The Puggle is meant to be a healthier, more capable version of a Pug thanks to the Beagle DNA. But, what does this mean when it comes to swimming. Are they any better?
Can Puggles swim? Puggles can swim out of necessity but not necessarily out of choice. Their physical genetics from their Pug parent and personality traits from the Beagle parent aren’t a great mix. They may have the wrong build and an aversion to water. But, that doesn’t mean that some won’t dive in after people they love.
Pug Genetics
The poor ability of a Puggle to swim lies in the Pug genetics.
Before we consider the Puggle’s potential to be able to swim, we have to look at the restrictions on the Pug. This parent breed cannot swim well. To say that they can’t swim at all is a bit of a misconception.
If you were to put a pug in the water, it would know how to paddle and swim to get to shore. The difference here is that this dog can’t swim well. It will soon get into significant difficulty and find itself at risk of drowning.
The reason for this is that the Pug is a brachycephalic breed.
This means that they struggle to breathe and hold their heads up due to their compact facial structures. The Pug is one of the worse breeds because their face is so squashed in. There is no muzzle like you get with other breeds.
Pug owners know all too well what this means for their health and wellbeing because this dog struggles to breathe when it walks and exercises. It snorts and gasps and is also prone to reverse hiccuping.
Therefore, when you put a Pug in the water, it will struggle to bring its head above water and get the air it needs.
It also doesn’t help that a Pug has the wrong build for swimming.
Any dogs with heavy bodies and short legs can’t paddle through the water with the same ease as other breeds. They will tire very quickly, especially with the strain of their weight on their body. This combination of factors means that the Pug is at significant risk if left in the water for too long.
Thankfully, many Pugs seem self-aware of their abilities and risk factors and don’t want to go near the water.
Beagle DNA
Does any of this change once you add Beagle DNA into the mix?
There are some health benefits to mixing a Pug with a Beagle. The Puggle is a great way to create a companion dog that is at less risk and more like the original Pug – before all the over-breeding.
The result is that you do tend to get a slightly leaner dog with more of a muzzle than the pure-bred Pug. As a result, their breathing difficulties can ease slightly, and they don’t have the same strain on their tiny legs.
However, Beagles aren’t that keen of the water either. You might expect them to be more adept in different situations because of their role as hunting dogs. But, they will tend to avoid going in the water if they can help it.
Their build isn’t the best for swimming, as they aren’t as well proportioned as other water-loving dogs like Poodles and Retrievers. But, they are capable of getting around in the water if they have to.
What Does This All Mean for The Puggle?
The result of all this is that you have a small cross-breed that might be a little better suited to swimming than its Pug parent, but not by much. The Puggle’s muzzle may be a bit longer and the same for the legs, but they don’t have the stamina or agility to get through the water with ease.
Will Your Puggle Try and Join You In The Water?
A Puggle could easily take one look at the water and decide it wants nothing to do with it.
But all dogs have different personalities, so you can’t rule it out. It might have the same dislike of swimming. But, it will probably also share the same devotion to its owners.
This conflict of interest could take over if the whole family is swimming in the pool. When a beloved owner calls the Puggle over into the water to play and get some attention, do they refuse, or do they brave the water?
Unfortunately, this does mean that these animals run the risk of putting themselves in harm’s way to please their owners.
They may jump in to be with you, completely misjudging the depth of the water and their ability to make it to safety on their own. This could lead to a panicky dog that needs immediate assistance. If this happens, lift the dog out of the water and take them inside where it is safe.
Make sure that they can’t then repeat the action or finish the session in the pool entirely.
Keeping Your Puggle Safe At The Pool Or By The Ocean
If you do have a Puggle that ignores its instincts not to swim and regrets the decision, there are steps that you can take to make the situation a lot better.
First of all, you can make sure to put up a dog fence around your pool. This means that pets can only get near the water when supervised.
Then, fit your dog with a life vest. This buoyancy aid could make a massive difference to how they feel in the water and increase the amount of time you spend with them. You may even find that dogs in vest slowly learn to appreciate their time in the water and want to join in more often.
Finally, make sure to take things slow, keep an eye on them and take any swimming lessons step-by-step.
Final Thoughts – Can Puggles swim?
In short, Puggles can swim if they have to, but not well and often reluctantly. You could potentially coax them into learning to swim with the right life vest and patient swimming lessons. But, no Puggle should be forced to swim if they aren’t happy or puts them at risk. They should do better in the water than their Pug parent, but don’t expect too much from them.
More info on Puggles
- How Much Do Puggles Sleep?
- Why Are Puggles So Needy?
- Do Puggles Bark A Lot?
- Are Puggles Good With Cats?
- Are Puggles Good Apartment Dogs?
- Are Puggles Good Family Dogs?
- Are Puggles Lazy?
- How Much Do Puggles Cost in 2021? [Complete Price Guide]
- How Big Do Puggles Get?
Sources:
https://gotbeagles.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=8
