Puggle - The New Hybrid Dog?

Different, Soft, Sheek, flashy, and under the arm of every trend setter wannabe? The newest handbag from Louis Vuitton or Coach? No, it's the newest trend, Designer Dogs. Move over Tinkerbell, Paris may be trading you in for a Puggle. A new Hybrid breed of dog that is a cross between a Pug and Beagle. Kid-friendly, mild mannered and the best of both breeds, the Puggle is quickly rising in popularity and a hit among dog owners looking for a breed that stands out among the rest.

The Puggle was first introduced by Wallace Havens back in 2000, so their history is short, but we can learn a lot about the breed by the two dogs it is cross bred with. A Puggle can weigh anywhere between 15 and 30 pounds on average when they are full grown. They are born in a variety of different colors from black, brindle colored to the most common color being fawn- a light beige color with specks of white. The Puggle tends to have a black masked face, with wrinkles. They tend to have longer floppy ears like the Beagle, which is an outstanding feature that sets them apart from the Pug. Pugs ears are small and sit close to the head, and tend to be rose shaped. Puggles tend to have a longer slightly curled tail, unlike the Pug with a tight sometimes double curled tail and the Beagle which has a straighter longer tail. This makes this cross between the two result in a slightly perfect curl.

Another advantage the Puggle has over the Pug, is with its elongated nose, it is more able to tolerate the heat, enjoy more exercise and be outdoors longer on warm days. Pugs are very susceptible to heat stroke and exhaustion, due to their short snout, making their ability to breathe, pant and cool themselves more difficult. On a positive note, Puggles tend to have less breathing problems than the Pug breed, because they have a more elongated nose compared to the flat faced nose. As an upside for the Puggle, with their beagle blood running through them, and an eye for adventure, they are more likely to be able to enjoy more outdoor activities.

The Pug and Beagle are registered breeds with the AKC- (American Kennel Club) The AKC keeps strong standards to maintain and preserve the special qualities of each registered breed.

The puggle is crossing the two breeds and the result diminishes the purity of each breed, by creating a new breed. Many dog breeders and owners of pure bred canines, have a strong stance against any cross breeding of two dogs together. The main drive of most purebred dog owners is to preserve the breed and keeps the bloodlines at very high standards. The Puggle breed at this time is not listed on the AKC registry.

The new creation of the Puggle surely brings controversy and raises many questions regarding the long-term health and well being of the new hybrid breed dogs.

The Puggle isn't the only cross bred canine, there are several other breeds gaining popularity; such as the Pug/Boston Terrier mix, which seems to bring in the look of a Pug but with more white and black colors, a Golden-doodle as they are called which is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle, A Poma-poo, a cross breed between a Pomeranian and a Toy Poodle, a Yorkie-Poo, the cross between a Yorkshire Terrier or "Yorkie" and a Toy Poodle. The most intriuging one that is similar to a Puggle is the Pocket Puggle, which is a cross between a small Pug and a Rat Terrier or a small Beagle. These breeds tend to be 10 pounds lighter than a standard Puggle, which may even be more of a trend setter, due to the rising popularity of miniature toy dogs.

All canines whether pure bred, mutt or a cross breed, all have different attributes and needs. It is very important to research the best type of dog that would suit an individual's needs and wants. If you are a runner, and enjoy jogging everyday and are looking for a canine companion to run beside you, a toy dog or especially a Pug may not be the best match. If you are more a homebody or either don't have the time to go out and give your canine exercise, maybe a smaller lap dog, which doesn't require a lot of exercise may be the answer.

What we do know is that the devoted Puggle has a sweet, mild mannered, well rounded temperament. Sure to bring years of joy to you and your family.