Puggle Hugs Blog

Announcement: Baby Puggles Born

2008-10-14T17:22:00.003-05:00

I am happy to announce that Daisy gave birth to five beautiful baby Puggles. They are now two weeks old and doing wonderful. I have been spoiling them like crazy. My kids and I have showed them so much love already. I am becoming attached to all of them. I am also excited to find families that want to adopt them. :)

Introducing My Baby Puggles-Born September 26th:

http://www.pugglehugs.com

Puggle Video-The Funniest One Ever!!

2008-04-17T21:08:00.002-05:00

I would like to share this Puggle video with you. It is the most funniest video I have ever watched. It will make you laugh!!!! Guaranteed.

Click Here to Check it out!

http://www.pugglehugs.com

Springtime is Fun Time for You and Your Puggle

2008-04-12T15:29:00.002-05:00

FINALLY, the cold weather is behind us, and spring is here! This is a time for opening up the windows and getting outside for some fresh air!

Not only are my kids ready for the outdoors, my dogs are too! They have been cooped up all winter long and their favorite thing to do in the entire world is play with the kids outside. At least Reece and Daisy want to play. The other two, which are older Shitzu’s, are content to just be outside and not be bothered!

We went out in the backyard for some family time and brought the entire clan, dogs and kids! My almost two year old daughter was playing out there without me hanging on her for the first time. She was having the time of her life.

Reece, my Puggle, loves to play games. We have come up with so many fun things to do with him that sometimes it is hard to decide which game we are going to play. The kids love to play hide and seek with Reece and Daisy. They love it because the dogs are always “it” and they always get to hide. And, Reece and Daisy are pretty good at finding!

Some other back yard games we have come up with are flag football, follow the leader (running style), fetch and Frisbee. Their favorite game is playing in the hose. They love to chase the water hose.

Last year, we packed everyone up and went out to the lake. They love running around and even love swimming even more! We invested in life jackets, so we would not have to worry if they fell in while we were not watching.

We have plans on going back out to the lake this year. I would highly suggest that if you plan on taking your Puggle to the lake that you invest in a life jacket. It is a stress saver and possibly could save the life of your “best friend”. Don’t take any chances. It is always better safe than sorry.

We have plans on going to the park in a couple of weeks. The important thing to remember is to make sure your dog has had enough training that he will listen to your commands. It is great to get your dog out into the world for new experiences, however, it is important for the safety of your dog that he has been trained to listen to you.

Dogs love to play, especially those energetic Puggles. They do not have to be stuck indoors, while the rest of the family is enjoying the outdoors. Let them join in your family fun and you will be surprised at how much fun they can contribute to your family time outdoors!

Just remember to watch them at all times and make sure they have plenty of water. They will be doing a lot of running and will need to be hydrated. Plus, be sure if it is pretty hot out, that you limit their playtime.
After that “fun time” outside, they will be ready for a long nap, inside!

OPRAH TO DO A SHOW ON INVESTIGATING PUPPY MILLS! WATCH THIS FRIDAY!

2008-04-04T02:23:00.002-05:00

Oprah Winfrey’s dog of 13 years, Sophie, died of kidney failure last month. Because of this, she has dedicated an entire show to her dog. Although her dog was not adopted from a puppy mill, this show has completely changed her outlook on puppy mills and she says that she will adopt her next dog from a shelter.

I just wanted to let you all know to watch this as I just told you about my Puggle Peanut, which we adopted from a puppy mill. I truly am shocked at what I learned about puppy mills, and I wish I had known this before I brought Peanut into our lives.

After watching this show, I believe we will all have an even better understanding of why we need to stay away from these places and make it our responsibility not to contribute to the income of these places.

Lisa Ling has investigated puppy mills, and she tells us her findings, which are shocking and disgusting.

Please take some time to watch this show and find it in your heart to pass this information on. And, whatever you do don't purchase a Puggle from a pet store or over the internet, because these Puggles are most likely from a puppy mill and we don't want to help with puppy mills profit!

The Life of My Puppy Mill Puggle

2008-03-31T01:15:00.000-05:00

During my research, I found out a lot about puppy mill puppies. I wish I had known this information BEFORE I drove six hours to another state to pick up my cute little 6 month old Puggle and six hours back the next morning with my four kids, my sister and her two kids.

I was shocked at what I saw when I got to the puppy mill. I had never actually seen one, and I didn’t realize that is where I was heading to. I just knew I was going to a farm in the middle of the night, but I just wasn’t aware that it was an actual dog farm.

The lady was nice and seemed to care for the dogs. The fact of the matter is that these dogs were all born in cages. Their lives began in these cages and probably have never even seen the outdoors, let alone grass.

We picked her up and went to a hotel. She was extremely shy and literally did not move the entire night from that one spot. She was literally terrified.
We got her home, and she was very shy for a few days. She finally warmed up to the other dogs. She even started to like me a little and tolerated the kids. However, she never warmed up to my husband, and it really bothered him. But, we kept her and assumed she would finally get used to the chaos of our family life with six people and four other dogs.

Technically, we decided to on getting another puggle so that we could breed her. We had Daisy, but she was not supposed to breed for another year or two. Seeing as we care and love our dogs, we did not want to put Daisy through another pregnancy too soon, so we got our new Puggle Peanut.

Peanut just did not ever warm up to my husband, and we just could not get her house trained. No matter what we did, she would walk outside and then come back in and do her “business” in the cage. It was such a frustrating thing to have to deal with all day long, every day.

Not only was she scared of my husband, she was terrified of anyone new who walked through that door. And, it was so sad to see her want to trust people so badly, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Unfortunately, we had to finally make a decision to find a new home for her. She went to live with my sister’s family, which consisted of a mom, dad, little three year old girl and a very big dog. Peanut warmed up to the mom and big dog. She tolerated the three year old, even dressing her up and dragging her around, but she could not adjust to the dad. Sadly, the dad is the one who wanted a new dog to begin with.

They really tried to help her fit in, and they were even making headway with housetraining. However, when their other dog passed away, Peanut withdrew and became a little more aggressive with the dad. He couldn’t even give her a treat without being nipped at and growled at.

They finally had to make the decision to find her a new home. They tried to find her a new home with someone who did not have a man in the house. However, that is something that is not so easy to do! So, she finally had to take her to an adoption agency that would match her with a family that she could be comfortable with.
The sad thing is that Peanut was such a sweet dog; however, because of what happened to her in that dog farm, she was terrified of men.

As I said, I did some research for my e-book and found out some really interesting information about puppy mill farms. A lot of what I learned really made sense for what some of what was happening with Peanut, especially because she was six months old.

Her potty training problems were because she HAD never seen grass. She kept being punished for going in her cage, which really confused her, because that is all she knew. Puppies born on a puppy mill are not accustomed to the life of a home environment, like a puppy born in a home environment. Imagine coming from a small cage of only dogs and those who fed them to a home with six people and four dogs. Therefore, Peanut was probably terrified at what she was thrown into.

The most disturbing thing I found out about puppy mills and dog farms is how they treat the parents of these cute little puppies. In order to make a profit, they have to only put out as much time and money as it takes to keep the dogs alive and able to produce puggles. And, then after these dogs have produced these adorable puppies, the puppies are taken away from their mother too soon, so that they can be distributed out to pet shops, store, etc. while they are in their “cute” stage of puppyhood.

This disgusted me and I wanted to make you aware of these dog farms, and what they are doing to gain a profit. Your best bet it to find a puggle from a home breeder. Generally a home breeder is not in it for the profit. My entire idea of breeding Puggles was to share in the joy of bringing a new family member to a home.
Please remember the next time you want to purchase a puppy, think long and hard before you go to a puppy mill. Sure, you can think of it as saving a puppy from that life. However, in reality you are contributing to the vicious cycle of this inhumane treatment of innocent animals.

http://www.pugglehugs.com

Don’t Trust Your Dog Food – It Could Be What Actually Kills Your Dog

2008-03-10T01:16:00.001-05:00

Last year something came out that was very scary for millions of pet owners. Many different dog foods were tainted with poison. Although this is scary, it is not that often that something in the news actually hits home.

