Puggle Puppy Infatuation

The puggle — the result of a one-night stand between a beagle and a pug — has families cooing and cuddling.

Even tough-guy "Soprano" James Gandolfini recently bought one of the black-nosed rascals.

"Everyone is clawing for them, it's ridiculous," said Brian Incovaia of Metro Puppy Kennels in Forest Hills, Queens. "I get people calling left and right for them, and basically you get the equivalent of breeding a Marc Jacobs bag with a Louis Vuitton."

Incovaia's designer dogs range from $650-$900, and less is more; the smaller the puppy, the higher the puggle price tag.

"The puggles are the most in demand. And they're just the cutest little dogs," said Garry Garner, president of the American Canine Hybrid Club, which registers and recognizes more than 200 hybrid dog breeds.

More people are turning to designer hybrids because of their temperament, allergy-safe fur or plain cuteness.

The Australian Labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle, started the designer-dog trend more than 15 years ago. The careful cross-breeding resulted in a curly-haired, friendly and hypoallergenic dog that had people paying close to $2,000 a puppy.

"Lately, people have been coming in and looking and calling especially for puggles. These are hot in Manhattan right now because they make great apartment dogs," said Michael Rubin, manager at Puppy Paradise on Flatbush Avenue.

Rubin says he's carried puggles for the last seven years but adds he's seen interest in the breed take off within the last couple of years — and he's sold 250 in the last year.

Brooklyn resident Stephen Padovano found his puggle by accident. Padovano spent the day cruising the shelters for a dog for his 18-year-old daughter, Dana, but thought they were all too big. After he stopped at Puppy Paradise, Bella worked her way into his heart.

"My puggle puppy will jump through hoops to try and please you. My puggle puppy is lovable, my puggle puppy doesn't shed that much and she knows exactly what I want her to do," he said about his 6-month-old puggle puppy. "I was worried in the beginning that my neighbors would complain about her barking, but they tell me she has the cutest little howl."

But not everyone is barking the praises of the designer dogs. Lisa Peterson, spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club, says she think this trend is out of control.

"Here's the thing, people who breed designer dogs are cross-breeding with the hopes of getting the best of both worlds. They may get the worst of both worlds," she said. "Hybrids are trendy because they are new. It's the equivalent of buying the new 'It' shoe or bag.

"I'd like to know how long these breeders have been breeding puggles. Do they own a beagle and their friend has a poodle and they get together and breed a puggle?" she said. "Historically, all breeds were bred to help man out to hunt, herd or as a companion. What is the purpose of a puggle?"

For some buyers, it may simply be the name. Both Peterson and Rubin agree that New Yorkers love the idea of a pup called a peekapoo or a Labradoodle.

"They're not really breeds. Tomorrow someone could breed a Great Dane with a mastiff and they call it a Great Stiff," Peterson said.

Are Designer Dog Trends Bad For Dogs?

The "puggle," a cross between a beagle and a pug, has become so trendy, David Barber boasts, that a list of proud new owners of the designer dog sounds like an Oscar night lineup.

Jake Gyllenhaal, James Gandolfini, Sylvester Stallone and Julianne Moore are just some of Barber's recent customers — and new puggle owners.

"They've become popular to the point where 90 percent of requests are for this breed," says Barber, of Puppy Paradise in Brooklyn, N.Y. "It's like mixing a Versace bag and a Coach bag together — what do you get? You get the best of both without adding any of the problems."

Puggles are undeniably cute — and, Barber claims, his $950 puggle pups escape some of the genetic afflictions (bulging eyes) and character flaws (stubbornness) that sometimes plague purebred pugs and beagles. The mixed pup has been riding a wave of popularity after being featured on the cover of the New York Post, appearing in a "Good Morning America" segment and being mentioned in an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" when Gyllenhaal appeared as a guest.

But the popularity of puggles and other designer dogs, such as labradoodles (Labrador Retriever-Poodle mix) and schnoodles (a Miniature Schnauzer-Poodle mix), has become a contentious topic among communities of dog owners. Some argue the mixed breeds aren't breeds at all, but simply overblown, overpriced mutts, while others decry popularizing specially bred dogs when thousands of dogs languish in shelters.

