Puggle Breed 411

Appearance

Puggles tend to be about 15–20 pounds, and 10–15 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.

In regards to their fur, puggles can be known to shed small, light-colored hair.

There is controversy about the wisdom of breeding Beagles and Pugs together. Proponents of Puggles cite the argument of "hybrid vigor". Dogs with greater genetic variation are often not as susceptible to certain breed specific illnesses and defects.

Critics of Puggles cite that Beagles were bred with longer muzzles to effectively pant and cool themselves while hunting. They point out that Pugs were bred mostly for companionship, and an aesthetically flat face that makes panting and cooling difficult. It is widely known that Pugs are susceptable to heat exhaustion and dehydration.

There is concern that crossing the two breeds could result in a puppy with an internal drive to run and hunt like it's Beagle parent, that is not physically equipped to pant and cool itself well like it's Pug parent, thus creating a puppy more likely to suffer from heat related illness

Temperament
 
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 that make excellent housepets, and many puggle owners testify to their winning personality as one of their strongest points. They get along wonderfully with children, who usually adore the pet's lap dog qualities; at the same time, the pups are always ready for a wrestling match or tug of war. Their playful disposition, however, makes them a bit slow to train and some can be extremely hyper, a trait they share with both pugs and beagles. 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). Like most dogs, puggles also 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 cooing 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.