No, it was not my puggles that were actually affected by this. However, a very close family friend of ours, who is very much a dog lover received the horrible news that her dog was dying of kidney failure. It was a shock. But what she found out that day was sickening and simply sad. Her vet told her that her dog was one of the dogs that were affected by the tainted dog food. Her dog still had at least five more years to be around with the family.

It is one thing to lose your dog from a sickness or an accident. But, this was cruel and even worse, her baby died by her hand. In her mind, she was the one that kept feeding her dog the food, and she was the one who kept trying to force it down her because she was worried that she quit eating.

Because this happened, I decided to get on the internet and look into more information. As I was surfing the web, I came across something that completely shocked and disgusted me, and I wanted to share it with all of you. I went ahead and ordered this e-book, “Dog Food SECRETS™.

Basically, what I found out was absolutely horrifying. Dog food is made from six deadly chemicals and even worse, euthanized animals. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as it was quite disgusting. However, “Dog Food SECRETS™” really opened my eyes to the dog food conspiracies that were out there. I was quite shocked. These six chemicals were actually banned from human food, but kept in the dog food. They were banned from human food because they caused the following. This is only a few.

Kidney, bladder, skin, stomach, and spleen CANCER
Leukemia
Liver dysfunction
Major organ failure
Severe allergic reactions
Blindness
And much more

I was relieved to know that not only was I being told that dog food is horrible for my dogs, but they gave me alternatives to dog food. These alternatives were pretty simple and weren’t completely out of my price range. And, with having four dogs, I had to watch what I spent on feeding them. However, my dogs are just like children to me and I want to be sure they are healthy and happy. The e-book, “Dog Food SECRETS™” inspired me to find even more “recipes” for my dogs. So, I came across this e-book called “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes”. It was amazing all of the recipes that I could make up for my dogs that were so healthy and did not cost an arm and a leg!

So, I decided to give this new food thing a try. So, I pulled out my new cookbook for dogs “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes” and found some really quick and easy recipes. I also learned what foods to watch for, because some foods can actually be toxic to a dog. I know that grapes, onions and chocolate are toxic for dogs. This e-book “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes” really helped me to understand how to make food that was healthy and safe for my dogs.

My dogs were extremely excited, and now they eat their food the way they are supposed to, right when I set it down, rather than just when they feel like it. And, I can just tell they are so much happier. Imagine if you had to eat the same exact thing every single day for your entire life. Pretty boring!
I just wanted to share this information with you, as I was completely shocked what “Dog Food SECRETS™” had shared with me. There are some people I have told that have heard this before. But, most of the time, I am shocking people, too. But, they ask me what are you supposed to do? You have to feed your dog. And, now I have an answer. It is not easy preparing meals everyday for your dog. But, I have found several books, especially my favorite “Healthy Food for Dogs: Homemade Recipes”, with many quick and easy recipes that make it so easy, and it really makes me feel so much better knowing that they are getting the same quality of food that my own children are getting.

I love my dogs so much, and I want the best for them. I tried to purchase the “good” food that was supposed to be healthier for my pets, however, I was so angry to find out that what I thought was good was actually the worst thing for them. Now, at least I know what goes into their bodies and that I am doing the best that I can for them.

Bad News About Daisy and her Baby Puggles

2008-03-03T21:22:00.001-06:00

Unfortunately, I have some really bad news. During the day last Wednesday, Daisy, my beagle, went into labor. She was panting all day and I could tell she was about to give birth to her baby Puggles. Well, nighttime had come around and about 1:30 in the morning, I was going to bed and checked on her. I noticed she had the feet of one of her baby puggles hanging outside of her. I ran and woke my husband up and we began to cheer Daisy on and encourage her to start pushing. Well after about twenty minutes of doing this, we were getting worried. Daisy just wouldn’t push and was more interested in running around then on accomplishing her task at hand.

I called the Veterinarian Emergency Room and asked what to do. We were prepared for her to give birth. We had the rubber gloves, the syringe, and the vaseline. The veterinarian told us to wait ten more minutes and if nothing, start to assist her in the process. In other words, we had to pull the baby Puggle out. Once we did, we realized that the baby had already passed on. Daisy had given birth to a still birth. The veterinarian had warned us that this might be the case, but at that point we were hoping for the best.

Time had passed, an hour, and then Daisy was ready to have her next Puggle. We were again prepared, encouraging Daisy, and praying to ourselves that all would be alright this time. The baby Puggles feet were coming out and they were moving! However, again, Daisy wouldn’t push. We waited for not very long and then decided to assist her again in the process. As we tried to very gently pull the baby out, Daisy was getting restless and upset. We finally got the baby out and thought the puppy would be alive, because its feet were moving. As soon as it came out, one last breath, and sadly the baby was gone.

At this point, my husband and I were in utmost shock and disbelief. We couldn’t believe this was happening and would never have expected it. I left the room crying as my husband, Jed, held the baby Puggle in his hands, for about a good hour. Nothing! I went and held the puppy and was hoping maybe that it was just weak. My eyes kept tricking me, because I kept thinking that I saw the puppy’s belly move up and down. I held the baby, prayed it was just weak, but it was too late. The second puppy was gone as well.

After this, Daisy had no more puppies. I was so relieved that there were only two that she had in her litter. I didn’t want Daisy or us to have to go through this again. The puppies were buried and Daisy rested.

In the morning, my four children woke up and my husband and I had to explain to them what had happened. I was actually amazed that my children handled the horrible news so good. Yes, they were upset and disappointed, we all were, but they understood.
I don’t understand what happened. Last time, Daisy had baby Puggles she did so well. I am not sure why she wouldn’t push and why they passed on like they did. It will be QUITE a while, if ever, before I would let Daisy have babies again. She is such a good mother and I think she is in shock. She has been running around the house looking for her babies. I let her lick her babies after they were born. I don’t think she understands and I think she thinks I did something with her baby Puggles. The reason I say this is because she doesn’t normally pee on my furniture and she peed on my chair, not the couch and not my husbands, three times in a row. How can you punish her for this? I am hoping this will improve. However, in the meantime, I am letting her rest and heal.

I will keep you all updated about her healing process. The baby Puggles were so ADORABLE. They looked just like Reece and actually like twins. They were both brindle and one had a white paw. I have had a lot of people ask how the puppies were doing and so I thought I better post what happened on the blog.
Thanks for all of your prayers and concerns. It is a pleasure to know that my family and Daisy are in your thoughts.

Reece- From Monster to Angel

2008-02-18T23:33:00.003-06:00

My cute bundle of joy that now lies on my lap and snores louder than my husband, looks so peaceful while he is sleeping, and loves to be loved, used to be a monster! Yes, a crazy, hyper monster! I could not even believe how fast he could run in circles, jump up on the couch, and run all through the house like something just bit him in the behind! I literally wondered what I got myself and my family of six plus three dogs into!

My Story:
My husband decided he wanted a hunting dog. So, I made it happen. I called around and found the perfect Beagle. So, we got in the van, drove to the place where our Beagle was, paid for her, with the intentions of bringing home our new hunting dog – and ended up with two dogs!

There Reece was staring out of that cage. I just couldn’t leave him. He was so cute and so sad looking. So, there we were on our way home, with our hunting dog, Daisy and our new puggle, Reece. Daisy was the calmest, sweetest dog. She was very reserved, at first, but with four kids under the age of nine, she was bound to warm up. Now, Reece had no problem at all warming up. He was like a tornado, right there in my living room!

I thought that after a few days, he would get used to our house and settle down. After all, I have three other dogs, and they are all pretty calm and actually rather lazy. I just was not used to this tornado!

Not only was he a spaz, he also liked to eat out of the garbage, poop in my living room and literally steal my food right off of my plate. Boy, he was amazingly sneaky about that. Anytime anyone came in through that door, he was on them and biting at them. Of course, he was only playing, but those claws and teeth do hurt, no matter how much he is playing! Although these things are rather annoying, nothing compares to the fact that he was always sneaking out the front door, and he would run and run- right into the street. One day, he ran right out the door along with Daisy, and didn’t come back. I was so heartbroken.

Boy, although he could be annoying, he sure had a presence in our home, and I missed them both so much. Luckily, a truck driver found them on the highway, and turned them in. I was so extremely blessed that day. God was looking out for them and my family. It was amazing they did not get hit crossing that highway.
Once I got my babies back, I was determined to find a way to control Reece. It was now crucial that I find a way to contain him, for his own safety, and for my own heart.

