Description. The Puggle is a hybrid, or designer, dog. They are created by mating a pedigree Pug with a pedigree Beagle. Once they have produced a litter then they should be bred with other Puggles but it is often the case that they may be bred with one of the original parent breeds and this makes it difficult to predict the dog you will actually produce. The Puggle is a small dog standing some 13-15 inches high and weighing in at about 15-25 pounds. As both parent breeds have fairly short hair it is safe to assume the Puggle will be a short haired dog and they come in many colors. They will have quite floppy ears that hang well down the side of their face. They will also have a short snout and the skin on the head will be wrinkled in appearance.

History. As with all the hybrids there is little history to the Puggle, whilst the parent breeds have a long history that is not relevant to the modern designer dogs, as they are bred with convenience in mind. In the past dogs were bred for specific tasks and the traits required were bred in by crossing with other breeds until a reliable mixture was found and they could then breed what they wanted from the resultant dogs. Nowadays dogs are mainly for companionship and whether they can hunt for hours or retrieve from water is no longer of particular interest. For this reason breeders have introduced the hybrids. They are aimed to be easy care with characteristics that are desirable in pets. Some people like sedate dogs others like active dogs and some like mischievous dogs. The designer breeds work around the character of the dog more than the workability of them. One day the breeds will stabilize into predictable patterns and standards may be drawn up for them. Today’s hybrid is tomorrow’s pedigree.

Temperament. Again you can not always be certain but the traits of both parent breeds should come through, which will make the Puggle a loving dog that is playful and attentive with a bit of a mischievous air about them. It is vital to train these dogs, to keep them happy and for them to know their place in the home. An educated dog is a happy dog. They do require a fair amount of exercise and mental stimulation. They need to be treated as a dog, think how you would feel if you were not treated as a human. They also need to be socialized when young. If you fulfill these basic needs you will have an affectionate well behaved dog that will entertain you for hours a day.

Health issues. Hybrids are too new a breed for specific problems to show through, as yet, but with a recorded life expectancy of 10-15 years they seem a fairly good breed. You need to consult the breeder about the health of the parents and see any health documentation. If the breeder has no documents then you should be suspicious or just go to another breeder, which does have certificates.

Grooming. The Puggle is a short haired dog and should only require brushing weekly or a little more often. Bath only when needed.

Living conditions. The Puggle will live pretty much anywhere as long as they get good walks and some playtime.