Pug vs. Puggle: Breed Differences & Similarities

Are you thinking about adopting either a Pug or Puggle as your next household companion? The two may share similar qualities, but the two differ more than meets the eye. You need to know more about each dog before making a decision.

Yes, the Puggle has pug-like qualities, but those, combined with beagle genetics, make the Puggle very different from the standard Pug. To understand these two pups better, you need to know the differences between them, such as their history, appearance, exercise needs, and health risks.

Whether you’re curious about what sets these two dogs apart, or you’re looking to choose your next furry best friend, you’re in the right place. While both dogs share similar temperaments, we’ll show you what makes them unique.

History

Each dog has a history, whether decades or centuries old. While most designer dogs are on the shorter end of that timeline, the same sentiment rings true for both Pugs and Puggles. To understand these dogs more thoroughly, you need to know where they came from and how they came to be the dogs we recognize today.

Pug

Small in stature but big in mischief, pugs were once the chosen companion of Chinese emperors, although they were known then as the Sichuan Pai dog. It was a royal breed and treated as such. The breed was frequently gifted to Japan and Korea, eventually spreading in popularity throughout Asia.

In Russia, Catherine the Great’s aunt took a particular liking to pugs. She was reputed to have many pugs, all of whom accompanied her to church. Russia’s affection for the breed then spread to Western Europe, specifically to the Dutch. During its trips through the Orient, the Dutch East India Trading Company frequently brought pugs back as precious cargo.

The Pug cemented its rank as a favorite for the Dutch when it supposedly signaled the Spanish’s attack, saving Prince William the Silent’s life. While the breed has lost its royal status through the centuries, the will always be a fun, loyal companion for households worldwide.

Puggle

Unlike Pugs, which have a rich history, Puggles are a relatively new designer dog, having shown up in the 1980s. In many cases, Puggles aren’t referred to as a breed but instead referred to as a “designer dog” because of their intentional cross-breeding.

Because both of the Puggle’s parent breeds are often compared as a family companion, it was only a matter of time before these two purebreds were combined into a new designer mix. A Puggle is the genetic hybrid of a Pug and a Beagle and is also often compared against other Pug parent designer dogs.

While the two breeds may have, at some point, bred on their own together, Mr. Wallace Haven bred the two intentionally. He received credit for the deliberate hybrid, which grew in popularity over the recent decades. This Pug and Beagle crossbreed is now a common mixed-breed choice for owners.

Appearance

Since Puggles share aspects of a Pug’s genetic makeup, it’s no coincidence that they share some physical attributes. For instance, both dogs have bulgy, bug eyes, wrinkled faces, and short coats. However, there are many physical features where they differ.

Puggles share features with Beagles. The Beagle DNA gives Puggles their folded over easy, longer nose, lengthier body, and taller legs. The longer nose allows the Puggle to breathe more effortlessly than the Pug, whose scrunched nose leads to harsh, heavy breathing and possible respiratory complications.

The Puggle also varies in color, either tan, fawn, or black, whereas the Pug only appears either tan with black accents, white, or solely black.

While the Puggle may appear more or less similar to its Pug parent, they differ in many ways, including weight, color, and height. The Pug’s face is also more squished than the Puggle’s. Even though the Puggle’s length of snout varies depending on how much of the Pug genetics it expresses, the Pug’s nose will always be shorter.

Since the Puggle stands taller and longer, it’s no surprise that it weighs more too. The Puggle, on average, weighs between 15 and 40 pounds, whereas Pugs weigh between 13 and 20 pounds. Pugs are more stout and compact because of its size and weight, while the Puggle is lengthier and lean.

Temperament

With sweet, bulging eyes and layers of expressive wrinkles, the Pug and Puggle ooze cuteness and have a personality to match. The two are lovely, friendly companions that do well in households or family environments as well as with individuals.

The Pug is explicitly content wherever its home may be, either a small city apartment or vast countryside in the midwest. It’s a versatile breed that’s happy wherever you call home as long as it’s given love. Its versatility stems from its lack of activity. Its inactivity isn’t to say they don’t enjoy playing. But they are equally as content lazing on the couch all day.

Opposingly, the Puggle is more energetic. This stems from its Beagle genetics. Beagles are highly active, energetic pups and have passed these traits down to Puggles. They enjoy playing outside, running, chasing, and occasionally digging, thanks to their hunting predisposition.

Activity and inactivity aside, both dogs are amicable, loving dogs that enjoy the company. Although, Pugs may be particularly inclined to please where Puggles remain more stubborn.

Exercise

Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, Pugs can happily spend an entire day on the couch if you let them. As hard as it may be to give up a day on the sofa with your Pug, they still need exercise.

Luckily, it’s not challenging to get Pugs to play. You don’t need to spend hours running around with your Pug, but some moderate playtime throughout the day will benefit your Pug’s physical and mental health.

Unlike Pugs, Puggles won’t enjoy a day of inactivity. Instead, Puggles take after Beagles in their high-energy, active personalities. Because of their genetics, character, and build, Puggles require a bit more exercise during the day than Pugs.