"The problem with designer dogs is people might think they're trendy — and that's not a good reason to buy a dog," said Susan Smith, community relations manager for the Franklin County Animal Shelter in Columbus, Ohio. "And before they put down, say $1,200 for a labradoodle or puggle, they should look first in a shelter because they can probably find the same type of dog here."

Smith says her shelter often houses mixes such as puggles, labradoodles and other unique blends of dogs. They may not carry the designer dog label, but she says the mutts are just as cute as any pooch that has been featured lately in the media.

Mutts With a Designer Label?

Garry Garner, president of the American Canine Hybrid Club, says he gets loads of hate mail every day, accusing him of glorifying new breed mixes. His company offers $20 certificates of authentication to people who can demonstrate they are owners of the offspring of two different purebred dogs.

"With a mutt — there is no documented background, whereas with designer dogs, we have pedigrees as parents," Garner explains. "We know exactly what the mix is."

As for the hate mail, Garner says he has a stock reply: "We're thankful we live in America where we have freedom of choice."

Lisa Peterson, spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club, bristles at the notion that any designer dog can boast a noble background and rejects the claim that designer dog mixes are any healthier than purebreds.

"None of the new designer dogs would qualify as purebreds," she says. "It would need a whole list of qualifications, including a parent club, generations of photographed, documented dogs, and generations of health records. It usually takes decades, if not centuries, to register a purebred."

She adds she has not seen any scientific study demonstrating that mixed breed dogs are any healthier than purebreds.

"We would say 'buyers beware' to customers who believe designer dogs are the best of both worlds," she says. "With a purebred, you know what kind of coat quality you're getting, what kind of temperament, what kind of gait … all of this is documented and guaranteed. With designer dogs, there is no guarantee how the puppies will turn out."

Peterson also warns that the popularity of a particular mix might encourage "backyard breeders" to take a stab at producing the novelty puppies. Left to amateurs, such puppy mills can lead to poorly bred pups and animal cruelty.

New vs. 'Used' Dogs

But Barber, who says he worked with a breeder seven years ago to first develop the puggle blend, stands by his animals and says he has never gotten a complaint about his designer dog mixes from their new owners.

"The dog is wonderful — everybody loves the look, he is adorable, attractive, cute, personable, he's got a wonderful disposition. He makes you laugh every time you're with him," he says.

That said, Barber encourages people to look in a shelter first, as he says, "By all means, save a life." But he likens many shelter dogs to cars bought from a used car lot.

"When you take it off the lot — you don't know if you'll get problems," Barber said. "Ninety percent of the time, dogs are in shelters because people have had problems with them."

Smith, of the Franklin County shelter, says all the adoptable dogs are screened for health and temperament problems. Still, she says she can't deny the power of a trend.

Puggles and Labradoodles aside, Smith says her shelter is always getting specific requests. Recently, dogs orphaned by Hurricane Katrina have been in high demand. She says people want the dogs in order to feel they're playing a part in the post-Katrina recovery.

"We had some New Orleans dogs but we quickly adopted them out. So when people call asking if we have any Katrina dogs, we say no, but we have a lot of Ohio dogs," she said. "What can you do? People are always interested in what's new and current."

Move Over, Cockapoo - It's Puggle Time

The NY Post puts the mug of a puggle - a mix between a pug and a beagle - on the cover, saying that this accidental breed is the hottest in the city. Metro Puppy Kennels owner Brian Incovaia says, "Everyone is clawing for them, it's ridiculous. I get people calling left and right for them and basically you get the equivalent of breeding a Marc Jacobs bag with a Louis Vuitton." Well, that's a problem right there, thinking that a dog is like a purse. But anyway, the dogs, which cost along the lines of a bigger Marc Jacobs bag (from $650-900), are popular because they are small enough for Manhattan apartments. And that answers the American Kennel Club's question, "What is the purpose of a puggle?" The AKC says other cross breeds were designed to help out with herding, but clearly, these days cross breeding is all about having a tiny dog for your shoebox apartment or whichever designer dog carrier you want to buy. But people, there are tons of dogs in city shelters that need your attention, so look there first!

The American Canine Hybrid Club Crossbreeds like Cockapoos (cocker spaniel-poodle mixes) and schnoodles (schnauzer-poodle) seem very personable and cute. Do you own one or have any personal reports of them? Is science going too far? Tell us!