So, I got online and tried to find information on how to train a puggle. There were so many things to choose from, but it was imperative that I find a training program that I could do at home, and that could tailor to my dog specifically.

Finally, I found an e-book called SitStayFetch. I was skeptical at first, because it said something about dog whispering. But, that is what caught my eye to begin with. I had tried everything, and being in a family of six with four dogs, I needed some control without any more screaming than was needed! Learning the dog whispering technique has truly made a difference in my household. And best of all, the techniques I learned in this e-book changed my house from crazy to calm. One thing that I did not realize is how important it was to show Reece who is boss. And, he was able to learn this by a couple simple techniques, like making him sit before he could have his food. I learned a lot of dog behaviors that I never even realized, and learned to look Reece right in the eye.

The best thing I learned was how to train him not to run out that front door, and how to stop him from jumping and lovingly bite people who walk through that door!
Because I took the time to learn how to connect with Reece, our lives are much calmer, and I can enjoy my time with Reece, rather than frustrated! He is so much fun, and such a joy to be around. I am so glad I came upon this e-book, SitStayFetch.

Please take time to help your puggle become the best friend he can be. They cannot do it on their own. They need guidance and love. It is your responsibility. And with a little time and effort, your little monster could turn into the sweetest, loving member of your family.

*ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF DAISY AND REECE’S PUGGLES***

2008-02-18T14:27:00.002-06:00

Wow, it is hard to believe that I am going to have more babies in my house again! I am so excited to see those cute little puggles. It is such an exhilarating feeling to see them being born, and I can’t wait to see whether they look more like Reece or Daisy.

My last batch, most of them looked like Reece. He is such a cutie. Of course, Daisy is cute, too, especially with that big round belly!

Reece knows something is up. He is always sniffing around her belly. With his last batch of puppies, he was SCARED TO DEATH of those little puggles! It was so cute. Reece is such a spaz; I was scared he would crush them. But, instead, he was very cautious and really just stayed away, until they started moving around and then he wanted to play.

Daisy was very protective of her babies. She was such an attentive mother. I was so proud of how she took care of her babies. When people came over to see them, she was okay with it; however, she made sure she was right up there in their laps, making sure her babies were okay.

Daisy and Reece’s puggles are due on February 29th. Although, it will be very hard for me to part with these cute little puggles, I have found that I get such a special feeling in my heart when I do put them in the arms of someone I know is just as excited about bringing a new baby into their home. I am very particular in where my puggles will end up. It is such an amazing feeling to be a part of bringing in a new member to someone’s family.

Since my baby is having babies, I thought it would be a good time to share a little of facts with you pertaining to pregnant Beagles! I know I was pretty much in the dark on what to expect while my beagle was expecting.

What to expect when they are expecting!
The average gestation is 63 days, but can vary from 57 to 65 days
Provide her with a safe, warm and fairly isolated area where she can deliver and raise her puppies once they are born.

A whelping box of some kind would be beneficial in keeping the puppies contained. This box should be large enough for her to be able to stretch out with some extra room for her litter. I would try to find something that is almost three times her size. You can purchase prefabricated ones online or you can have one built. It would very wise to have puppy guard rails that are about an inch in width and place around the inside of the box about two to four inches from the bottom to help prevent a puppy from getting smothered.

Get her used to her whelping box at least a week before delivery.
Begin taking her temperature at least twice daily about one week before her due date. A normal temperature is 101 – 102.5. When her temperature reaches below 98 degrees, she will likely be in labor with 24 hours.

Signs of labor include: shivering, rapid panting, refusal of food and occasionally vomiting. She will probably begin a nesting behavior, such as digging at bedding, etc.

THE DELIVERY:
Finally the day you have been looking for! Your puggles are on their way! Although the mother instinctively knows what to do, there are still a few things to look for during delivery. Contact your vet ASAP if she is straining yet no puppies appear within an hour or two, at the most. This could indicate that the babies are too big, and a C-section is necessary. During a natural delivery, a half hour between puppies is the average time it takes for delivery, a longer time could indicate a problem. Unfortunately, it is very common for her to deliver several puppies and have difficulty with the last one or two. Delivery is extremely exhausting. However, all she may need is a simple injection of oxytocin, which is a drug that helps the uterus to contract, to finish the delivery.

Thanks to a man who saved my Beagle and Puggle on the highway!

2008-02-11T00:24:00.001-06:00

After reading the news story about the stolen Puggle and some comments from my readers, I remembered an incident that I forgot to share with all of you. Actually, I can’t believe I didn’t share it with you back when it happened. It all happened one evening back in the fall of last year. I had let Reece, my puggle, and Daisy, my beagle, out to go “potty” in the backyard, keep in mind I have a pretty decent size yard and a privacy fence. When I went to let them back in, to my surprise, they were both missing. I about had a heart attack!

I drove all over the neighborhood looking for them and could not find them anywhere. I live on a dead-end street and off of a very busy road. At the end of my road, there is a fence with holes in it that lead to a highway. So not only did I drive around the neighborhood looking for my puggle and beagle, but also drove on the highway to see if they had gotten through the holes. Nothing! I came home empty handed as well as empty hearted.

My house that night was so different. Although I have four kids and two other dogs, two of my babies were missing and I felt like my life had come to a complete stop! For those of you who know, puggles are very excited dogs and Reece was always adding excitement to the house by running crazy and constantly jumping up on me as well as others. He also loves to play with Daisy.

My husband kept telling me that they could possibly be running around and show up on the front step in the morning. Well, morning came and went, and my babies were not on the front step. Then, my husband gave me the idea to call the local pound to see if maybe they got picked up. Sure enough, when I called they stated that they had a Puggle and a Beagle dropped off last night. I was so excited and so relieved. The operator said that some man was driving a semi on the highway and noticed my two dogs roaming together. He told the pound that he knew that they had to belong to someone because they were roaming together and had collars. (Unfortunately, collars with no name tags) What I found out that day was that God was watching over my babies and that there was compassion in the world, even on the highway! :)

Interesting Story

2008-02-06T09:02:00.001-06:00

I felt that this story was important and very interesting to share with all of you! It amazes me how the community came together to find a stolen puggle. It really gave me a little bit of hope that their is still compassion out there in our world where things seem to be falling apart! :) Enjoy.

Little Dog Lost - And Found

It was every pet lover's worst nightmare.

When Elizabeth Zagarino's six-month-old Puggle Bella went missing from their Laurel home recently, she was devastated.

But a story that could have turned out badly had a happy ending, and Zagarino believes it was the outpouring of support and concern from her North Fork community that brought her beloved little dog back home.

Zagarino's nightmare began over a week ago, when she let out Rascal, her pit bull mix, on a wire line. Bella and Rascal, said Zagarino, "are the best of friends." And so when Rascal wanted out, "Bella got upset and wanted to go out, too." After scratching at the door, Zagarino let her out and Bella bolted off to join her buddy.

But that's when things went horribly awry. After heading upstairs to talk briefly with her husband Frank, who was renovating the bathroom, Zagarino ran right back down to let the dogs in. "Rascal was right there," she said. "Bella wasn't."

Zagarino realized a dog napper had grabbed Bella, pulled into a neighbor's driveway, and hastily backed up, hitting the mailbox.

And so began an odyssey of fear and despair that had Zagarino waiting and hoping fervently for a miracle.

"I called for her. Usually, if she's not in sight, I can hear the little jingle from her collar and there was just deafening silence. Immediately, I panicked. I just knew. I began yelling for her and yelling for her. My husband came right out and we went frantically looking everywhere for her."

Soon, the whole family, including Zagarino's sons, Frankie, 14, and Tanner, 9, were desperately searching for their lost dog.

The following days were dark for Zagarino, who was wracked with guilt. "She's my daughter," she said. "This little dog is so nervous – all she wants is her mom. She's always near my feet, always right next to me."

"My husband realized when he went out front that our mail was all over the ground. Someone crashed into our mailbox."

Indeed, a rash of robberies across the country has been reported as thieves pilfer the pricey designer puggles – a mix between a pug and a beagle – hiding them in purses and in one case, a man's pants, as they pull off the heist. Because the dogs are small – Bella is only 15 pounds – they're easily stashed and are often stolen from pet stores and off the streets.

