Puggle: all about this breed

The great diversity of dog breeds is caused by an artificial selection process. This means that the human being intervenes in canine reproduction and encourages the maintenance of some novelties. Although it seems strange, this selective breeding is common today and is used to breed new types of dogs. One of the most recent is the puggle breed.

The best known way to create new varieties of dogs is hybridization, which consists of crossing two known breeds to generate a new one. These new dogs are known as design dogs and are the product of the breeders’ experimentation. The puggle is part of this group, coming from the cross between a pug and a beagle. Read on and find out all about this dog.

What is the origin of the puggle?

In the 1980s, a 70-year-old man named Wallace Havens became the world’s first puggle breeder. His career was based almost entirely on animal husbandry, but after a few years he found himself immersed in this new area. The popularity of this breed grew so much that in 2005 it could already be found in the home of many famous figures, such as Jake Gyllenhaal.

The puggle is the product of a cross between a purebred pug and a beagle . This makes it a hybrid, so it is not accepted as an official type of dog by some institutions such as the Kennel Club. However, this situation is just a formality to certify that the dog is not a “pure bred”, which does not detract from its reputation as an excellent pet.

In the end, the puggle was born with the aim of having a dog with the characteristics of a pug without the respiratory problems that the breed presents. According to an article in the journal Plos Genetics , hybrid dogs are less likely to have congenital diseases than purebred dogs.

How is the puggle?

The average size of this dog varies between 20 and 38 centimeters in height, with an approximate weight of 12 kilograms. He retains the pug’s typical facial wrinkles and curved tail, but with the beagle’s elongated body. However, some specimens may look different due to genetic cross-breeding (which does not always produce the same traits).

In general, the puggle has a longer nose than the pug, which helps to avoid the respiratory problems that are characteristic of this breed. In addition, their fur is softer and colors include brown, black, and beige. The eyes remain unchanged and show a tender look that tends to make tutors fall in love.

How is the puggle character?

This dog’s character is very affectionate and sociable, so he loves to live with his family and play with his owners. One of its biggest “downsides” is that it needs a lot of attention. For this reason, it is best to avoid leaving him alone for too long or he will start to develop conduct disorder .

This hybrid breed is an excellent choice if you are looking for an energetic and affectionate dog. Remember that paying attention to him will be the key factor in deepening the relationship, so walks, games and pampering should not be missed. Likewise, it never hurts to educate your pet well to avoid conflicts with its barking or enthusiasm.

What are the main care of the puggle?

This dog has a deep affection for his family, so it’s best that he lives indoors so he doesn’t feel isolated. Despite this, he needs to get out and exercise for at least half an hour a day so that excess energy doesn’t make him nervous. It is likely that he tends to bark a lot due to the inherited characteristics of the beagle, but good training is enough to control him.

The education of the puggle is not difficult , as it is a very intelligent dog and attentive to its owners. Thanks to this, positive reinforcement has a great effect on him . Even so, on some occasions, the dog may ignore orders for no apparent reason. This is usually caused by their inquisitive personality, although it is not a very frequent event.

One of the biggest problems of this hybrid breed is food, as these dogs are so fond of food that they exceed their daily hold. For this reason, you need to be careful about controlling your food and measuring your portions. In this way, nutritional problems such as obesity will be avoided. Remember to go to the vet frequently to ensure the dog’s health is in top condition.

Is the puggle a healthy dog?

As a hybrid breed, the puggle is less susceptible to congenital diseases than its parent, although this does not make it immune to them. The following list contains some of the most common diseases in this dog:

• Hip dysplasia: an inherited problem that causes instability in the joint of the hip bones.
• Hypothyroidism: deficiency of thyroid hormones that causes problems in the physical development of the dog.
• Patellar dislocation: knee problem that often affects small breeds. It is characterized by the sliding of a small bone that stabilizes the joint.
• Cherry eye: Occurs when a dog’s tear gland moves out of place and a red mass is observed in the eye.
• Stenotic nostrils: A congenital disorder that causes the nostrils to narrow during development. Being descended from the pug, the puggle has a certain chance of presenting this and other conditions typical of brachycephalic syndrome.

Although these are the most common pathologies of the breed, this does not mean that all specimens will present one of them . The puggle is often a good choice as a pet and this has made it quite popular among many people. Even so, remember to do everything you can for your next pet to ensure they get the quality of life they deserve.