Puggle Pal - Adopting A New Friend.

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Saturday, July 08, 2006

What Would You Name Your Puggle?

Excellent Puggle video... but would you name your puggle Apple?

YouTube - a puggle named apple





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Puggles: Are They The Right Dog Breed for You?

This question and answer response on a reputable vets site brings up a point that everybody should think about before choosing any dog breed including puggles - do you want it because it's the latest flavor of the month trophy or do you really believe this is the best breed for your lifestyle...

Q: I just read about breeders creating designer mixes such as the puggle (pug and beagle mix). The mini dog looks cute. What do you think of this trend? -- M.W., via e-mail

A: I have the same reaction as I do with any "hot" dog, purebred or mixed. When a kind of dog becomes popular, it attracts opportunists who breed as many dogs as they can as quickly as they can without regard to health or temperament. These can be casual, so-called "backyard" breeders, or massive commercial breeding operations, including cruel puppy mills.We've seen these bursts of popularity with Dalmatians (after the "101" movies), with Chihuahuas (after the Taco Bell dog) and more. Many of these poorly bred and often undersocialized puppies have health and temperament issues that cause problems for their owners. Other pups seem fine, except that they're not the right dog for the people who buy them. The end result is a lot of unhappiness and misery all around, and a lot of formerly trendy pets ending up in the shelters.Whatever kind of dog you get, purebred or mixed, you must be sure you make the right choice for your family and your living situation. Don't simply pick the flavor-of-the-month pup. Perhaps even more important than choosing the right kind of dog is making sure the source is legitimate, such as a reputable breeder who ensures that all dogs have certified good health and have good temperaments for families.Socialization is important: Puppies should be raised underfoot in a family situation, not in a cage or kennel run. They should be given lots of gentle and safe opportunities to hear, see and smell new things. And they must be given time to learn important lessons from mother and littermates. (A person who's selling a puppy less than 7 weeks of age is someone who doesn't understand enough about puppy socialization to be given your consideration.)I guess my problem with puggles, Labradoodles and such isn't so much with the mixes themselves -- although, gee, aren't these prices ridiculous? -- but rather with the breeding practices that often produce them.But then, I've always said that 90 percent of the people who are selling purebred dogs aren't responsible enough to be breeding those either. I believe there is a place for the responsible breeding of dogs. But those people who don't follow the practices of reputable breeders are just adding to the problems of health and temperament rampant in our pets -- and adding to the flow of unwanted animals to the shelters.And that's true of purebreds and mixes alike.

Knotty, But Nice - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!


The main take home message here is that whatever breed of dog you choose you need to make sure you choose it for the right reasons and very, very importantly you need to make sure you get the dog from a reputable breeder!!

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