"When I told them what kind of dog I was looking for, every single person said, 'Oh, you have a hot ticket,'" said Zagarino.

The situation appeared even more dire when Zagarino's husband read an article in the paper about puggles being one of the most commonly poached pooches – thieves often steal and resell the designer dogs. Part of the impetus for peeling off with the pooches? Their pricey pedigree – most puggles fetch between $600 and $800 and up to $1000 when purchased.

"Any small dog is at risk. No dog should be left outside. It's like leaving a child alone," said Peg Gugliotta of the Kent Animal Shelter.

Determined to find her dog, Zagarino got serious. Her friend Danielle Cardinale helped her to plaster the North Fork with over 400 flyers, and soon, concerned neighbors and residents were calling Zagarino with news of prayer groups and search parties. Zagarino even got in touch with an animal communicator to help guide her to an answer. "I didn't care what I had to do," she said. "The whole neighborhood was looking."

Soon, though, the dedication of an entire community paid off when Bella was returned home, safe and sound, last Wednesday.

As soon as her husband turned on the kitchen light to get ready for work at 4:45 a.m., there was a tap on the door – Bella was scratching at the door, eager to get home.

"It's pretty self-explanatory that someone waited until there were signs of life in our house until they let her loose so she could get in," said Zagarino.

Whoever had brought Bella was already gone when Zagarino's husband went running to investigate.

And then, the most joyful of reunions unfolded. "I couldn't breathe for a minute," said Zagarino. "She just ran into my arms, I was crying so hard. I told my kids, 'Please tell me I'm awake right now.' I felt like I'd been in a nightmare for five days."

Once home, Bella was one tired pup, snuggled up to Rascal. "She's skinny and thirsty, but she doesn't seem traumatized. She came home with her collar and tags."

As for why she was swiped, Zagarino has her suspicions. "Maybe it was some teenagers who thought she was cute. Maybe it was someone who wanted to steal her but then saw all the flyers and thought, 'This town's way too small and too proactive,' and they had to abort the project."

What brought her dog home, believes Zagarino, was her refusal to give up – and a community that rallied behind a family in crisis.

"I just literally could not stop putting the word out there," she said. "I kept talking, kept driving, and I had everyone talking. People were praying and searching. There were over hundreds of e-mails sent out."

Now that her ordeal is over, Zagarino, who moved to the North Fork from California four and a half years ago, has a newfound appreciation for the community she now firmly believes is home. "I just want to thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers, help and concern," she said. "All those people praying, grabbing flyers and putting them up, helped to get my baby back."

For years after moving from Los Angeles, Zagarino was homesick. "I wanted to go home. But after this I realized this is my home. These people are really great. I learned something valuable – this is a really special place, these people are so special. The outpouring of support and love speaks volumes. It's been an amazing lesson for me."

lfinn@indyeastend.com

The Independent

Caring for Your Puggle

2008-01-24T01:19:00.000-06:00

When you bring your Puggle home, whether you’ve adopted an adorable, wriggly puppy or a slightly calmer but just as adorable adult Puggle, life changes. It’s like adding any new member to your family; Puggles need special attention and care.

The first priority, before you bring your Puggle home with you, should be to Puggle-proof your home. This includes removing anything from the floor that might look like food or a dog toy, but could be dangerous.

Children’s toys can be particularly hazardous to Puggles because they love to chew on things, and small parts or small toys can choke them. Some toys may also have chemicals in them that could be toxic to a Puggle. Shiny batteries are a particular danger to these inquisitive dogs.

Also make sure all household cleaners and substances are put away, and spills are cleaned up. Anything spilled on the floor looks like a tasty beverage to a Puggle, who could get very sick as a result.

And of course anything a Puggle could get tangled in, from an electrical cord to a curtain pull-cord, should be placed so your new baby can’t get into it.

Once you have baby-proofed your home, it’s time to think about bringing your Puggle home, and what will make her comfortable.

You will want to have food and water bowls available for your pet, and make sure there is always fresh water available, and that food is in the bowls at predictable feeding times. Puggles, like all dogs, love routine, and they particularly need fresh drinking water available constantly.

If your Puggle uses the bathroom inside on newspapers, make sure the papers are changed regularly, as this can create a health risk to both pets and humans in the family. Your Puggle also may refuse to go on soiled papers.

Because Puggles have short hair, they don’t need to be groomed in the sense of being trimmed on a regular basis, like a poodle. But they do need to be bathed on a regular basis to maintain their skin and coat. Use a hypoallergenic pet shampoo, and try to make bath time as brief and enjoyable as possible. Many Puggles don’t enjoy bath time, but if you make it as pleasant as possible, they’ll get used to it.

After your Puggle is dry and has recovered from the indignity of the bath, use a brush with coated bristles to comb through her coat and remove all the loose hair. She will definitely enjoy being brushed, and the longer you brush, the less likely she is to shed later.

The most fun and enjoyable part of caring for your Puggle is, simply, playing. Puggles love to play and interact with their people. They are very spirited and energetic, and are a naturally playful breed. As you make training a part of play time, you will find that you have a pet who is loving and fun to play with and whom you enjoy having in your family.

The most important thing to remember about caring for your Puggle is that she needs the same things you do: a safe environment, fresh food and water, and lots of loving attention.

5 Reasons to Consider a Puggle

2008-01-24T01:17:00.000-06:00

If you’re considering a new pet, you may be looking at a variety of dogs, including Puggles. Choosing a dog is a big choice, as you hope to have this new member of your family for many years and develop a close relationship with your pet.

As a hybrid breed, Puggles are different and fun. They are not quite like either the beagle or the pug from which they are bred, and second generation Puggles are particularly unpredictable. But as a breed, Puggles have a lot of great characteristics, and there are several reasons you might want to consider a Puggle for your new pet.

1. Uniqueness: Among the reasons for choosing a Puggle are its uniqueness. Hybrid dogs are raised by a limited number of breeders, and Puggles are a relatively new breed. They became a very popular breed in 2005, and are still in great demand. Still, for a newer breed, they remain affordable, with puppies usually available for under $1000. If one of your goals in finding the perfect pet is to have an unusual dog which will attract attention and be a conversation starter, going with a hybrid breed such as a Puggle might be perfect for you.

2. Strong Personality: Puggles have very strong personalities. While some people want a quiet dog to cuddle on the couch and be a companion, Puggles are more likely to become true members of the family. Puggles are definitely individuals. They’re great at developing their own place in a family and becoming a much loved “person” around your home.

3. High Energy: You want your dog to be an extension of you and of your family, and Puggles are great at this because they’re so spirited. Puggles are very adventurous and fun-loving dogs. Because they’re so energetic, Puggles do well in families who are interested in having a puppy, and later a dog, to play with. Their high energy levels and delightful personalities make Puggles great, fun pets.

4. The Cute Factor: When you see Puggle puppies, you may find them irresistible. Puggle puppies are among the cutest puppies available, and breeders often have people on a waiting list to adopt Puggle puppies. Adult Puggles are also adorable, with their long, floppy ears and short noses. They are very cute dogs, and will steal your heart immediately.

5. Low Physical Maintenance: Puggles have very short hair and do not need to be groomed on a regular basis, like some of the smaller breeds such as terriers. Puggles do shed, but they are a short-haired breed, and do not start looking like a tangled mop when not brushed. As for the shedding, your vet may have a treatment to put on your Puggle’s food to reduce shedding.

There are a lot of factors to consider in buying your new pet, and the various qualities of Puggles, including their energy and spirit, as well as their low grooming requirements and small size, may make them the perfect dog for your family. When you choose a dog, whether it be a Puggle or another breed, knowing the personality and expectations for your puppy can make all the difference in finding the perfect dog to become a new member of your family.

Fun in the Snow

2007-12-19T21:55:00.000-06:00

My puggle, Reece, and my beagle, Daisy, love playing in the snow. I had a fun time taking these pictures and thought I would share them with you. Enjoy! :)

PLEASE HELP!

