You may see advertisements for "pocket Puggles." We get e-mail, asking about breeders who have "pocket Puggles," "mini Puggles," or "toy Puggles."

Since Puggles are not a recognized breed, the size of the dog is not defined and there are no classifications for "mini" or "toy" sizes. Typically, people are referring to a smaller-sized dog.

Buyers seeking smaller Puggles (in the size range most people would be thinking of when using the terms "pocket," "mini" or "toy") should be aware that a Puggle smaller than approximately 12 inches and weighing 18 pounds may experience health issues due to the smaller size and may be the result of inappropriate breeding. They may be the (unhealthy) runt of a litter and experience lifelong health issues as a result. There is also a possibility that dogs sold as "Pocket Puggles" are not actually a Beagle/Pug mix, but a rat terrier/Pug mix.

Puggles are typically bred from a female Beagle and a male Pug, because the Beagle is the larger of the two breeds. The health issues of both breeds are usually offset by the expanded gene pool and characteristics of one breed balancing out the deficits characteristics in the other breed. This is one reason Puggles are a popular "designer" breed of dog (aside from the fact that they're darn cute). Attempting to obtain a smaller dog from both these breeds would likely result in reintroduction of the genetic deficits inherent in each individual breed and therefore is discouraged in the responsible Puggle breeder community.

Before you buy a dog from a breeder claiming to have "Pocket Puggles," make sure you ask detailed questions. Although your Puggle will not have a registration, the parents should. You have every right to ask for details about the parents, their registration and their size to make sure you are getting a genuine Puggle. Prospective buyers of dogs advertised as "Pocket Puggles" should also inquire about the general health of the breeding couple and ask to see pictures.

In short, there is no such thing, really, as a "Pocket Puggle." You may buy a dog advertised to be a "Pocket Puggle," only to find it's no smaller than any other Puggle.

Book recommendation: A Member of the Family: Cesar Millan's Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog

Puggles are very intelligent dogs and eager to please their humans. It's one of the things that makes them such a wonderful pet. All pets have to be socialized. It's very similar to raising a baby. You have to establish boundaries early and be consistent and patient in teaching them to your pet.

Decide in advance what the boundaries for your Puggle puppy will be - then communicate them with all members of the household and emphasize that everyone must be proactive in following them. Children have an especially difficult time with this but it's a good exercise for them - which is why having a pet can be a very important socializing tool for your own children.

Jumping on people and furniture

If you allow your Puggle puppy onto the furniture or to jump up on people, he or she will continue this practice into adulthood. Puggles do not grow very large - a large Puggle is approximately 20 pounds. This is one reason they make an ideal pet for apartments, condos or smaller homes. Therefore, it's not as annoying to have a Puggle that jumps onto a lap or the furniture as, for example, a German Shepherd. Still, you need to decide if you're going to allow this behavior. Rather than letting the Puggle jump up onto furniture or laps, it may be better to train your Puggle to wait on the floor for an invitation and not allow him or her on the furniture without one. You should gently remove the puppy from the furniture if he or she jumps up or is on it without permission. Training your Puggle to wait for invitation will spare your furniture and make your pet more likable to guests, who may not appreciate having a dog of any size on their laps.

You should absolutely discourage your Puggle from jumping up onto people who are standing, whether they are coming in the door or otherwise. This is a very annoying habit and can be harmful, not only for children and your guests, but also for your pet.

Begging and feeding

It really isn't a healthy practice to feed people food to a dog, and it isn't good manners for a dog to beg at the table. There are three things necessary to teach your dog not to do this:

1. never, ever feed your pet scraps from your table or your kitchen;
2. feed your pet before you eat, in a location away from the area where you eat; and
3. keep your pet away from your table when you are eating - any food dropped to the floor, even by accident, will undo all your efforts.

If necessary, put your Puggle in the crate before your family sits down to eat. Make certain children and guests understand the rule of not feeding people food to your pet, ever, anywhere.

If you give dog treats to your pet, do not do it in association with any meals served to people. Treats are on par with eating, and should not be associated in any way with people eating their meals.

Taking your Puggle puppy out

It's important that your Puggle puppy be socialized to different situations. Remember that a puppy has had limited exposure to the outside world and may be stressed at too much, too soon. Introduce different places and people slowly and build on small successes.

