Puggle vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Also known as the Cao da Serra de Estrela, the large Estrela Mountain Dog from Portugal is an ancient breed, having been used for centuries to guard homesteads and livestock.

The Estrela, as a herding dog, has been developed over a long period of time because shepherds particularly wanted a dog that could survive in the mountains and be strong enough to guard livestock from predators.

The first official recorded breed standard was published in 1933, with an attempt to make the Estrela a distinct breed with a hooked tail and double dew claws.

Today the Estrela is a dog which can be found in other countries beyond Portugal, and in fact in 1973 pairs of the dogs were imported to the United States.

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.

The large Estrela Mountain Dog stands between 62 and 72cm and weighs between 30kg and 50kg.

The dog has 2 coat types – short and long but always coarse and thick. The coat is available in a number of colors, from fawn to gray to yellow and brindle and there can be white and black mixed throughout the coat.

The head of the dog is large and long, the neck fairly short and thick, he has dark brown eyes, a bright, intelligent expression with small, floppy ears which are set high on the skull, falling backwards against the side of the head. The tail is long and thick and the dog has a deep chest.

Temperament:

A large, athletic dog, the Estrela Mountain Dog is actually a calm dog, while still being protective towards his human family.

He is an intelligent dog who responds well to training and socialization. He is an independent dog, so this training and socialization is important - will be good for him, turning him into an obedient, relaxed pet who gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

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.

The Estrela Mountain Dog loves his human family and takes guarding them and protecting them seriously. He is a strong willed, independent dog that will require training and socialization. He makes an excellent pet, and is calm and gentle with children.

The Estrela Mountain Dog has so much going for him – he is beautiful to look at, he is loyal and protective with his human family, he is intelligent, loving and a healthy type of breed, and he is just waiting to become a member of your 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.

The Estrela Mountain Dog can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age, but as with any large dog, he will have a tendency to suffer from hip- and elbow dysplasia.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is another common heart failure disease found particularly in large-breed dogs. The Estrela is prone to this disease and you’ll notice he has shortness of breath, abdominal swelling and coughing. The disease may not be curable, but there are certainly treatments for it.

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.

Diet:

The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large dog and thankfully, when it comes to feeding him, experts in dog feeding have come up with commercially manufactured dog feeds that particularly cater for a dog’s age, his size and any illnesses he may have.

As a large dog, your Estrela Mountain Dog can suffer with joint problems such as hip dysplasia. For hip dysplasia you want to be looking at a dog food for large dogs which contains joint-health ingredients. An ingredient in the dog food such as glucosamine can work to reduce the damage brought about by hip dysplasia.

Mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken into his kibble from time to time. You want your pet to live a long, healthy life and raw meat added in occasionally can increase your pets energy levels, reduce the risk of joint disease and ensure a shiny, soft coat. Raw meat can provide iron, zinc, vitamins, minerals and potassium.

Grooming:

The Estrela isn’t a huge shedder, but his beautiful, thick coat will require brushing twice a week. It’s your chance to check him over for fleas and ticks as well, and the entire grooming process – checking his ears, nails and teeth – is an excellent bonding experience for you and your canine friend.

Exercise:

The Estrela may be large, but he is fairly calm. He’ll love to join you on your daily walks or for a ball game in the garden. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but his big size will mean he isn’t suited to a tiny property.

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.