"Hybrid" dog - Isn't that just another word for Mutt?

Every day we hear more about the new "hybrid" dogs, or "designer" dogs. Each feature is accompanied by pictures of adorable puppies that are examples of this new "breed."

Of course they're cute! All puppies are! Should you pay hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars for one? Certainly not! The offspring of a mating between two purebred dogs of different breeds is a mongrel, a mutt. And if you have one, you should love it, train it and care for it as if it had the bluest blood of the canine kingdom.

Every dog breed, and there are hundreds in the world, was "created" by humans. Each breed was developed for a specific purpose - whether that original job was guarding the flock or being the ideal lap-dog. There's no reason that development shouldn't continue. If there is a need for a dog with particular characteristics, enterprising individuals will come forward to fill that need.

However, it takes many generations to "breed true." Compare yourself to your siblings. Do you all have the same looks, same personality, same interests and strengths? Chances are, you don't. Each of you has some of the "best" traits of your parents. But those may not be the same traits. And each of you has some of the worst.

Two of the best-known mixed-breeds out there now are the "Golden Doodle" and the "Puggle." The thinking behind these crosses is fairly obvious: wouldn't it be nice to have a Golden Retriever's personality and willingness to please combined with the Poodle's non-shedding coat and intelligence? Wouldn't it be equally delightful to have a small dog without the breathing issues of a Pug, but quieter than a Beagle?

But there is no way of knowing you won't get a high-strung, noisy, stubborn, slobbering mutt who sheds like the dickens!

If you are considering spending the kind of money that these "hybrids" are commanding, be sure to research all of the traits of the contributing breeds. You will get a mixture of the two. And an equally adorable mixture may be waiting for you at your local shelter - the size you want, with the coat you want and the adorable face that melts your heart.

If you require certain characteristics in your puppy - whether a family member has allergies, or you have a very small, or no yard, or your household requires a quiet, "easy keeper," or if you wish to fully participate in the world of canine competition, consider a pure-bred animal. There are over 150 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Surely one of them is right for you.
About the Author

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of GollyGear, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club.

Puggle: This "Designer Dog" Is All The Rage!

What in the world is a puggle?

One fine day a pug was off gallivanting around when he came across a spirited little beagle, their eyes met and well.... the rest is history!

Puggles are part of a new trend of “designer dogs”- like the schnoodle and the cockabiche. They are popping up in more places and are receiving more press, at the moment, than purebreds and are commanding prices that rival and even exceed the prices of their full-blooded compatriots. Fortunately, I purchased my puggle before their popularity soared.

I originally wanted to buy a pug, but there were none available at the time, though a litter of puggles was. The pups were advertised at $250 each, less than 1/3 the price of a pug. That still seemed expensive to me, for what was essentially a mutt, or so I thought.

A little background on the 2 breeds; Beagles are high-strung but also very sporty, while pugs are not very athletic, but have a calm, relaxing demeanor -- not yippy, overexcited, or insecure. Puggles do not generally howl like beagles and do not have the breathing problems that are often associated with the pug. Mix the 2 together and you have the best attributes of both.

I was curious so I went and visited them. They, of course, were very cute and charming. Since I couldn't find a pug and really wanted a dog, I went ahead and purchased one, a cute little female... What a great decision that was! :)

A puggle combines the strong physical attributes of the beagle with the even, mellow temperament of the pug, making for a calm small dog-- how rare is that?

They have the wrinkled face of a pug while having the longer legs of a beagle. Puggles usually get to be 15-20lbs. as adults, are 12-15" high at the shoulder, are tan or brown with a black muzzle; earning them the well-deserved nickname of "miniature mastiffs".

Purebred dog breeders naturally have problems with these crossbreeds as many have spent a great deal of time and money perfecting the bloodlines of their breed and don’t like the attention these “mutts” are receiving. There is a widely held notion that these “mutts” are actually healthier than purebreds, which I have always believed. A cross between 2 breeds of any dog should eliminate genetic problems that may exist in either breed because 90% of genetic problems are recessive, meaning both parents must carry the abnormal gene.

If you want a better chance of having health problems with your dog then buy a purebred! If you want a pet that is unique and healthy then buy a puggle, or go to the local shelter and adopt!

Sara writes articles for Schmeg.com

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