Red Heeler vs Pugalier - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Pugalier is a designer dog which dates to the 1980s and 1990s. Being a fairly new dog breed, it doesn’t have a long or detailed history.

It is thought that they were first bred in the United States. There was a purpose behind the crossing of the Pug and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Dog enthusiasts were looking for a dog that would have less breathing problems with a longer nose.

There are a few dog breed registries that recognize the Pugalier as a designer dog breed, one of which is the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Known also as the Australian Cattle Dog, the Red Heeler is also known as the Blue Heeler. This is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia.

These dogs are known for their stamina and resilience with driving cattle over long distances in hot weather and across rough terrain.

It was George Eliott who developed the Red Heeler – crossing native Dingoes with Collies and other herding dogs.

In America, the breed was fully recognised in September 1980.

The Pugalier looks fairly similar to a pug but with a slightly longer nose and longer ears. The tail isn’t as coifed as with the Pug, but is longer and straighter, sometimes curling slightly over the back.

As with any crossbreed, the dog’s appearance can vary between the two dogs. They can be small to medium sized, usually standing at between 30 and 35cm in height and weigh between 6-10kg.

Pugaliers mostly have a fairly short coat but there are some which have longer hair because of the Cavalier's influence. The coat can be an apricot color, white, brown or even tri-color - white, black & tan.

Temperament:

Friendly, social ad loving, the Pugalier makes a splendid pet. He will easily adapt to life in the city or the countryside and he also gets along well with children and other dogs. They can also be amusing and entertaining, while being intelligent too.

You’ll find your Pugalier easy to train as he is intelligent and then he becomes a splendid pet with training and socialization, being obedient and well mannered wherever he is.

The Red Heeler is a medium-sized dog standing at between 43 to 51 cm in height and weighing in the region of 14 – 16 kg.

He is muscular, with a sturdy build. The coat of this robust dog is shortish and thick and quite often you’ll find a white star marking on he forehead. The coat is a blue-grey color or reddish. The tail of this dog is long and the ears are erect.

Temperament:

The Red Heeler has always been a working dog so he is energetic and lively, being independent and strong-willed.

He is super intelligent too and can be easily trained and socialized. He is a dog that simply loves the outdoors and if you don’t live on a farm, he is going to need lots of exercise.

He gets on well with kids and other pets, but children should be taught to respect him and be kind towards him, otherwise he might not tolerate them. He is a loyal, protective dog, wanting to ensure the safety of his human family.

The Pugalier gets his characteristics from both the popular parent breeds he comes from – the Pug and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Both these dog breeds are immensely popular, friendly, loving and amusingly entertaining. He is an excellent dog choice for the first time dog owner.

The Pugalier is an intelligent dog breed and easy to train too. When you bring such a sweet dog into your home, you open the doors to a deep, meaningful friendship and loyalty from your canine pet.

When you bring a Red Heeler into your home, you must know that you’re never going to have a dull moment. They’re not content to lie around with nothing to do. These popular dogs literally coax you to come out and to be active.

Red Heelers need lots of activities and lots of room, so they aren’t particularly suited to life in the city. Large properties and plenty to do is what they ask for.

Your Red Heeler is going to make a splendid pet, loyal and devoted, the perfect example of man’s best friend.

Less wrinkles and a longer snout make the Pugalier a healthier dog than the purebred Pug. The dog, when well cared for, can still reach a good age of 14 or so years.

Eye problems can still be a problem as both the Pug and the Cavalier have protruding eyes.

Patellar Luxation is another health issue to watch for. The patella or the kneecap is dislocated and the dog will have difficulty with putting weight on the leg. Your vet may perform surgery on your dog and the prognosis is very good if arthritis hasn’t already developed.

Your Red Heeler can live to be 15 years of age with good care. Every dog however, can fall prey to some of the many common dog diseases there are, some of which can be -

Musculosceletal Problems:

There are quite a lot of congenital and inherited musculoskeletal disorders in dogs, with some of the more common ones being hip dysplasia and muscular dystrophy for instance.

There are some of these musculosceletal problems which can be fatal. Some of the typical symptoms you’ll see with these problems are difficulty climbing stairs or jumping, loss of muscle mass in the hind limbs, arthritis and lameness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

The retina of the eye is that light-sensitive part and which is part of the central nervous system. With retinal degeneration, the cells decline, leading to impaired vision and sometimes even blindness.

Some symptoms to look out for include dilated pupils, night blindness and the inability to see clearly in bright light. The disease worsens over times with sudden blindness being quite common with older dogs. Your vet will want a thorough history of your dog’s health.

Other dog diseases to be very aware of are cancer, obesity, bloat, hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Exercise:

Your Pugalier will require daily exercise, and he will just love a walk. The Pug part of him will tell you to go slowly with exercise and to ensure it isn’t too strenuous.

The Spaniel part of him will love a robust ball game or running backwards and forwards between two people throwing a frisbee. Watch the Pugalier during exercise and don’t allow him to get overly hot and bothered.

Grooming:

Pugaliers do shed hair and you will need to brush him twice a week. Check his eyes and inside his ears and make sure all is as it should be.

Trim his nails and look inside his mouth for bad teeth. Dog’s can’t tell you they’re in pain and bad teeth can cause terrible pain and a lot of health issues throughout the entire body.

Diet:

Every dog needs an excellent diet if he is to ward off illness and live a long life.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market so read the packaging carefully and avoid those ones with low quality ingredients like colorants, lots of preservatives and fillers.

High quality dry kibble can be made more inviting when you add in some home-cooked food twice a week. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be excellent for him – it is simple and nutritious.

Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble. Also, your little pet will thrive on some raw meat occasionally too as this keeps the coat shiny and and the skin free of infections. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Red Heeler is an active dog, and apart from walks which will give him the chance to sniff around, he will need lots of other forms of exercise. Rope pulling games he’ll love and running after a ball will please him because it takes him back to days when he used to run around and herd livestock.

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person who loves hiking in the wilds and swimming in rivers, you can count this dog in.

Grooming:

You can look at the Red Heeler as a low maintenance dog. He does shed, but a good brush of the coat twice a week will be excellent for him. If he doesn’t wear his nails down naturally, you will need to trim them. Also, while you are brushing him, check his ears and eyes and inside his mouth to make sure he is clear of all infections.

Diet:

Red Heelers rely on good food for their resilience and stamina, and for convenience it is good to have commercially manufactured dog food as a backup. The best is home-made food which is easy to prepare and totally uncomplicated.

Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your pet's dry kibble once or twice a week. Simple and tasty, your Red Heeler will love it and thrive on it too.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.