2007-12-14T21:12:00.000-06:00

Hello! I received this email from a friend and wanted to post it on my site. The Animal Rescue does so much and to be able to help assist them means much to me as well.
Free Food for Animal Shelters

Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple.. Please tell ten (or more) friends to tell ten today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "feed an animal in need" for free. It's in a purple box in the middle of the page. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals inexchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

www.theanimalrescuesite.com

Contest for Cutest Christmas Puggle Picture

2007-12-10T01:48:00.000-06:00

I am going to offer a contest for the cutest christmas puggle picture out there!
If you send me your pic, I will post it to my blog and then voters can comment on each picture. The picture that has the most comments (good ones that is) will win my free e-book: Puggle Hugs: All About Puggles! So, why not send me a pic?
I will start by adding my pic of Reece with his santa stocking on. Isn't he cute??
While I am at it, I might as well add Daisy's Christmas Picture as well-Isn't she the cutest beagle ever??? :)

Videos of Puggles

2007-12-10T01:45:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to say, make sure you check out some of the puggle videos located at the right of my blog. My kids and I spent a good hour laughing our heads off at some of them. They are hilarious! For us puggle lovers, these are just the most cutest videos to watch and say "awww". Enjoy!

Does their batteries ever wear out??

2007-12-10T01:29:00.002-06:00

I got an email the other day that I wanted to share with all of you. The title of this just cracks me up! But, I have to admit that it is a question I think all of us puggle owners ask. I know I do at least! :)

Christy:
We came upon our Lily, a standard puggle, last Christmas. She was a gift to our soon to be 18 year old daughter as a bribe to have her choose to attend a local college rather than sleep-away. Well, Lily, was a year in October and our daughter attends school at SUNY New Paltz.

I really love her and I consider her house trained. She is spiteful and if she cannot follow me to the laundry room, she will piddle my floor. I tried letting her out before I go to the laundry room but... well you can figure out the rest.

I still crate her when I leave for work. She doesn't seem to mind. She sees me getting ready to walk out the door and runs to her crate. I am hoping to have be able to have the run of the main area of the house by the time she is two years old. BUT that is still not my issue...

She is a bundle of energy. Almost obssessive compulsive. She gets plenty of play time with humans as well as with her canine companion, large 55 lb. mixed breed that is four years old.

Will she every calm down a bit? She passes out with exhaustion and sleeps the night but once I am up in the morning....eat, out, play, rest, play, etc.

Any advice? Love my Lilypup. I could eat her up. AND I DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER DOG!!

Carol
________________________________________

Unfortunately for Carol, I didn't have the best of a response to her question: :)

Well, my puggle, Reece, NEVER does. He is about the same age as Lily. He does the same thing and wears me out, COMPLETELY. I have four dogs and he wears them out as well, along with the cat, and my four kids. LOL
I wish I could tell you that she will calm down soon, but I think that is just the way puggles are. They get full bursts of energy and the next thing you know they are passed out from all of their playing. I am thinking maybe once they get older, they will calm down. I think they are just like children. HONESTLY! The older they get, the calmer they will get. I am hoping.
________________________________________

Now, my question and I think I will put up a new survey poll is this: Do you think your puggle will calm down once older?

Go and vote on the survey poll, I will then release the results in a few!
Thanks and happy puggle hugging! :)

Change My Puggles for another Dog? Not On Your Life!

2007-12-10T01:29:00.001-06:00

Over the years, I’ve had a few different breeds of dogs, and I’ve loved them all. When I was a kid, for example, my folks had four poodles Kippy, Piere, Beau and Squiggy (yes, named after the show (Lavern and Shirley), and as fierce as it looked to strangers, it was nothing but a bunch of big cuddly toys to me and my sister. Then, as I hit my teens and the four poodles passed on, my mother brought home a box. Out popped this bull frog eye, snorting, wrinkled black animal. Was a dog or a pig?

At the time, our house had a circle hallway and all I can remember is this animal jumping out of the box and running into our bathroom, grabbing the toilet paper from the roller and running excitedly around the hallways in circles. Needless to say, the animal calmed down and I was able to take another look at her. Yes, it was a girl, a dog, and a Pug. My mom couldn’t resist her from the dog store in the local mall and so she brought her home. Her name was Katie and she became the baby of the household, literally! We couldn’t call her a dog, she had to be called Katie or baby and we even had to take turns, my sister and I, holding her bone for her while she chewed for hours on it. Sadly, Katie got older and passed on, but her spirit lives on forever in our families households. It was so bad, that my mom had to move out of the house that we lived in, because she couldn’t bear the memories of Katie and her favourite tree. My mom now has three dogs, which consist of two pugs and a shit-zuh.

Now that I’m older, married, and have four kids and my own home, I have four dogs as well, like when I was growing up. As much as I could have had one that was similar to the dogs I knew in my childhood, I wanted something different, something unusual – so I got myself a puggle.

For anyone who’s never seen a puggle, it’s a wonderful cross between a beagle and a pug, which in my mind has got to be one of the greatest mixes ever – kudos to the breeder who came up with that idea! For a better idea, next time you’re in Toys ‘r’ Us or any similar toyshop, have a look at the Pound Puppies, and you’ll see what I mean. Yet it’s not just the look of these cute dogs that I love so much.

Any dog I’ve ever had has always been affectionate – they’re not called man’s best friend for nothing! But there’s something about a puggle that seems to make them even more affectionate than the cuddliest dog. If I’ve had a rotten day at work and I want to come home and scream at the world, Reece (yeah, I know, not the greatest name, but I like it!) will come on over to me and rest his wrinkly little face on my lap. And when I look at him – well, I defy anyone not to melt when a puggle looks dolefully at you!

Even just the way Reece acts on an everyday basis – he probably doesn’t even realize he’s being funny, but that’s the beauty of puggles. Their noses are a little bit longer than the average dog and this can lead to some pretty funny moments. There have been times when I’ve been watching the television, and have almost collapsed laughing at the noises coming out of Reece as he sleeps. Remember the movie “Gremlins”, and the little noises that the main character Gizmo would make? This is exactly what a puggle can sound like at times.

One of the best things about puggles is that they’re such a conversation piece as well. Take a walk down the park, or on the beach, and people are will surround you dying to know about your little bundle of joy. And you thought it was just newborn babies that get all the love?! If you’re single and you want to attract a potential partner, trust me; buy a puggle!

There’s a whole ton of things I could say about Reece, or puggles in general. They’re adorable; they’re loving; they’re squishy. But when it comes down to it, nothing I could say would do these wonderful dogs justice. Reece has had babies with my Beagle, Daisy. Therefore, I guess you could consider me a part-time breeder. The love I had for adopting out my little baby puggles and the warm fuzzy feeling of finding them a home is priceless. If you are interested in puggles, the best thing to do is get in touch with a local breeder today and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Fight over empty refried beans can

2007-11-26T01:31:00.000-06:00

Lately, Reece has been getting into some trouble. He is such a good dog; however, sometimes he doesn’t use his head.  Here is how the story went down:
My puggle, Reece, was sniffing around and decided to get into the garbage in the kitchen. With an empty refried bean can he managed to pull out of the garbage, he darted for a place to hide, which ended up between my recliner and wall. Well, not using my head, I told my seven year old, Blaine, to grab it from him and put it back in the garbage. Well, Blaine said that he was growling at him, which is very unusual, so he didn’t want to grab it. Therefore, I decided to put my hand down their and grab it and boy way I wrong. Reece attacked my hand. I was so angry and him and so hurt that he would actually do this. But, then I got to thinking. He didn’t know it was my hand, because all he saw was a hand coming after it. That is my excuse anyways. The point of this story, never try to take food away from your puggle, even if you think that your dog wouldn’t ever do this!
Since this happened, my hand is better and Reece and I are getting a long again. You know, puggles are just like kids and they don’t use their heads before they react! I guess I should’ve thought about using my head to before I reacted on grabbing his can of empty refried beans from him. 