Puggles enjoy playing, running, and chasing, so they make a great running or jogging companion. Or, you can take them outside to play for a bit each day. Either way, Puggles require at least an hour of activity time each day. Otherwise, they may turn to destructive behavior.

When it comes to exercising out doors, you should harness train both dogs for outdoor walks and exercise. We do not recommend walking on a standard collar, as that can contribute to breathing problems in both of these pups. Because they have a brachycephalic face, they are both at risk for breathing disorders. A Pug should be fitted with a small harness, whereas a Puggle may need one that’s slightly larger.

Training

For all dogs, you want them to listen to you, whether it’s to leave a stick in the yard or come when you call their name. To reach this level of obedience, you need to train your dog. Luckily, for Pugs and Puggles, training isn’t a rigorous course of action as with some other dogs; however, it still requires hard work and patience.

The Pug, while a friendly, loving, and curious dog, requires thorough training to reach obediency. They are a loyal breed who wants nothing more than to please their owners, which means they can also quickly get their feelings hurt. The last thing you want is a sad, disheartened Pug, so use kind words and positive reinforcement when training.

Since Pugs enjoy the company of an owner or family, they don’t enjoy solitude. To combat the possible loneliness and sadness that comes with alone time, it’s a good idea to socialize your Pug early on, either at training classes, the park, or around your community.

Neither the Pug nor Beagle takes to training with ease, so it’s safe to say that the Puggle doesn’t either. The best way to train a Puggle, given its stubbornness, is with treats and positive reinforcement. The Puggle aims to please and loves company but likes to stand its ground when directed to do something, mainly if you use harsh tones or display a strict demeanor. Treat your Puggle with positivity, and it will go a long way in training.

Health

Some dogs are more prone to specific health issues than others; this case rings true for Pugs and Puggles. Since both dogs have smashed, wrinkled faces, they can develop long-term respiratory problems.

To help make their breathing more manageable, you will want to monitor their weight since obesity can lead to breathing troubles. You’ll also want to keep them out of humid or hot climates for too long as these conditions can induce respiratory hardships.

Obesity is another health condition that pugs more likely than Puggles are prone to develop. As with monitoring their breathing abilities, you’ll want to monitor your Pug’s caloric intake and weight.

Pugs and Puggles also have an increased likelihood of developing eye problems such as Cherry Eye, corneal ulcers, and dry eye. While these dogs’ eyes appeal to most people and give them their cute, pleasing looks, you need to monitor them regularly.

Puggles also take after Beagles regarding epilepsy; it’s a common health risk in Beagles passed along to Puggles through genetics. Also, from Beagles, Puggles can develop various joint conditions such as hip dysplasia and dislocated knee caps.

Nutrition

All dogs require a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to maintain and achieve a healthy life. However, the amounts of each nutrient vary depending on the age and size of your dog.

Both dogs require a balance of nutrients; however, you need to monitor your Pug’s fat intake since they are prone to obesity. Pugs love to eat and could very well chow down all day, so you need to watch their food intake as well as their weight to ensure they’re at a healthy size.

The same goes for treats. Treats are a good incentive when training your Pug, but you need to ration them since treats tend to have a higher fat percentage and an overall increase in your Pug’s caloric intake.

Similarly, Puggles also have a predisposition to obesity, so the same monitoring that’s necessary for Pugs rings true for Puggles as well. That said, Puggles generally require more food than Pugs because they are more active than their couch-potato cousin. While they need more food, you need to ensure they don’t get too much.

Grooming

One of your Pug or Puggle’s most critical aspects you need to focus on when grooming is their facial folds and wrinkles. Dirt and grime can easily get trapped underneath their wrinkles, so you need to wipe underneath them often so that they don’t accidentally cause an eye or skin infection.

Both dogs have relatively similar short coats that shed frequently. Puggles will inherit some of their Pug parent’s shedding habits, as well as the shedding frequency of their Beagle parent. Since both of these two dogs shed often, you need to brush them weekly, at least a few times a week. They would also benefit from special grooming tools such as grooming mitts or shedding brushes so that you can sweep away any loose hair.

As for bathing, both Pugs and Puggles don’t require frequent baths. Only bathe your pup as needed if they look a little dingy or if they got into something messy during their playtime. Just make sure you get into their folds well when you bathe them and check up on their eyes.

Puppy Prices

The price of Pugs and Puggles, like most dogs, depends on where you purchase or adopt. Pugs tend to range anywhere between $1,00 and $1,500, but the price can increase depending on the Pug’s purebred lineage. Puggle prices can vary anywhere from $800 to $2,000.

While both breeds have a relatively close price range, Puggles tend to cost more because they are a hybrid, “designer” breed and have become increasingly popular in recent years. As with Pugs, the already higher price for Puggles increases depending on lineage purity.

Final Thoughts

While Pugs and Puggles have similarities and differences, you must choose the breed that best suits your lifestyle and needs. Both are loving, loyal dogs, but the choice between the two is yours alone.

For both breeds, you’ll need to show love and compassion to train. The Puggle requires more time playing than the Pug, who is content lazing around all day binging TV with you. But Puggles are also easier to clean and groom. However, both dogs have specific health risks that need monitoring and regular checkups to maintain the dog’s optimal health.