The Beagle part of your Puggle is inquisitive and active and easily bored. Acquaint your puppy with the neighborhood with daily walks. If you have children, involve them in this activity - it's good exercise for them and helps them learn how to be responsible pet owners.

Always ask permission before taking your Puggle to the home of a friend or neighbor and keep in mind that they will be more open to having your pet in their home if he or she is well behaved.

Dogs are pack animals and, for the most part, like being around other dogs. Take care to protect your Puggle puppy from sick or aggressive animals when allowing play with other pets. Most dogs will enjoy playing with others and this is a good socialization behavior for them.

Select your veterinarian

If you don't already have a veterinarian, you should select one before you get your Puggle puppy. Get recommendations from people you know and feel are responsible pet owners. Ask them if they visit the vet regularly and how long they've been seeing that particular vet, so you know that they have an ongoing relationship with the vet and that they care enough to take their pet(s) for regular visits. Ask several people for recommendations and don't be hesitant about going to the vet's office to check it out and interview the staff and the vet. You don't want to take up a lot of their time, but you do want to select a vet you feel is competent and caring.

Puppy visits

You should take your Puggle to the vet within 72 hours of bringing him or her home from the breeder. A reputable breeder will have had the puppy thoroughly examined prior to selling it. This examination is to acquaint you and the vet with your new family member and provide a second set of eyes and hands to ensure that the puppy is healthy.

Your veterinarian should be willing to accept the health certificate and immunization record provided by the breeder. Although another complete exam is warranted, another set of shots is not. If your vet insists, then you should reconsider your choice of vet.

If your vet offers microchip ID implants, this would be an excellent time to get one. Spaying or neutering should also be discussed. Many breeders have spay/neuter requirements as part of the purchase contract; you should not plan on breeding your puppy unless purchased as a breeder and agreed upon with the selling breeder. Your puppy will recover quickly from any of these procedures, so the sooner it's done, the better.

Keeping your puppy healthy

Protect your new puppy when you go to the vet's office. Keep him or her in a crate or carrier until you're in the exam room. Sick animals are in and out of the waiting room and even the cleanest of offices can't keep up. Letting your puppy out on the floor may expose him or her to germs that are more dangerous to a puppy than to a full-grown dog. Do not allow other people in the waiting room to touch the puppy. More sterile precautions are taken by the vet and staff in the exam rooms and of course, you will need to uncrate your puppy for the vet to conduct the exam.

Health maintenance

Discuss with your vet the schedule for shots and routine health checkups for your puppy, as well as any possible concerns you may have.

The breeder will have given you a feeding schedule and let you know what kind of food your puppy is used to eating. You should discuss this with the vet, as well. If you are unable to find the same kind of food in your area, ask the vet for recommendations and tips on changing the puppy to a new kind of food.

Of course you need to regularly exercise your dog because it's good for the dog's overall health. What you may not know is that regular exercise is also a useful training tool for your dog. Dogs love to exercise and they love to spend time with their humans.

(We suggest this excellent resource: Cesar Millan's Mastering Leadership - Volumes 1-3.)

Giving a dog - especially a high-energy puppy - exercise will make them easier to train. Puggles are high-energy dogs, but they are also intelligent. The beagle in them is inquisitive and eager to learn.

Dogs that have been exercised are more likely to listen and obey. Walking the dog also gives you the opportunity to spend time with your pet. If you have children, dog walking can become a fun and relaxing way for the entire family - including your pet - to get some exercise and spend time together. Everyone will benefit!

Exercise will also help you keep your Puggle from using excess energy in the pursuit of destructive behaviors. A dog that is frustrated and has too much pent-up energy will dig, chew and destroy until they become a nuisance, not a valued and lovable member of the family.

Dogs need regular exercise to keep them from getting overweight and lethargic. Even if you have a large yard, where the dog is free to run, it quickly becomes boring. Most yards are not large enough to provide the kind of exercise a dog needs on its own. Don't think that a large yard substitutes for human interaction! You can tire your dog out by playing fetch, but you still need to go out and play fetch until the dog is too tired to continue. This, however, is not a substitute for walking. Walking socializes a dog to you and the neighborhood in which you live. It familiarizes your pet with the sights and smells of people and other animals in the neighborhood.

Regular walking and other exercise is essential to your dog's physical and mental health - and it's not so bad for you and your family, either!