In 1992, Wallace Havens, a well-known breeder, had the idea of breeding a hybrid dog using a Pug and a Beagle. He was familiar with both breeds and determined that the characteristic of both breeds were desirable and would make for a good family pet. The puppies from the first litter were so adorable with their wrinkled foreheads, floppy hound ears and their big, expressive eyes. Wallace named the new designer breed the Puggle.
The Puggle, like the Pug, has a enthusiastic personality. It's full of energy, yet it's also content just snuggling up on your lap and sleeping in the sun. It desires to be in your company as much as you do its company. It wants to be your loyal friend and always strives to please you. The Puggle is very affectionate and is happy to share said affection with other family members and friends, but mostly, the Puggle will demand its attention to the one who feeds and plays with it the most.
The Puggle is also very perceptive; it easily tunes into the family's everyday routine, habits and expectations. If something is out of the ordinary, it will know. It may give you a look, bark in protest or appear very confused. If it senses you are upset, it may attempt to comfort you by cuddling up next to you. It's also very protective of its owner and family; it will alert all family member of an intruder or some other dangerous occurrence.
The Puggle has a very big appetite and is rarely picky about what it eats. In fact, the Puggle seldom gets full and believes it needs more to eat. I speak from experience with my Puggle, Mitzi. She is always hungry and always thinks she needs more food than what she's getting. Because of this particular characteristic, you should monitor your Puggle's intake carefully.
The Puggle can be trained to sleep in a crate, but it would prefer to sleep with its owner. My Puggle Mitzi sleeps with me as she does not like the crate.
Because the Puggle is a mixed breed, Puggles come in many different shapes and sizes. A Puggle will typically have an elongated snout that eliminates much of the breathing and snoring problems associated with the Pug's short muzzle. The Puggle may inherit the stamina and agility present in the Beagle, which means it can go on longer walks without getting winded and is happy to play fetch, especially if a treat is involved.
The standard Puggle has a tan-like coloring and a slightly curled tail, which is present in the Pug. In some rare cases, the Puggle has been known to have some variations of black and tan.
The Puggle is a low maintenance dog and will not require much grooming. However, it sheds twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, so be sure to brush its coat from time to time to minimize the shedding coat from getting on your furniture or clothes.
From the Pug, the Puggle may occasionally have eye discharge. A small amount of eye discharge in the corner of the eye is normal, but is seldom for most Puggles. If your Puggle does have eye discharge, wipe the area with a warm, wet cloth a few times a week. This will prevent the build-up from causing an eye infection.
