Poogle 101: The Essential Guide

OriginUnited States
SizeSmall-Medium
Height           9 to 16 inches
Weight11 to 25 pounds
Life Expectancy10 – 13 years
Breed GroupDesigner Dog
Affection Level⭐⭐⭐
Friendliness⭐⭐⭐
Activity Level⭐⭐
Barking/Howling Level⭐⭐
Pet Friendly⭐⭐
Kid-Friendly⭐⭐⭐
Shedding
Easy to Groom⭐⭐
Easy to Train⭐⭐

Origin

It is commonly believed that the Poogle originates in the United States around the 1980s. This hybrid dog may be new, but there are not a lot of details regarding his history as a dog. Furthermore, there are still no written standards regarding his appearance. That means that a Poogle can either look more like a Poodle, more like a Beagle or have a balanced combination of traits from both of his parents.

For those who want to know more about this designer dog, we have to discuss the respective histories of each of his parents. The Beagle is a medium-sized dog that was developed mainly in England. Known to be a scenthound, the pooch has an incredible sense of smell that can track down even the faintest aroma. He has two large, wide, and droopy ears that rest gracefully on the sides of his face. Another known trait of him is his white tip on the tapering tail which stands up while he lays his head low to the ground to let his human companions know where he’s at during the hunt. Although this dog is popular, his exact origins before he got to England remain a mystery.

The Poodle, on the other hand, is an ancient waterfowl retriever breed that can be traced back to Egypt. However, more detailed accounts lead us back to Germany during the 5th century. Around the 1400s, the Toy and Miniature Poodles emerged. As suggested, the Poodle is indeed a lover of water. He can move quicker than any other dog breed, hence he established a consistent top rank for 2 decades as a popular dog. 

With all these desirable qualities found on both the Beagle and the Poodle, breeders have thought about combining all the traits and having them in one dog which resulted in the Poogle. 

Appearance

Photo from: getwithgus (IG)

With two different dog breeds as parents, it is a given that the Poogle will not have consistent looks unless breeders start making an effort to establish a particular appearance unique to the new hybrid pooch. The Poogle has a wide set of options regarding how he would look and that includes coat types and coat color variations. 

Usually, the brown eyes of the Poogle would look sad and soulful, a trait that mostly comes from the Beagle. His pair of ears are minimized in size and are no longer that extreme or close to the type of ears a Beagle has. Still, it is droopy and floppy. Also, his nose color matches well the coat color and it is neither too large nor too small for the pooch. His body must be sturdy and healthy in size with straight legs and a sickle-shaped, slightly feathery tail. 

Since both of its parents have very different coat types, the Poogle’s fur can be wavy to curly and it has to be moderately dense. The possible colors you can find from this dog are:

  • Brown
  • Black
  • White
  • Red
  • Gray
  • Silver 

Regarding his height, he is typically 9 to 16 inches tall and would weigh 11 to 25 pounds. With that, he can either be small or medium!

Temperament

It is definitely going to make anyone curious as to how the behavior of a Poogle will turn out considering he is a mixed dog! Poodles and Beagles are well-known all over the world for the obvious reason that they are excellent family companions, safe for kids, entertaining for adults, and suitable around other pets! Let’s take a deeper look at the Poogle’s ideal personality below:

Affection

No doubt, the Poogle is an affectionate dog. He will show deeper love toward his family members due to the genuine and unique bond he has with them. He is not too big to carry, so it is definitely easy to give him a big hug whilst carrying him in your arms. The level of affection a Poogle will show will, of course, highly depend on how he has been raised. The people around him and the way they treat the pooch will mold and hone his emotional foundation in most ways.

If the Poogle receives enough attention and he is disciplined the right way, he will reciprocate the love in folds. Additionally, it is always a better option to let your kids and the Poogle puppy grow together. They will be used to each other’s presence more and they will most likely end up as inseparable best friends. 

The way a dog acts around kids compared to adults is different. The Poogle is more tolerant and loving with his tiny human mate. You can tell how this dog adores his family and it can either be through a tail wag, a gentle brushing of his head on you, or a piercing stare. 

Friendliness

Poogles are one of the friendliest dogs out there! For other pooches, it will not be overwhelming to establish a sort of friendship with this hybrid dog. He is always open to having new mates, but as an owner, be careful who he hangs around with. Make sure that the other dogs are not aggressive toward him nor show hostile moves that can hurt your dog. 

If you have people coming over to your house, the Poogle would show curiosity, but he will eventually warm up and accept pets and affection. His friendliness toward strangers still makes him a good watchdog, however, due to his tendency to bark over movements and odd figures he would spot near the house. He is highly alert and vocal, but generally, this dog is quiet when there are no interesting happenings going on.

To make your Poogle genial, he has to be socialized early on. Go for Poogle breeders who have excellent facilities and an environment where puppies can interact with others. Once you bring him home, continue exposing him to different faces and introduce him properly to your pets. 

Activity Level

The fun-loving Poogle has medium to high energy levels that spark each day. He loves to entertain his family and would appreciate it if it is reciprocated. He does fine with playing indoors as long as there are toys he can play with or challenges that can stimulate him. With that being said, you can conclude that this dog knows how to keep himself busy and preoccupied.

Still, it is better if you are with him as much as possible. Nothing beats an owner who chooses to play with him rather than just leave him alone in a room filled with doggy toys. If he is outside, make sure that the area is surrounded by a sturdy fence or he might run away or get distracted by smells. Remember that he has Beagle ancestry.

There can also be an instance, which is normal for most dogs, wherein a sight of a small animal can turn on his prey drive. A squirrel that runs across the yard will have the Poogle running after it, endlessly if he has to, just to catch the smaller animal. 

