The Peagle Hound or, short version, Peagle is the breed obtained through the cross of a Pekingese and Beagle breeds. There are chances that the Peagle reunites the best characteristics of both parents. These dogs are not very popular nowadays, but they are excellent choices for people in search of clever, sociable dogs. On the overall, Peagles qualify as good family dogs especially that they get along very well with other pets and children.
These dogs do quite well in almost any climate and they are smart, playful, sociable, confident, and very affectionate dogs. They are also quite curious. All these qualities are one more reason to ensure a proper training for the Peagles, as this will make them be the best dogs they can be and have a well–balanced temperament.
The most important qualities of an owner during the training of these dogs are consistency and leadership. Provided the trainer has these, along with patience, the Peagles will be excellent during the training sessions. Peagles only require a moderate level of daily exercise, such as walks in parks or some time spent in an open area should do the trick.
The usual life expectancy of Peagles is around fourteen years, but this figure can vary from one dog to another, depending on a number of reasons, just like in humans’ case. The lifestyle and the level of care they receive are the most important for how long a dog will live, as well as the genetic background – how healthy the dog is and how healthy were the parents. A proper care may increase the life expectancy of dogs, while neglecting them can shorten it.
Quick – Pros & Cons
There are countless dogs available for adoption or purchase and sometimes even some of the best breeds remain in the shadow. One of those breeds is the Peagle and it’s easily among the best family dogs around. They’re not guard dogs but they are very alert and very entertaining to have around.
The fact that they’re a crossbreed allows them to have the funny self-importance of one parent, and the love for mischief from the other. You will never be bored with one of these dogs around. And the best thing about them is that they do very well in apartments that offer them a little bit of space to run around and play.
Peagles are known to be quite intelligent, sweet, great with children, good with other pets, alert, and very entertaining. But you should keep in mind that getting one is a gamble as it can end up looking and acting like any of the parents. When it’s small it might look like one parent, and when it grows big you will notice how it transforms in the other parent.
No matter how sweet it is, remember to keep allergic kids far away from the dog as it’s in no way, shape, or form hypoallergenic. In fact, it can shed a lot and it can require quite a bit of daily brushing dedication.
Pros:
Lovely
Intelligent
Easy to train
Great with children
Can be kept in an apartment
Cons:
Sheds a lot
While it can be alert, it won’t jump to defend you.
Temperament
As with any hybrid dog, Peagles too can reunite the best characteristics from their parents. Very adaptable to almost any climate, Peagles are not quite the most popular breed. They are sociable creatures, very confident and enjoy very much to have fun, but they are also very clever. This combination of positive traits makes these hybrids good choices for most types of owners.
With appropriate care, they can be excellent in their relationships with other pets and children, making Peagles good candidates for very good family dogs. Their temperament is also accompanied by affection and curiosity, which boasts, even more, their already preference for fun and playing, being very active despite their size.
It is important for most dogs to receive early socialization and proper training and Peagles are no exception to this rule. It is important to be trained by a firm and consistent hand, in order to ensure a positive development of the behavior later on.
Socialization at early ages is a positive thing, as meeting new people and dogs helps the Peagles to get used to other presences than their masters’ and build up a good temper. It’s always opportune to take these dogs along when going for runs or walks in the parks, as they will familiarize themselves with other people, pets, and places.
Is it good with children?
Even if Peagles can do quite well with children, they should be protected from interactions with very small kids, mainly due to their reduced sizes. Their fragility can be a disadvantage in their relationships with children, as some of them are not fully aware of how is best to handle such a dog and may unintentionally hurt them. It’s important for adults to always supervise this type of interaction in order to prevent unwanted events.
You will have to always be present when they are playing and avoid leaving them together without supervision even for a second. These dogs are too fragile to support any kind of unintentional abuse from small children and they might retaliate trying to escape. Lots of training for the dog and teaching for the children will result in them becoming best friends once they know how to treat one another.
If you have older children, a Peagel is the best addition to the family. They will tire each other all day long and you won’t have to worry much about the dog getting its exercise. Peagles can be very gentle and lovely with children as long as they are treated right.
Behavior towards strangers
If you’re looking for a guard dog that can jump at your defense, the Peagle is not the best choice. They are very alert and will let you know the moment someone steps towards your house. But don’t expect them to jump to defend you or your child in case someone breaks into your home. If you’re getting a dog to feel safer, you should look for a much bigger and more protective one.
With the proper social training, these dogs will quickly become social butterflies, which means they will quickly be friends with anyone. This can be very helpful when you have family and friends over. A Peagle will immediately start inspecting the guests to see who they are and if they have any treats to offer.
How it does with other pets/dogs
You will need to be extra careful when you’re introducing this dog to another pet, especially if it’s not another dog. They have the hunting instinct of the Beagle, which means they will see the smaller animals as prey and attempt to hunt them down. This can easily turn into s disaster if they’re left unsupervised even for a few minutes.