WARNING: BEWARE OF DOG FARMS

2007-11-10T02:46:00.000-06:00

I have very heartbreaking news, but in the end it was a blessing for my family and for my dog, Peanut. I bought Peanut, a puggle, back in June of this year. I drove ten hours to get her and couldn't wait to get her home. You probably have read about her in my e-book or on this blog. I had to make the decision to give the dog away. She was a sweety; yet, after trying and trying and trying, I couldn't get her trained at all and she was very timid. She was scared of my husband and he never once did anything to scare her. She wouldn't stop going in her kennel. I have four kids and four other dogs as well as when I have my litters and I was starting to feel really overwhelmed. Happily, I found her a home within my family. She is doing well, but still hates men and she is getting better one on one attention. I hope to be able to visit with her every now and then. Anyways, my plan is to get one later, after my eighteen month old daughter, turns two. My WARNING to all of you dog lovers-DO NOT BUY FROM A DOG FARM. I think this was my problem. Peanut came from a dog farm in the middle of nowhere land in Missouri. She lived with probably at least 200 other dogs and 100 cats. She was never raised to be loved and shown love. You could see it in her eyes. That is why she was so timid. The problem with purchasing dogs from a dog farm, is that they are used to going in their kennel and it is very hard to break that habit. Dog farms are horrible! These puppies just run around, eat, poop, and sleep. There is no human contact at all. That is why I believe in raising litters in the family home. They receive plenty of love and attention inside the home. PLEASE, I encourage you, if you haven't purchased a puggle yet, do not purchase one from a dog farm! The following article hits many of these points:

It is widely believed that any given breed of dog is born with a strong genetic predisposition to behaviorisms characteristic of that breed. Thus it should follow that the livestock herding and guarding dog breeds, of which the various sheepdogs and shepherds are good examples, must be born with an inherent tendency to guard or herd livestock. Also in the same vein it should also follow that gundogs must have a natural propensity to tolerate loud noises such as gun shots or rifle reports. However, as so often happens, things are not quite so simple!

The Critical Period

The critical period of socialization is that time when a certain set or patterns of genetically oriented behavior must be performed or presented to a developing animal (in this case a puppy) in order for such behavior to manifest in the animal when it is older. The inability to initiate such genetically programmed behavior during the critical period can result in the complete corruption of hereditary behavior characteristic to that particular species of animal. The critical period in dogs varies for the different dog breeds, but as a species in general, the critical period of socialization in dogs extends from 2 weeks to 16 weeks. After sixteen weeks if a puppy has not been properly socialized in the desired manner, that dog will not exhibit appropriate behavior in the future!

For example, in certain species of birds, unless the parents sing the specific birdsong for attracting a mate to the growing chicks within the critical period, those birds will never be able to attract a mate when older for the simple fact that they are unable to reproduce the necessary mating call (birdsong).

Imprinting

One of the more significant factors of the critical period of socialization is that known as imprinting. Imprinting is the process whereby a young animal gets to self-identify as a species; in other words imprinting is the process during the socialization period when the young animal gets to align itself with a particular species. Normally in most cases the species with which a young animal identifies usually happens to be the species to which the animal actually belongs. However rarely in the wild, cases do occur where an animal imprints on an entirely different species altogether and ultimately identifies with that species as being its own.

Cases of artificial or manipulated imprinting abound in domesticated animals, and one of the most celebrated cases of imprinting manipulation was that conducted by Austrian ethologist Konrad Zacharias Lorenz who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his efforts. Using graylag geese Konrad Lorenz definitively illustrated the significance of the primary period of socialization by getting graylag goslings to imprint on him as opposed to their mother. The result was that the goslings identified with Lorenz and not with geese which resulted in the rather novel situation whereby Lorenz was trailed by his flock of young goslings wherever he went.

Okay, you may be thinking what has some dude with a bunch of geese following him have to do with you and your pet dog? If you're thinking along such lines those are valid thoughts indeed, so let me illustrate some of the practical applications of imprinting manipulation conducted in dogs.

Imprinting Manipulation In Dogs

Over the span of many generations, shepherds have routinely manipulated the process of imprinting in their livestock guarding dogs. The shepherd introduces the future livestock guardian dog as a puppy to the appropriate target animal which for simplicity reasons in this case will be the sheep. At its most extreme, this imprinting manipulation may be stimulated by getting the puppies to suckle from a pregnant ewe. More routinely though, the dogs are removed as young puppies and reared with the sheep but not necessarily suckled by sheep.

Contact and socialization with people is kept to a minimum as is that with other dogs excepting those littermates that are destined for the same vocation. The dogs are fed in the presence of sheep, sleep with the sheep, socialize and communicate with the sheep and age permitting allowed to follow the sheep about during their grazing. By the time sixteen weeks are up that dog(s) will now identify with sheep as its primary social companions; not dogs…not people! In essence that dog will take appropriate protective measures to ensure that no harm befalls the sheep, even against human beings.

Problematic Dogs

Have you ever encountered a dog that just doesn't get on with other dogs, strangers or with any animal for that matter? Such a dog is that way because it was never properly socialized within the timeframe of the critical period of socialization. Before I continue along this thread however there's a point I wish to stress here. Because of years of selective breeding, certain dog breeds are naturally predisposed to exhibiting specific behavior and mannerisms that are hereditary in nature. Thus for example, the retriever breed of dogs will have a natural and inherent tendency to retrieve whether or not such behavior is encouraged during the critical period of socialization.

Certain breeds of dog are natural water lovers for the mere fact that over the years of selective breeding such a trait has been greatly magnified. Such dogs will, in appropriate circumstances, exhibit those inherited traits whether or not they were performed when the dog was still a puppy.

When I was a kid we had a Labrador mix dog that once trailed us to the campus swimming pool. One moment my siblings and I were happily splashing about in the pool with the other kids, next thing…we heard shouting and yelling and a right ole ruckus. We soon knew why. Our Labrador mix, named Nip, had followed us to the swimming pool and saw absolutely no reason why he shouldn't join us (his primary social companions) in the pool for a dip. Nip was about 7 months at the time and other than his bath times (which he detested) he had never been introduced to water nor had he ever shown any particular affiliation for it. Yet on that day, there he was doggy paddling towards us in the pool like a pro, as if for all the world that was what he had been destined to do!

The point I'm making here is that certain traits in certain breeds of dog cannot be totally switched off for the fact they have been exaggerated through selective breeding over the span of multiple generations and in appropriate conditions those traits will manifest!

Take the case of the so-called dangerous dog breeds, of which perhaps the Pitbull and the Rottweiler spring foremost to mind. There is an element of truth warranting the dangerous-dog moniker for these dogs for the simple reason that some unethical dog breeders have selectively bred their dogs for the aggressive trait. Why? So their dogs may be more vicious and efficient fighters in the dog pit! Like the case of my dog Nip, in certain circumstances those inherited aggressive traits may one day manifest seemingly out of nowhere.

Why You Should Socialize Your Dog Early On

Whether or not your dog is going to be an apartment dweller or an animal living on a farm, it is important to socialize your dog within the critical period. This is especially true for apartment dwelling dogs that live in the city because they are routinely going to rub shoulders with other dogs, other animals as well as people. Obviously if you wish to avoid having to pay out hefty fees and penalties (and perhaps seeing your dog be put down) because your anti-social pet keeps attacking other pets and people, then it is of vital importance to take the appropriate measures to see that your dog is properly and timely socialized.

If your dog is to co-exist with other animals in the household such as a cat, then for purposes of a harmonious coexistence, that dog as a puppy, should be introduced early on to the other animal whereby it will regard that animal as a social companion and not as prey or foe. Early socialization of one's dog has both subtle and in-your-face manifestations. The subtle manifestations could be the difference between a confident and outward-going dog to one that is shy and unusually submissive. I've already discussed some of the overt (in-your-face) manifestations of socialization which include identification of social companions and getting along with others.

Many dog breeders have also noticed that early handling and petting of very young puppies appears to boost the confidence and friendliness level of the animal when it matures into an adult dog.

Dog Breeds

Kayye Nynne is the webmaster of http://www.dog-breeds-spot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Kiwanuka

Update on Baby Puggle "Duke"

2007-11-10T00:28:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to update you with how one of the puggles is doing at their newfound home! His name is Duke and he is soooo cute! This dog or "baby" is considered a second generation puggle. His family says he is doing really well and is getting really big. He weighs 14 pounds now. He is having fun running around the beach and loves the water. He is Reece and Daisy's baby boy and out of all dogs that I have ever seen, he is one of the cutest! Take a look at his pics...

