Learn About the Pug Poodle Mix aka Pugapoo

Pug Poodle MixThe Pugapoo dog is a mixed breed dog that crosses a Pug and a Poodle. Other names that are often used for this designer hybrid mixed dog are Pugoodle or Pug-A-Poo.

These specially bred dogs have become more popular in the last two decades. The Pugapoo dog originated in the US, and it was specially designed to create a cute smaller house dog that looks like a cross between a Pug and a Poodle.

Pugapoos are sweet and friendly dogs that are eager to please, making them easy to train. These intelligent dogs are quick to learn, but they are also known for their innate stubborn streak as well.

To ensure that your Pugapoo will fit with your family, it is important that you socialize them from puppy age. Overall you shouldn’t have any issues with this mixed breed.

Pug Poodle Mix History

The only thing we truly know is that the Pug Poodle mix was developed in the last twenty years. We don’t exactly know when but we do know it’s a relatively newer mixed dog breed.

If you would like to learn more about the parent breeds’ history that make up this mix, keep reading below.

Pug

The Pug dates back hundreds of years ago in Tibet, where it first was founded among monks and monasteries. The Emperor of China acquired the Pug breed and became fascinated with it.

Pugs were kept in the palace and used as lapdogs for many years. When China opened up trade to European countries, the Pug dog was traded for other things, and that is how it got introduced to different places around the world.

The Pug became a true hit in European countries and was finally introduced to England in the 1800s. It wasn’t until after the Civil War in America that the Pug arrived here.  It was obviously a huge success, and that is why there are so many here today.

Poodle

The Poodle is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has a very extensive history that spans hundreds of years ago in Germany.

The Poodle was first used to help people hunt by retrieving goose and ducks that were shot from above. Poodles have a natural water-resistant coat that made the breed perfect for aiding hunters in this task.

Poodles made their way to France and started getting a great reputation from the nobility. They went from working dog to companion very quickly.

Different varieties of the Poodle were bred, making a miniature and even a toy size. The Poodle was eventually brought to the United States, where it is still adored today.

Pug Poodle Mix

Pug Poodle Mix Appearance

The appearance of the Pugapoo varies and it depends on the dominant gene from its parents,

However, they typically have a curly long to medium-haired coat like their Poodle parent. Each Pugapoo is different in appearance, and it’s not uncommon for one litter to have a number of puppies that all look different with different colored coats.

The nose can be short like the Poodle parent or look rather dark with a dark shade of grey like the Pug parent.

Pugapoo Coat

A Pugapoo can come in a variety of colors, with the most common ones being white, gray, black, fawn, or red.

They are renowned for their shaggy coats, and it’s typical that their fur is more plentiful in the leg, tail, and face regions.

Usually, these dogs have a squarer build with muscular limbs with their hind legs being more angular. Generally, they have dark almond-shaped eyes.

What Colors Do They Come In?

Here are some of the colors you can expect to get out of a Pugapoo litter:

  • White
  • Fawn
  • Cream
  • Black
  • Gray
  • Golden

Pug Poodle Size

The average Pugapoo weighs between 10-30 lbs and it measures between 8-15 inches in height.

A male will likely weigh between 15 to 30 pounds and span 10 to 15 inches.

A female can weigh between 10 to 25 pounds and span 8 to 12 inches.

If your dog weighs more than this range, then it is likely obese. You can always consult your veterinarian to make sure your Pugapoo is staying the correct adult weight. 

Pug Dog Silhouettes

Pug Poodle Health Problems

This is a hybrid dog and depending on its parentage it can be more, or less prone to inherited dog diseases.

The most common diseases that a Pugapoo could suffer from include dental problems, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, Addison’s disease, and skin rashes.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease – This is due to the lack of blood being given to the Femur. This will cause your dog to have some discomfort or pain in the joints. 

Addison’s Disease – Dogs have glands near their kidneys. When your dog gets dehydrated or even blood pressure issues, these glands can increase or decrease in size.

Skin Issues – Pugs are known for having sensitive skin. Different products can irritate the skin so it is important your using a specific shampoo to help with skin irritation. 

Eye Issues – The parent is to thank for the eye issues. If you have ever seen a Pug, then they know they have big bulging eyes. Sometimes these eyes can develop a film over them and also give your dog cataracts in the future. 

To avoid some of these diseases in the future, make sure you get your dog from a reputable breeder and have regular checkups at the vet to maintain its good health.

Life Expectancy of a Pug Poodle Mix

The average Pugapoo life expectancy is between 12-14 years. This is quite a long life span considering that some breeds can only live ten years. 

Keep your dog happy and healthy while you have your dog in this world with you.

Pug Poodle Mix

Pugapoo Temperament

This is a highly lovable dog with a lot of energy. The average Pugapoo tends to be very affectionate and friendly with both people and animals.

It is also highly intelligent. Because of their calm temperament, they make good house pets.

They rely a lot on their human companions and need to be given a lot of love and attention, which is why they also suffer from separation anxiety when separated from their family for a period of a long time.

