A Puggle |
|
| Breeds | Crossbreed of Beagle and Pug |
|---|---|
Puggle is the name for a crossbreed dog with a beagle parent and a pug parent. The name Puggle is a portmanteau, following a naming trend in "designer dog" crossbreeding.
Contents |
Puggle crossbreeds were first bred in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, where dog breeder Wallace Haven experimented with various crossbreeds in the 1980s.[1] Haven was the first person to register a dog called a Puggle with the American Canine Hybrid Club, a non-credited group that registers designer crossbreeds for a fee.[2] Haven is also credited with creating the name Puggle. Haven began commercially breeding Puggles on a large scale in 2000. He later came under fire for operating a large scale puppy mill housing more than 1100 animals. Havens was suspended by the American Kennel Club for ten years for refusing kennel inspections and in 2008 his operation was shut down by the Wisconsin Humane Society.[3] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has repeatedly cited him for inadequate care of animals.[4]
Legitimate breed associations such as the AKC, the UKC, and the CKC, do not recognize Puggles, nor any other cross as a breed.
Puggles tend to grow to a mature weight of 15 to 30 pounds. They can be a variety of colors and patterns depending on the characteristics inherited from the parent breeds. They can be a variety of colors including black and fawn mixed with other colors.
Puggles are not necessarily healthier than their parent breeds.[5] Both Beagles and Pugs can suffer from cherry eye and epilepsy. Puggles can also inherit hip dysplasia from one or both of their parents. Some Puggles can suffer from food and environmental allergies. If the allergies are serious enough, a special diet or steroid shots may be needed.
Puggles who have longer snouts like the Beagle parent are at a reduced risk of respiratory problems. However, Puggles can suffer from the respiratory ailments commonly found in Pugs, which can be problematic. One common, nonthreatening respiratory ailment that Puggles sometimes suffer from is reverse sneezing (also called backwards sneezing or inspirational paroxysmal respiration).