This is me!

Sometimes I get jealous of all those doggies out there who know so much about their specific breed. Puggles are still such a new non-recognized breed, that most experts only guess at what we are, and what we will be like when we reach adulthood. Since I am always in the process of making new animal friends who may not know what in the heck a "puggle" is, I decided to do a little google search, and give my thoughts and opinions.

Welcome to Sparky School!

A puggle is a crossbreed between two breeds of dogs, a pug, like Suki and a beagle like Nugget. My mama was a purebred beagle and my pop was a purebred pug.
Puggles tend to be between 15–30 pounds (Yep! I'm 24 el-bees, and 2 oz.) and stand 13–15 inches at the shoulders. While colors vary, the vast majority are fawn–colored with wrinkled black masks similar to pugs. (I'm special because I'm black!) They tend to have a 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. This is due to the decreased ability to predict which attributes will be inherited from which parent. Puggles have a tail the length of a beagle but tends to be slightly curled like a pug. (Mine does more than slightly curl! My tail looks like a piggy tail, so much so that my mama almost named me Wilbur!)

Because of their longer legs, eye socket size, and less effusive wrinkles, puggles often avoid many difficulties with eyes, joints, and skin wrinkles common to pugs. My mama does have to clean my wrinkly face a couple of times a week, because my eyes are very juicy and tend to tear up from time to time, especially when I am having fun. She just uses a yummy smelling baby wipe to do it. I've learned to stand very still and be very patient as she is doing this. 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. My vet lady told me that I inherited the best of both breeds, especially when it comes to my snout! My snout is longer, so I don't have the breathing problems associated with some pugs.

Puggles are low maintenance dogs. They need an occasional bath, nail clipping, and ear cleaning. This is so true! My fur is like human hair, and although I do shed, the fur easily blows right off of items. My mama sheds more than I do! I don't get that "dog smell" even when wet.

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 (hey!) 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. I don't quickly tire at all. I can play for hours on end! However, I do like to sit on people! If my mama is sitting on the couch watching TV, I will quietly sneak up onto her lap, and sit right on her, blocking her line of vision. Puggles are affectionate and get along well with children. I love kids! I even converted my girl cousin who was afraid of me at first. 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). I do it all depending on my mood. Sometimes I bark normal, sometimes I howl, and sometime I "talk." The talk is very interesting, and I only do it when I want some of the food my humans are eating. That said, their barking is much more easy to deal with than most beagles, and many puggles are barely vocal at all.

How can you not love a puggle? Class, dismissed!

Tell me about your breed...I tag Maggie and Mitch, Balboa, Lola, Wally and Tadpole.