They are very smart dogs, just like their parents making them easy to train. The Pugapoo has the ability to learn dog tricks and commands quickly, and they’re also very eager to please their human owners.

Playful, they enjoy being the center of attention and will go out of their ways to please their masters by following commands.

They usually inherit their intelligence and ability to do tricks from their Poodle parent; however, they can also be quite stubborn at times, and if they do not feel like doing something, they will not do it.

Pugapoo Grooming

The Pugapoo’s grooming needs will depend on the coat it has inherited. While most Pugapoos have curlier coats and shed a lot, there are others that do not.

If they have a curlier coat like the Poodle, they will need to be groomed on a regular basis every 4-6 weeks. Their coats need brushing on a daily basis as dogs with curlier coats often get tangled.

If their fur gets tangled too much, it is likely to cause your dog to break out in irritating skin rashes at the root of their hair. A good detangling spray can help brush out the super knotted areas of the hair. 

If the dog has a shorter coat that is straight, less brushing and grooming are needed. Because this breed has more sensitive skin, wash them only when necessary using a light puppy shampoo.

Check their ears regularly and clean them and be sure to dry them properly after washing to avoid infection.

Pug Poodle Mix Feeding

This small to medium-sized mix breed only needs one cup of dog food each day. Remember that cup is intended to feed the dog at least two meals. 1/2 a cup in the morning and the other half in the evening around dinner time.

It would be best if you were feeding your dog a quality small breed dog food that has a good amount of protein and meat in the first three ingredients. I have an entire article written on the best food for Pugs that would still apply to mixed breed.

Depending on the quality of the food, your purchase will make your food cost between $1.00 to $1.25 per day.

Pugs are known for their obesity issues, so it is imperative that you do not overfeed your dog. Pugs will basically eat anything you give them, so only feed your dog the intended amount of food.

Pugapoo exercise

The Pugapoo has a moderate energy and activity levels, and it will usually adapt to its master’s lifestyle. To keep them out of mischief, they need at least one nice walk every day and some active playtime.

These dogs love to chase, so a good activity to help them release their energy is fetch or even tug of war. 

Try to give your Pugapoo at least thirty to forty-five minutes of exercise each day. If that seems like too much all at once, you can break the exercise into two times spaning 15-20 minutes each time.

Your dog will really like to just hang out with you on the couch or take a nap. It may seem like your dog doesn’t even want to go outside, but it is very important that you still take your dog out to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Pug Poodle MixPugapoo Training

These are intelligent creatures, and the Pugapoo is eager to please and be loved. They will respond well to positive reinforcement training tactics such as food treats, more playtime, and pats with praise.

They need to be socialized well, which is why puppy training is important. The mix loves to play with children, but they’re easily excitable, and if not trained properly, they’ll have the tendency to jump up on people.

Pugapoos are also known to be barkers, so it is also important to try and nip this in the bud earlier on, which again can be done with positive reinforcement dog training.

It is better to have your Pugapoo trained properly before they’re sixteen weeks old because this is the time when they’re more receptive, making them easier to train.

Pug Poodle Mix Puppies

The first thing you need to do is search and see if you can find a breeder for this mix. You should search for a breeder that produces first generation Pugapoo puppies. 

This will be your best way to get a true mix of a Pug and a Poodle together. Since this breed was developed in the last twenty years, it may be hard to find a breeder that produces these types of puppies.

When you do find a breeder, ask all the general questions and see if you can take a trip to visit the puppies or the mother of the soon to be puppies.

You can expect to pay between $750 to over $1,500 for a Pugapoo puppy. Some breeders may charge more, and others may charge less it truly will all depend on the breeder.

Pug Poodle Mix Litter Size

A female Pug can have between four and six puppies in a single litter. A Poodle depending on the size, can have six puppies.

Likely the Poodle parent is a miniature-sized Poodle, and that variation typically yields five puppies in a litter.

A Female Pugapoo will likely have between three and six puppies in a litter. Some female dogs can have more, while some will have less.

Pug And Poodle Together

Pugapoo Suitability and Living Conditions

Both of the Pugapoo’s parents are extremely good with children, which is why if you can train your Pugapoo to be obedient from an early age, they make for an excellent family pet and are especially good with small children.

However, the smaller variations of the Pugapoo can be more fragile and more susceptible to injury from rough and tumble play, so in this case, the miniature versions should be homed with a family with older children.

They love the attention from people, and they’re often described as people-orientated dogs, which is why they always need to be surrounded by people.

They have the tendency to suffer from separation anxiety when away from their owners for too long, so if your home is often empty, it is not ideal to have a Pugapoo as a pet, and it is for this reason why they also make suitable companions for the elderly.

The Pugapoo breed is usually good with other animals like cats and dogs if well-socialized from the beginning.

The Pugapoo is energetic, but if it is exercised enough and given the right attention, it is okay to house them in an apartment.

These are indoor dogs and are greatly affected by extreme temperatures and they should never be left outdoors alone for long periods of time.

Close relatives of the Pugapoo

Here are some awesome dog breeds that are very similar to the Pugapoo breed:



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