Calling All Puggle Owners

2007-11-02T13:46:00.000-05:00

I would love to start seeing pictures on this blog of other puggle owners. Here is a more recent one of Reece. He and the other dogs have chewed my recliner arms to pieces as you can see in the picture. Also, if you have a story to tell, I will post it on my blog. Thanks :)

Kennel Cough

2007-11-02T13:30:00.001-05:00

I have to tell you my frustrating story that took place with my puggle, Reece, and my beagle, Daisy. I let them outside to go to the bathroom and we have a nice big privacy fence so I thought they would be ok. They always were before. However, this time was QUITE different!

I went outside and both of my dogs were gone. I kept yelling for them, but they were gone. Needless to say that I was home with my 18 month old and didn't know how I was going to go outside and find them quickly with her up and running around. I decided the best way for me to go find them would be by driving in the van. I looked everywhere for my dogs as my heart sunk, my luck sunk even more. My husband drove around when he got off of work and neither of us could find them. Unfortunately, we live off of a small dead end road, which is usually good with kids; however, in this case, at the dead end, there is a few little holes in the fence for dogs to get through and run right into the highway. :(

I was hoping that maybe the next morning I would wake up and they would be waiting at the front step, but when I opened the door that morning-nothing. I was so grief strucken that I had lost my babies. My husband said to call the pound and see if they were taken there, so I did. I was happy to hear that they were there. A miracle had been performed and God had blessed us that day!

A man driving down the highway in a semi-truck picked them up off of the busy highway and took them down to the pound. He told the pound that he figured they were someones pets because they were traveling together. Whew! We had to pay $300 to get them back, but I would of paid anything! They are just like our children, even though we have four of those as well, and money just doesn't count when it is something like this that happens.

Anyways, all of my dogs ended up with kennel cough, and actually my two shitzuhs are still trying to get over theirs. I was really worried what kennel cough would do to them and to us, but found out it actually isn't nothing more then a cold. The following is a good article on what kennel cough is and how to cure it. Enjoy! I hope you don't ever have to deal with it actually, because it can get quite annoying hearing your dogs hack all day long, especially when you have more then one hacking. :)

Does your dog make hacking sounds that make it seem like something is caught in his or her throat? This may mean that your dog is suffering from kennel cough. Kennel cough is actually an inflammation of the upper respiratory system of your dog and is similar to a human's chest cold.

It is actually the umbrella term used for all types of dog cough that is caused by complex infections, some of which are canine distemper or Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Just like with humans, kennel cough has the potential to be contagious if the dog's immune system is weak or weakened by certain stimuli. There are certain stressors that inhibit or reduce your dog's ability to fight viral or bacterial infections that cause kennel cough. Avoiding these situations will save your dog from succumbing to the plight that kennel cough brings.

Some of the things that need to be avoided to ensure the continued health of your dog are shipping and crowding stress, exposure to heavy dust or cigarette smoke, and of course, exposure to bacterial and viral sources.

Usually, your dog's immune system can resist alien objects from forming infections in his or her respiratory tract. Unfortunately, the occurrence of kennel cough is brought about when the stressors mentioned above result in your dog's resistance to bacteria and viral infections being greatly threatened and diminished.

Your dog's way of naturally ridding his respiratory tract of bacteria and infections is through the tiny hairs that are connected to the tissues found along his or her respiratory tract. These tiny hairs are coated in mucus, which trap alien particles that get in through your dog's normal respiration.

Aside from preventing bacteria and viral infections to reach the tissue along the dog's respiratory tract, these tiny hairs called cilia are constantly undulating, which in turn causes alien particles to be expelled normally through the mouth or swallowed and digested by your dog. However, during instances when your dog's immune system is stressed and unable to function properly, or when your dog comes in contact with certain types of bacteria, like the Bordetella bronchiseptica, he then will succumb to kennel cough.

To prevent your dog from having kennel cough, you should make sure that his vaccinations are current, especially when certain stressors cannot be avoided. Actually, even if you do not foresee your dog being subjected to stressors that will make him susceptible to kennel cough, you should update his vaccinations anyway; especially his vaccination for Bordetella bronchiseptica, because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, even for your dog.

The best type of vaccination against kennel cough would be an intranasal administered vaccine. The more common type of vaccine is dispensed through an injection. However, the intranasal type of vaccine is better because if prevents bacterial and viral infections for a year, while the injectable type cannot prevent infections but in the event of one, it will work to lessen the gravity of its effect.

Remember that if your dog already has kennel cough that is caused by any virus or bacteria, you cannot use a vaccine to treat his ailment. You can only use vaccines for prevention. To treat and cure kennel cough, you can visit your veterinary doctor and ask him to prescribe certain antibiotics that are meant to treat whatever bacteria or viral infection that has caused your dog to have kennel cough. If needed, you can also ask your vet about cough suppressants to help alleviate your dog's suffering which can be taken in tandem with the antibiotics.

Visit these web sites for more information about kennel cough and http://bestpetsupplyresource.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Morgan

Mixed Breeds and Health Concerns

2007-11-02T13:16:00.001-05:00

It is interesting that many websites and resources well encourage dog lovers to purchase only hybrid dogs or "pure breds", because they are healthier then mixed breeds; however, science has proven that, in fact, mixed breeds are healthier then pure breeds. Puggles are much more healthier then pugs. Just look at the nose, muzzle, and eyes, and that will explain it all to you. But, for more information on to why puggles are healthier, read the following article. I found it interesting! :)
Enjoy!

What in the world is a puggle?

One fine day a pug was off gallivanting around when he came across a spirited little beagle, their eyes met and well.... the rest is history!

Puggles are part of a new trend of “designer dogs”- like the schnoodle and the cockabiche. They are popping up in more places and are receiving more press, at the moment, than purebreds and are commanding prices that rival and even exceed the prices of their full-blooded compatriots. Fortunately, I purchased my puggle before their popularity soared.

I originally wanted to buy a pug, but there were none available at the time, though a litter of puggles was. The pups were advertised at $250 each, less than 1/3 the price of a pug. That still seemed expensive to me, for what was essentially a mutt, or so I thought.

A little background on the 2 breeds; Beagles are high-strung but also very sporty, while pugs are not very athletic, but have a calm, relaxing demeanor -- not yippy, overexcited, or insecure. Puggles do not generally howl like beagles and do not have the breathing problems that are often associated with the pug. Mix the 2 together and you have the best attributes of both.

I was curious so I went and visited them. They, of course, were very cute and charming. Since I couldn't find a pug and really wanted a dog, I went ahead and purchased one, a cute little female... What a great decision that was! :)

A puggle combines the strong physical attributes of the beagle with the even, mellow temperament of the pug, making for a calm small dog-- how rare is that?

They have the wrinkled face of a pug while having the longer legs of a beagle. Puggles usually get to be 15-20lbs. as adults, are 12-15" high at the shoulder, are tan or brown with a black muzzle; earning them the well-deserved nickname of "miniature mastiffs".

Purebred dog breeders naturally have problems with these crossbreeds as many have spent a great deal of time and money perfecting the bloodlines of their breed and don’t like the attention these “mutts” are receiving. There is a widely held notion that these “mutts” are actually healthier than purebreds, which I have always believed. A cross between 2 breeds of any dog should eliminate genetic problems that may exist in either breed because 90% of genetic problems are recessive, meaning both parents must carry the abnormal gene.

If you want a better chance of having health problems with your dog then buy a purebred! If you want a pet that is unique and healthy then buy a puggle, or go to the local shelter and adopt!

Sara writes articles for Schmeg.com

Puggle Pie :)

2007-11-02T13:09:00.000-05:00

You may be asking yourselves, what in the world is Puggle Pie. Well, until today, I never heard of it either. Sounds quite gross actually! However, there was such a thing, and the following article will tell you all about it. Enjoy!

HISTORY OF THE PUGGLE

The Puggle is not a hybrid dog. It is not a baby Echidna or a baby Platypus which are both monotremes from Australia.

1970's
The Puggle character has been around since the mid 1970's. It is a toy character from The Lost Forests. Puggle is a registered trademark owned by The Lost Forests group in Australia. www.thelostforests.com.au

DOGS
Puggles are a relatively new type of hybrid dog breed; the first puggles ever bred were in 2000 by a breeder named Wallace Havens, owner and operator of Puppy Haven Kennels in Kingston, Wisconsin. The puggle is not purebred; it is a cross of a purebred Beagle mother and a purebred Pug father. The hybrid puggle is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid club.

