Puggle vs Bandog - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The original Bandogs were bred for guarding and protecting. It is believed that the dogs were developed from eastern shepherds, the American Pit Bull Terrier and Mastiffs and crossed with western Bullenbeissers and hounds, and it is thought that the hybrid breed came into existence way back, around 1250-1300 in Middle England.

Although it isn’t possible to say exactly how the Bandog originated, it is certain that the dogs were bred with a functional purpose – to guard and protect. In fact in the late 1960s a veterinarian by the name of Swinford started a breeding program, even though breeders of Bandogges disagree on the breeds that went into Swinford's original breeding scheme. It is believed to have been 50% American Pit Bull Terrier and 50% molosser.

The first Puggle was bred in the United States in the 1980s and was registered with the American Canine Hybrid Club.

None of the major kennel clubs recognize Puggles as a dog breed. The Puggle is a mix between the Pug and the Beagle, and is essentially a companion dog. Both the parent dogs are popular pets and each of the dogs - the Pug and the Beagle have their own histories.

A Hulk of a Dog

The Bandog is a powerful, stocky, muscular dog with small, upright ears. His tail is long and tapered, but most people prefer to have the tail docked. With his broad skull, wide shoulders and powerful chest, he is also confident and intelligent. He is a rugged dog, heavily boned and muscled, and quite aggressive when provoked. This characteristic comes from the intentional breeding to combine the courage and tenacity of an American Pit Bull Terrier with the size of the Bull Mastiff and its guarding instincts.

A Devoted, Gentle Pet

Even though the breed has a history of competitive fighting, today when he is trained and socialized he can be a devoted, controlled and amicable family pet, even getting on well with children and being social and affectionate with his human family members. They can be aggressive with strangers, more so if provoked or threatened by them.

Bandogges are able to get along with other animals in the home if they are raised with them, but can be aggressive with pets they aren’t familiar with. You won’t find a better guard dog and with his low barking tendencies, he quietly watches, waiting to go for any intruders.

The Puggle isn’t a purebred and he has short legs, a fairly thickset body, a crooked tail and medium length, floppy ears.

The Puggle’s coat is short and smooth and the colors can be anything between fawn, white, tan with bi-coloring such as black and white or even tri-colored such as white, black and tan.

He may have the black mask like the Pug has or he may not. He stands in height between 25-38cm and weighs between 4 and 13kg.

Temperament:

The Puggle brings fun and games into every household with his bright, sociable personality. He gets on well with children and other dogs and makes a splendid pet and friend.

He is intelligent, albeit a bit stubborn too, but you can teach him some simple commands such as sit, stay and lie down. They are dogs which can adapt well to life in the city or in the countryside.

This is certainly an intimidating looking breed, having been developed from a variety of stock breeds, Because of this, there isn’t a standard set for the dog and his appearance can vary. He isn’t recommended for first-time dog owners, because he is quite complex – being both docile and aggressive – not your regular dog. He will certainly require an owner who shows them who is boss.

Guardian, Protector and Friend

The Bandog may well have a reputation of being a fighter, but once he has had training and socialization, he turns out to be just a gentle giant. With a strong, firm owner, he is good with children too and becomes a devoted guardian to the entire family.

Puggles are lively dogs who are always up for a game. They are affectionate and loving towards their human family and get on well with strangers too.

They’re the kind of dogs who love a game outside but then are more than happy to cozy up on the couch with you.

Puggles love the attention of their family members and in exchange for your attention he is willing to shower you with his companionship and devotion.

Your Bandog is generally a robust, healthy breed, but he may well be prone to health concerns. Some of these are hip and elbow dysplasia and Bloat

hip and elbow dysplasia

This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can, if left unattended, lead to lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. eye problems.

Bloat

His size and his deep chest also mean he is prone to bloat. Known as gastric dilatation and volvulus, this isn’t good for your dog as the stomach becomes distended with gas, putting pressure on the diaphragm, which can cause breathing problems.

Vaccinations

Just because your Bandog is a healthy breed, it doesn’t mean your puppy is immune from his puppy shots. Your puppy will need his first vaccinations from 6 to 8 weeks of age for parvovirus, distemper, rabies and hepatitis.

Check your country’s vaccination regulations, because in the United States, most states require that all dogs be vaccinated against rabies.

Your Puggle isn’t likely to get sick often if you feed him healthy food, you exercise him and provide him with a loving, caring home. However, every dog can become ill, and Puggles can battle with the likes of Cherry Eye, skin problems and Hip Dysplasia among other ailments too.

Because of the Pug being a brachycephalic breed, your Puggle might also battle with respiratory problems.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia is a common canine disease that has no respect for age or breed of dog. Even young dogs can develop this heritable condition where the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Dog have pain in one or both of the rear legs, and can become totally lame. Arthritis can also develop.

Cherry Eye:

This is when the gland in the dog’s third eyelid bulges out as a red mass. It can be treated surgically.

These large, short-haired dogs have a short coat and they are easy to groom. Remove loose hair with a rubber brush twice a week. The breed is an average shedder and if you start regular brushing from when he is a young dog, he will be happy to let you do it as an adult. Check his ears and eyes regularly and clip his toe nails.

Exercise

The Bandog is an energetic breed that will require a good deal of exercise. This is one breed you can’t leave alone in your garden day after day. He will require games and walks to avoid boredom and frustration.

Feeding

The Bandog puppy will grow and develop quickly, so his diet should be good quality dog food. He is big and thirsty and there must be a ready source of clean drinking water. Because he is inclined to drool, his water bowl will need to be cleaned out regularly to avoid him drinking contaminated water.

Exercise:

The Puggle can settle into life in the city or the countryside as he doesn’t require too much exercise. That doesn’t mean however that you can just ignore his exercise needs, as doing so can make him overweight and unfit.

Take him for walks and play games with him indoors as well as outdoors.

Grooming:

The Puggle, with his short-haired coat, is a low maintenance dog that is easy-to-groom. A good brush twice a week will be excellent for him.

A brushing session gives you a chance to look inside his ears for signs of redness and ear infections, to look at his eyes and have a good look inside his mouth. Bad teeth can cause pain but can also cause illness throughout the body.

Trim your dog's claws as well, because left too long they can hook on things and rip the flesh.

Diet:

Our canine children rely on us for good food to stay healthy. Luckily, for convenience sake, there are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market. The best ones ensure that your dog gets a good balance of vitamins and minerals.

However, you want to also provide your pet with some tasty home-made food too. Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency, and home-cooked food twice a week and added to the dry kibble can keep him healthy and thrilled with his lot.

Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be excellent for him – it is simple just as he likes it and it is nutritious. Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble. Also, your Puggle will do well on some raw meat occasionally too as this keeps the skin free of rashes and free of infections.

Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.