Care

As we all know, the Beagle parent of the Poogle is not that high on maintenance. The Poodle, on the other hand, would need regular grooming and trips to the dog salon. Moreover, both dog breeds require different food amounts and diets, as well as exercise needs. These will, no doubt, make anyone wonder how to take care of a Beagle and Poodle Mix. To ensure the dog is well taken care of, read below the whole requirements he would need. 

Grooming

Like most Poodle hybrids, the Poogle is believed to be a hypoallergenic pooch. This does not mean that he does not shed at all, but rather, he sheds at lower rates compared to other dog breeds. If he has gotten more the coat quality of the Beagle parent, then he might shed more than expected. Since there is no exact coat quality for the Poogle, depending on what it looks like, wavy or curly, the pooch requires regular grooming and maintenance. It would need to be trimmed since it can grow too long or be brushed as often as needed to keep it matt and tangle-free. Always ready at your disposal a high-quality pin brush and deshedder for a top-notch and appealing coat.

As you would notice, the Poogle’s ears are moderately long and hairy. Debris, moisture, and dirt can end up gathering inside, so ensure that you clean each ear with mild ear products recommended by the vet. His teeth are also vulnerable to various oral diseases or teeth issues, so that means the Poogle might need his teeth brushed at least thrice a week. His nails will also grow continuously. You can set a trimming schedule. Don’t wait until his nails are overgrown as they can cause severe repercussions such as a bad posture or extreme discomfort.

Food and Diet

Should you go for commercial dry dog food, go for the ones that are specially formulated for small to medium dog breeds. They are packed with all the essential nutrients needed by an active dog like the Poogle. Invest well in food and make sure that your buddy will grow up healthily. Poogle puppies will eat more in a day about 3 to 4 times, but be careful not to overfeed them. 

Poodles and Beagles tend to go overweight due to their love for food and treats, so try not to subject your Poogle to an unhealthy lifestyle. As the dog grows into an adult, gradually turn his 3 meals into just 2 since the metabolism rate of the dog will change drastically. Senior Poogles will need a special dog food formula that will prohibit him from gaining too much weight while at the same time providing him his needed energy although he will not be as active as he was as an adult.

Generally, a Poogle can be fed a cup of dry food each day, but consult your vet first. He can take into account the dog’s weight, health, size, activity levels, metabolism, etc. before concluding how much food would his body need daily.  

Exercise

Photo from: amy.breen.3 (IG)

As you would with any other dog breed, the Poogle will love to spend the early morning for a peaceful walk with his owner. He has to be leashed and taught not to walk ahead but rather at the same pace at the side of his master. That will mold discipline for the pooch. You can do this twice a day under nice weather that is tolerable. 

Of course, free play in the park or your backyard can also help the Poogle release all of his pent-up energy. If you have a second dog, that would be ideal. They can play together as long as they don’t end up hurting each other. Other games can be played with this intelligent dog. The usual game of fetch or dog games can be incorporated.

With the Poodle’s love for the water, the Poogle can also be taught how to swim and enjoy the fun of being in the pool. Never leave him unmonitored to lower the risk of him drowning. Always encourage your dog to move as much as needed or he will end up developing bad behaviors due to boredom and lack of physical and mental stimulation. 

Training

One of the inherent traits of a Poogle is to be smart. After all, his Poodle parent is known to take up lessons quite easily. That means, if ever you train your Poogle, the session won’t be overwhelming nor unbearable. The natural excitable nature of the Poogle encourages him to learn as much as he can and respond excellently to his training. He is a people-pleaser and it delights him to see his master beaming with pride and happiness as he follows every single command.

However, if he follows more after the Beagle traits, it is likely that he’ll act stubbornly. In that case, the Poogle will need more pushing and encouragement to keep him from drifting off the lessons. If he is not responding nicely, the best way to get his attention is treats and other forms of rewards. Always keep the drills interesting, challenging, and worth it!

Several pieces of training are essential for every dog, more so if you have an intelligent Poogle. Below are what you should consistently teach him:

  • Socialization training
  • Crate training
  • Basic commands
  • Leash training
  • Watchdog training
  • House rules

Health Problems

Poogles live a long lifespan of about 10 to 13 years. Sadly, this range can be shortened due to a series of health problems the dog can end up becoming vulnerable to. Apply for good health insurance to lessen vet costs should the following medical problems arise:

  • Patellar luxation
  • Diabetes
  • Gastric torsion
  • Thyroid issues

Pros and Cons of Having a Poogle

Pros

  • Playful
  • Sociable
  • Generally healthy
  • Easy to train
  • Great family companion
  • Sheds minimally

Cons

  • He can be high in coat maintenance
  • Can be mischievous without training
  • He’s an attention seeker
  • Requires daily exercise
  • Cannot stand being alone for too long

Do Kennel Clubs Recognize the Poogle?

Unfortunately, the Poogle is not recognized by the renowned American Kennel Club (AKC) due to him being a designer, hybrid dog. Other associations, however, do. These include the American Canine Hybrid Club, the International Designer Canine Registry, and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club.

Cost

You won’t easily find a Poogle breeder in most places. If ever you find one, the relative cost of a puppy goes around $700. The cost can increase depending on several factors like the demand, breeder’s experience, age, gender, and more. If you are tight on the budget, adopting will save you bucks! A visit to your local shelter and adopting a wonderful Poogle dog will typically be around $75 to $150 only. 

Where to Adopt or Buy a Poogle

Poogles are wonderful pets that will keep you company for a very long time. They are a great buy, especially if you are very much into the Beagle and Poodle dog breeds. They are not what you would commonly see, so expect that you might have a long time finding the right fit for your family. There are places you can visit, however, and see if the Poogle you’re looking for is there. Make sure you do your research properly before committing to buying one.

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