Pugapoo Dog Breed

Part purebred Pug, part purebred Mini or Toy Poodle, the Pugapoo is all love. Pugs have been long cherished lap dogs, while Poodles are the ultimate combination of beauty and brains having worked as water retrievers, military dogs, truffle hunters, therapy dogs and even circus clowns! The Pugapoo, itself is affectionate, attention-loving companions dogs that make great additions to any household. Here's some quick Pugapoo info for those considering this cross breed:

PROS

• Good choice for households with children
• Friendly with other pets
• Social with strangers and visitors
• High watch dog potential
• Easily exercised
• Pretty easily trained, even by a new dog owner
• May be less allergy-inducing than some breeds
• Loving, affectionate, desires your interaction and attention
• Excels in agility training
• Can live in any size home or apartment
• Yard not necessary
• Great for retirees and the elderly

CONS

• Loud, barks frequently
• Grooming may take moderate effort based upon coat
• May not be hypoallergenic
• Prone to separation anxiety if left alone frequently
• Not an exercise partner
• Not a guard dog
• Possible to inherit numerous health conditions from parent breeds

Pugapoos are one of those hybrids that vary wildly in terms of appearance, especially the first couple generations. Some may have a straight coat, others wavy to curly; some will have adorable faces and curly tails like the Pug while others will look much like the Poodle. In general, they are small dogs (usually the Poodle parent is either Miniature or Toy) that weigh up to 18 pounds. Their coats may be solid or multi colored, typical colors include: black, fawn, apricot, beige, cream, silver, grey and blue.

Members of this breed are certainly smart little dogs that are trainable by first time owners. Pugs are harder to train than Poodles so if yours is more like the lovable Pug, expect training to take a bit more consistency. These hybrids are said to take to training pretty quickly and excel in agility events as well as obedience.

Your Pugapoo will be a bundle of entertaining joy to have around the household. They are indoor dogs that crave your presence and attention. That being said, separation anxiety is a possibility, however, they will fare better if they have another pet to pal around with. She will certainly make an appropriate guard dog and is never shy from being vocal. Not to mention, Pugapoos are excellent choices for families with kids and/or other pets!

Although this mischievous, entertaining pups are fairly energetic, their small size allows them to be easily exercised. A few short walks, occasional trips to the dog park, and playtime in a fenced yard (with toys) are all outings that can help him burn off excess energy. A small yard is appreciated but not required.

The Pugapoo temperament will vary based on whether they inherit more of the Poodle's energetic intelligence or more of the Pug's lovable charm. In general, owners usually describe the Poodle x Pug cross as lively, attention-loving, entertaining, alert and pretty smart. Although they don't take to training as perfectly as the Poodle, obedience (and even agility) training will be doable for a first time owner.

Your Pugapoo stands a good chance of being entertaining and mischievous, so it's a good idea to make sure he/she gets daily outdoor playtime and walks; a trip to the dog park is also appreciated by this social breed. Poodle Pug mixes are affectionate and friendly with people and other pets, and they are great choices for families-- attention is a necessity and they will equally return it to well behaved children. If you plan on leaving your Pugapoo alone frequently, make sure they have another pet in the house to pal around with; this breed doesn't do well if forced to spend most of his/her time alone. This makes them great for retirees too! Also, these dogs won't hesitate to sound an alert...about anything!

Pugapoos, as hybrids are typically healthier than the purebred Pugs or Miniature Poodles. Expect them to live 12-15 years, perhaps longer. They can be still be susceptible to many of the same issues as the parent breed so we recommend visiting our Poodle and Pug pages where you will find a list of health issues for each. Ask your breeder for guarantees of the dam and sire's health if you're purchasing and don't skip regular vet visits. A few common issues for both breeds are listed below:

Poodle

• Addison's Disease (adrenal)
• Thyroid Disease
• Bloat
• Tracheal Collapse
• Epilepsy
• Sebaceous Adenitis (skin disease)
• Kidney Disease
• Hip Dysplasia
• Cancer

Pug

• Reverse sneezing
• Narrowed nostrils
• Eye Prolapse (leaves socket)
• Infection of skin folds
• Mange