BABY PLATYPUS AND ECHIDNA
Information from the Australian Platypus Conservatory about the Puggle Dr Shaw, in his scientific description of 1799, gave the name Platypus anatinus, from Greek and Latin words meaning "flat-footed, duck-like". However, when it became known that Platypus had already been used to name a group of beetles, a new term had to be adopted. The official scientific name became and remains Ornithorhynchus anatinus, with the first word meaning "bird-like snout".

Although the name "duckbill" was widely used as a popular description for the animal, the abandoned scientific name "platypus" gradually became the accepted common name for the species.

The preferred plural of platypus is either "platypus" or "platypuses", depending on which dictionary you consult. (We use the former for the sake of simplicity.) The term "platypi" is no longer considered to be valid.

There is no accepted term - equivalent to pup or cub - to describe a baby platypus. One possible name recently suggested is a "platypup".

In recent years, the inappropriate word "puggles" for baby platypus has been commonly used. This term was applied to baby echidnas some years ago because of their resemblance to Puggles, an American soft-toy character. (It is understood that the toy company concerned may have considered legal action to protect its registered trade-mark in relation to unauthorised usage). For some reason, this name is now being applied to baby platypus. This is both ill-informed (baby platypus and echidnas don't look very much alike, once they get past the initial post-hatching "jelly-bean" stage, and so baby platypus don't much resemble Puggles) and possibly illegal. www.thelostforests.com.au

ABORIGINE LEGEND
According to Aboriginal legend, the first platypus was born after a young female duck mated with a lonely and persuasive water-rat. The duck’s offspring had their mother’s bill and webbed feet and their father’s four legs and handsome brown fur.

The real (true) story of the Puggle from The Lost Forests

Once upon a time there were four million, three thousand, two hundred and one … Puggles, but now there are only a few bagfuls left, just like this one. Puggles lived in the Australian bush under the ground in tunnels. They came out of their holes at night to feed on their favourite tucker, split peas! All night long they would Puggle up every pea they could find, and as daylight approached, it would “dawn” on them that they had to get back home.

Waiting for them at their front doors would be the local people, (which is why they were called “early settlers”). Of course the Puggles had stuffed themselves so full of split peas that they couldn’t get down their holes and became stuck with their bottoms at the top, making them easy prey for the people who just loved Puggle pie.

So that is why, last thing at night, tie it up tightly and don’t let it out until the morning. This way the Puggles will not become extinct and maybe one day there will be as many Puggles as before …

Now wouldn’t that be an eye Puggling sight! If you would like more information on the Puggle then visit http://www.thelostforests.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Mc_Donnell

Puggle Hugs-Mini Ebook

2007-09-05T01:53:00.000-05:00

Sorry, I haven't wrote for a while, but I have been really busy preparing this mini e-book on puggles. All of my puggle puppies are gone right now and so I thought it would be a good time to write about them. My other two puggles are doing really well-getting into everything. We should have another litter in a few months. If you would like to purchase this e-book as a downloadable file, click on the buy now button on the right hand side under the Puggle Hugs E-Book. :) Enjoy. Hope all of your puggles are doing well. Let me know!

Sad Note/Good Note :) Dog Training

2007-07-30T01:47:00.000-05:00

Today, I say goodbye to my first baby puggle, Daisy. She has left our home to go to a new home. I was so happy to see the family's children's smiles and how excited they were to get to finally have their new baby home. I wish this family the best of luck with Daisy. She will be missed. On a good note, I have found a website that really seems very useful for us dog owners. Dogs must be trained as young as possible, with the earliest being around 6 weeks of age. However, due to the many age ranges of dogs when they are adopted into a new family, this is not always possible. Therefore, please keep in mind a dog can learn to be trained, but it may take more time is all. With that being said, there are many tricks that can be used in order to get your dog to behave and become trained. While some tricks may work with others, that doesn’t necessarily mean that that same trick will work with yours. It all underlies in the way in which the dogs are being trained. Some owners do not have the patience to train their dogs and just expect that if the owner says sit to the dog once or twice, then the dog should catch on. This is absolutely no way to train a dog.

The first thing in which an owner must do is get their dogs attention. If the dog has no idea that you are trying to command something to them, then they will definitely not listen. Get their attention by calling their name.

The second thing in which an owner must do is understand what commands they want to teach their dog. Think of commands that will help simplify your life. For instance, go potty, cage up, sit, quiet, be still, and others that you may want to implement. Once these commands are identified, and then the owner can start getting their dogs attention and making commands. However, only train the dog one command at a time, having too many commands will confuse the dog.

The third thing in which an owner must do is to constantly stay consistent. You can’t teach your dog a new trick if you do not be consistent with your training of commands.

If you follow all of these three tips, you will for sure be on the right track to training your dog to behave! Then, once your dog behaves, you will have more time to focus on other things in your life that don’t require much commanding and time. For more great information, visit this great dog training review site at http://taychr.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training/

A good article to review:

2007-07-28T10:35:00.000-05:00

One of the most common questions regarding Puggles is “Where can I get a miniature or Pocket Puggle?” The Answer is that there is no such thing as a Pocket Puggle. I have decided to write this article to tackle the questions surrounding the size of a Puggle. My hope is this article will prevent future Puggle owners from being misled by Breeders or Pet Shops who are claiming to sell Pocket Puggles.
The Basics: There are two different breeds involved in the creation of a Puggle (Pug & Beagle). Because the Beagle is the larger of the two breeds, it is generally used as the female in this crossbreed.
The Pug: The height of the average male Pug is 12-14 inches. Females are slightly smaller at 10-12 inches. The average weight for the Pug is 13 – 20lbs.
The Beagle: There are two standard sizes for the Beagle.
13 inches – Beagles in this class should be less than 13 inches 15 inches – Beagles in this class should be between 13 – 15 inches The average weight ranges from 20 – 25lbs.
Conclusion: Now that we have scene the two gene pools that will be used to create a Puggle we will look at what possibilities the Puggle has for height, weight, health, and temperament. The main health issue scene in Pugs is breathing issues caused by their short muzzle. This problem is generally offset to a great extent in the Puggle, due to the longer muzzle of the beagle. Beagles can be prone to heart dieses, epilepsy, and eye and back problems which are also found less often in Puggles due to the expanded gene pool. They both have a generous lifespan of 12-15 years, both are energetic, sturdy little dogs that have minimal shedding and make great family pets. The minimum height and weight of a Puggle that has been properly is 12 inches and 18lbs. Any smaller than this and you are looking at major health problems and poor breeding practices. The maximum size a Puggle should reach is around 15inches and 30lbs.
I hope this article has shed light on the fact that it is physically impossible to create a healthy Puggle that can be classified as a “Pocket” dog.
Shawn Puggle Mania Onlinehttp://www.pugglemaniaonline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Clark

A few more pics

2007-07-20T23:02:00.000-05:00

A few more pictures that I would like to share of the baby puggles. Only a few weeks left and they are going to their new found homes. They have grown so big in just the last week. They are hopping around, chewing on things such as towels, and acknowledging humans. This is a really good sign that they will be able to adapt to their new parents and families. They are having lots of fun and my children and I have shown them lots of love. We hope that the families will send pictures that can be posted and updated on this blog. I am already wanting my next litter. Finding the puppies great homes has been really a wonderful and warm fuzzy type of feeling and a lot of fun!

Puggles first meal cont..

2007-07-20T22:58:00.001-05:00

Puggles first meal

2007-07-20T22:55:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share these pictures with you all. These are pictures of the puggles eating their first meal. They dove right into it. They have now been on puppy food for a week. :)

2007-07-17T01:57:00.002-05:00

Welcome Puggle Lovers and Snugglers!

2007-07-17T00:28:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Puggle Hugs blog. Where every puggle needs a hug. I am glad you could come visit. My name is Christy Taylor and I am a breeder and also a mother of two of my own very adorable puggles. I have created this blog so that other puggle mothers (and fathers) could share with one another the wonderful and exciting journeys with our puggles. Everyday is a new experience with my puggles and I am sure you all have some crazy and unique stories about your very own puggles. I look forward to our journey together and hopefully we can share some insight with one another on puggles as well as maybe make a few lasting friendships. I plan to update this often and hope that you will continue to come back and visit. Until then....