Do Puggles Bark A Lot? [Triggers & Training Guide]

With their friendly disposition, intelligence, and minimal shedding and drooling, the Puggle can make a great companion even for less-experienced dog owners. Their good-nature extends to children, other dogs, and even strangers, plus their manageable size means they can adapt well to living in a house or an apartment. As a Pug/Beagle crossbreed, they will inherit both sides’ traits, including the positive, neutral, and negative ones.

This brings us to the question:

Do puggles bark a lot? While this breed isn’t at the top of the most-vocal list, they tend to bark or howl. This trait is inherited from their Beagle ancestry; Beagles are known for being one of the most vocal breeds, keen to make their voices heard by their owners (and their neighbors).

Like any crossbreed, owners are subject to a genetic lottery where one breed’s traits may become stronger, whereas the other’s may be weaker. Therefore, while barking is common, some owners find that their puggles are naturally on the quieter side.

While they may be loud at times, puggles are rarely aggressive. Quite literally, they are all bark and no bite.

For example, they may bark to announce a visitor’s arrival, but this is more of a greeting than a warning.

They are an active and energetic breed, which can sometimes present through noisy excitement. Though a puggle’s owner will know that they mean no harm, other dogs and their owners could misinterpret barking as aggression.

For this reason, owners may be keen to train this trait out of their Puggle. Though possible, this is not always easy – puggles are intelligent but stubborn.

Owners should be prepared to dedicate extra time to this task, as it requires motivation, repetition, and, most importantly, patience.

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Why do Puggles Bark?

Puggles may bark for a variety of reasons, but they are often particularly fond of alert barking.

For instance, when your doorbell rings, you can expect to hear your Puggle make their announcement that a visitor has arrived.

They might also vocalize their boredom or desire for attention.

If they’re not getting their way or something that they want, such as food or a favorite toy, they could decide to kick up a noisy fuss.

Similarly, their barking could be an announcement that they need to be let outside to answer the call of nature.

If your Puggle suffers from separation anxiety, they will likely bark or howl as a response. Your neighbors may not be too pleased if your dog decides to let the whole neighborhood know they’ve been left home alone.

In some cases, a puggle’s barking can be directly linked to its level of excitement.

You might find they’re mostly quiet at home with their owners but become much more vocal during playtime.

Their eagerness to explore when out and about could also translate to barking, particularly when they come across new people or dogs. A puggle’s greeting is often loud but harmless.

Why do Puggles Bark at Other Dogs?

A puggle will most likely bark at another dog as a greeting or out of excitement or playfulness due to their good nature. However, in some cases, an undersocialized dog may bark out of fear or if they feel their territory is being infringed upon.

Do Puggles Howl?

Alongside their barking tendencies, puggles may also inherit a howling habit from their beagle genetics. Vocalizations can appear in many forms, including barking, howling, whining, or softer, low ‘wooh’ sounds.

As social pack animals, dogs are highly communicative. A howl may be a response to another stimulus (e.g., a high-pitched noise or another dog), or they may start on their own to attract attention.

How do I Stop my Puggle from Barking and Howling?

You may wish to stop your Puggle from barking and howling for several reasons, but two factors are most likely your main concern:

1. Their barking is creating frequent disturbances to you and your neighbors.

2. People often misinterpret their barking for aggressiveness.

Both are completely valid reasons to look to stop your Puggle from barking – or, at the very least, reduce their enthusiasm, frequency, and volume.

Many owners recommend ensuring your Puggle is well-socialized.

If your dog does not meet other members of its species very often, they will be all the more excitable – and loud – when it does happen. Visiting a dog park or taking them along to a doggy daycare can be a great way to get them used to being around other dogs.

If you find that your Puggle is at its loudest when you run into new friends, some supervised socialization in a safe environment would be the way to go to get them used to it.

Puggles are also naturally energetic, so ensuring they get enough exercise is key.

If they’re full of energy and have nothing to do with it, they’ll opt for barking it out.

Puggles aren’t high-maintenance compared to other breeds but should have around an hour of exercise a day. However, your Puggle will have individual needs depending on which parent breed it takes after more.

If they’re closer to their pug heritage, they will need less; if they take after their beagle ancestry, they might need more.

How do I stop my Puggle from Barking at Night?

Of all the times your dog might start barking, night-time is arguably the worst. The good news is that there are ways to break this habit.

If the barking is caused by separation anxiety, there are two ways to solve this. The question you first have to answer is this: do you want to let your puggle sleep in the bedroom with you? If the answer is yes, then the anxiety is solved, and the barking should stop.

If you are against your dog sharing your bedroom, the solution is a little tougher.

Essentially, your dog needs to learn that barking during the night will not result in attention.

That means leaving them alone until they’re all barked out.

While this won’t solve the problem immediately and your sleep may suffer in the short-term, in the long-term, your dog will learn not to use noise as a way to draw you back to them.

Make sure to give your dog a reward when they finally stay silent during the night to encourage this improved behavior.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to time your Puggle’s exercise to ensure they are all tired out before bedtime. That way, you should be able to sleep peacefully while they do the same.

Wherever your dog sleeps – whether it’s in your room or further away – minimize their barking by making sure they are in a quiet, relaxing environment.

If they’re going to be subject to something that could excite them or stress them out, such as something noisy, either try removing the source or having your dog sleep elsewhere.

If neither of these is an option, consider getting a white noise machine to keep in the room where your dog sleeps. This can create a more soothing environment while also blocking out other, more stress-inducing noises.

Do I Need to Train my Puggle to Stop Barking?

A dog’s behavior will come down to its training (or lack thereof). Though puggles can be stubborn, training them is still absolutely possible – it just might take some extra time and effort.

As with any training, good habits are best formed early on. One of the best things to do is find what motivates your Puggle; some dogs are food-motivated, and others prefer toys or affection. Once you’ve identified the best thing to use as a reward, your training attempts should be much more successful.

Example: Stopping your Puggle from barking at the doorbell.

Either record the doorbell noise onto your phone and play it, or ring the doorbell directly. Do this several times.

Eventually, your Puggle should become desensitized to the noise and will not bark. When this happens, make sure you give them a reward to encourage their behavior.

Be patient, repeat, reward. If you keep doing this, the habit will stick, and the doorbell will no longer trigger a noisy episode.

Final Thoughts – Do Puggles Bark A Lot?

Do puggles bark a lot? Puggles do tend to bark and howl due to their beagle heritage. Though they may be noisy at times, they are very rarely aggressive. Their barking is more likely to result from excitement, boredom, or an attempt to gain their owners’ attention. It could also be triggered by separation anxiety.

Your Puggle may inherit the quieter characteristics of a pug, but genetics can be a tricky thing. If your Puggle does like to bark, the good news is that it can be managed, and the habit can be trained out of them. However, it would be best if you were prepared to be patient and repetitive when training them.

Overall, puggles can make fantastic dogs for a wide range of owners. They get along well with kids and other dogs and adapt well to a range of living spaces. As far as cons in dogs go, being vocal is certainly not the worst trait they could have. If it becomes bothersome, you can always add it to your training list.

Best of luck with your new companion!