or more Beagle! A Pug doesn’t need much exercise and with their flattened face and breathing problems can’t walk very far. A Beagle however will happily walk all day.

The Puggle is a small to medium-sized dog who can live in a flat or a smaller property as long as they have access to the outdoors for toileting and walks. But they will also be happy as a country dog.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the dog feeding guidelines of his particular food.

Both breeds have short coats that don’t need much grooming, but they will shed. The resulting Puggle will share the same coat characteristics.

Any skin folds need to be kept clean and dry and eyes should also be wiped daily and kept clean.

The Pug is surprisingly trainable (within their physical limitations) whereas the Beagle is very much a hound and often listens to his nose more than his owner! The Puggle puppy can be anywhere between the two parents when it comes to training preferences.

They should however be taught to walk on a lead and harness. Attempts to teach a reliable recall should definitely be made!

The Puggle can make a great family dog as they love everyone.

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Did You Know?

Puggles are known to be skilled escape artists. This is why owners are advised to make sure their surroundings, especially gardens, are secure before welcoming a Puggle in the home.

Similar Breeds

Beaglier

Chug

Pomsky

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