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RSSPuggle love: Mixed-breed dog snuggles up to growing popularity
Herald & Review/Lisa Morrison
Jan Chaney lost her dog last year and wasn't sure she was going to get another. After looking several places, her children got her an early Christmas present Puggles named Sam.
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DECATUR - The new designer pug-beagle mix, called a "puggle," is at the top of the doggy list this year.
The top reason:They are so darn cute.
Actors Sylvester Stallone, of Rocky fame, and James Gandolfini, who portrays mob boss in the HBO television show "The Sopranos," recently purchased their own puggles to snuggle.
Jan Chaney of Decatur, finally has one, a male puggle puppy named Sam - an early Christmas present from her children.
"I didn't even know what a pug was, but they are very affectionate, and he's just a big baby," she said of Sam.
The almost four-month old puppy is already spoiled. When he is taken outside to do his business and comes back inside the house, he waits until his little paws are wiped off, said Chaney's husband, Bill.
Puggles, with their tan, brown or black smooth coat, deep-wrinkled forehead and droopy ears, are slowly showing up in Macon County. These mixed-breed dogs are more popular in Chicago and on the East Coast and have sold for as much $1,500 each.
Lynn Brinkman of Decatur didn't pay nearly that much for his 11-week-old female puggle, Abby.
He heard about the puggles from his sister who lives in St. Louis and also went online to www.puggle.org.
"I didn't intend to get a dog, but I wanted to see what the puggles were like," Brinkman said. "I like her demeanor and she is a lap dog."
"These dogs (puggles) are friendly, outgoing and a pretty good mixed breed of dog to have," said Becky Reardon, veterinarian at Northgate Pet Clinic.
She said pugs usually have a breathing problem called brachycephalic because of their pushed in nose and short face. Mixing the pug and beagle has helped to stretch out their nose and alleviated some of those breathing problems.
Dawn Ryan, general manager at Petco, cautions that getting a puppy or kitten as a Christmas present for someone is not always a good idea.
Instead, she suggests purchasing a pet Christmas gift or gift card. Some popular gifts include a laser toy that shines a light animals like to follow, an automatic water fountain that circulates water back into your pet's bowl, heated pet beds, boots and sweaters to keep your pet warm this winter or for dogs, a 3-foot-long rawhide candy cane.
Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@herald-review.com or 421-7963.
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