It’s important to train your Peagle and teach it that other pets are not for hunting, especially if you already have another pet. If you plan on getting a new animal after the Peagle, you can train him by introducing him to other animals in the park (with the other owner’s accord).
Aggressiveness of a Pekingese and Beagle Mix
It’s very rare to find an aggressive Peagle, but everything is possible, especially if the dog was mistreated before getting to you. This means you will have to work a bit harder to win its trust and encourage it to become its natural sweet self. Don’t leave the dog alone with the kids (even if they’re older) if you know the Peagle was mistreated in the past. It could react very badly to small accidents, like pulling its hair without realizing it.
Other than that, aggressiveness is not found in Peagles and they’re actually some of the sweetest dogs in the world. And if you ever have to deal with a very aggressive dog, you can get help from a professional trainer that will advise on what you can do to make it less aggressive.
Does it bark a lot?
Peagles are not known as heavy barkers but you will definitely hear the occasional bark from the balcony when it sees another dog or street animal. If your neighbor has a dog as well, they might bark at each other from time to time through the fence. And if you live in an apartment, it’s best to make sure the place is not made of paper-thin walls and that your neighbors won’t be bothered by the barks.
Even if someone is at the door, a Peagle will bark for a while but then it will give up and get back to playing. You can always start training to teach the Peagle that is not OK to bark at night and at other specific times. A good trainer should be able to help you out.
Appearance and Grooming
Getting a Peagle is a bit of a gamble when it comes to looks. You never know which one of the parents it might end up looking like. Some of them even look like one parent when they’re pups but they completely change into the other parent when they start to grow. If you want the Peagle to look a very specific way, you should contact a very good breeder and you might have to take the dog when it’s a little bit older.
The way the Peagle will look like an adult will have a very big impact on how easy or hard the dog will be to groom. The Pekingese parent has lots and lots of hair that can be found all over the house, while the Beagle parent has a very short coat. If you’re not keen on finding hair on clothes and you don’t want to always invest in lint rollers, a Peagle might not be the best choice for you.
How big does it get?
Peagles are small–sized dogs and they usually weigh up to 7 kilos and grow up to 40 centimeters tall. Most Peagles have weights that can reach between 5 to 8 kilos and they can be as tall as 40 centimeters, but their heights can start at around 15 centimeters. The genetic information plays a key role in how tall or heavy these dogs can grow, therefore the dimensions of the parents are extremely relevant.
While it’s very rare, you can get Peagles bigger than this but your first thought should be overweight problems if your dog is getting bigger. Take it to the vet to make sure your pet is getting bigger and not fatter.
What does a Peagle look like?
These small dogs have a lovely appearance, qualifying as the charmer types. Their facial expression almost indicates that they are constantly smiling. Their heads are somewhat rounded, with floppy ears and well–set, dark eyes. Because their eyes can be excessively teary, it is important to regularly wipe them underneath the eyes, so those are don’t stain in time, even if the teary eyes are not the sign of any medical issues.
If you fail to do this for some time, your Peagle will get the Beagle’s typical “eye bags” as the coat below their eyes will stain easily. This can be fixed by a vet or a dog grooming place. Their paws can also be bigger or smaller, depending on which parent they take after.
Appearance and color
The colors may also take after one parent or the other and this is normal for any hybrid dog breed, where genetic information which is passed from parents to puppies cannot be fully controlled or guessed. Peagles can have a coat that’s brown, black, with black and white spots, etc. The possibilities are almost endless as both parents come in various colors.
They’re very sweet, which means they will always have a very lovely and friendly appearance no matter what color their coat is. This is because of their big and innocent-looking eyes that make them seem like they can do no wrong in this world. But the owners know better as both the big eyes and mischievous personality are from the Beagle parent.
Type of coat
They can resemble more to one parent or the other, sometimes inheriting longer, softer coats from the Pekingese parent’s side and sometimes they display shorter coats, just like the Beagles. If you’re unlucky enough to have a Peagle with a Pekingese coat, you will have a lot of grooming to do. The coat can be very long, soft, and with various layers. This makes the dog a lot more resistant to cold temperatures.
On the other hand, the Beagle’s coat is very short and it’s easier to groom. But they also shed a lot and are better suited for hotter areas. Regardless if it’s short or long, the coat is always very silky and beautiful. You can ask the breeder to let you see the puppy before you’re purchasing it and you might be able to figure out what type of coat it will have. But remember, it can be a gamble sometimes.
How easy it is to groom?
If the Peagle has the long coat of the Pekingese, you will need a few brushes and a special place in the house for grooming. One brush needs to deal with all the entangled hairs and another should help you remove all the dead hairs. This process needs to be a daily routine that can take anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes. It will play a big role in reducing the amount of hair you find around the house.
On the other hand, if the Peagle has the coat of the Beagle parent, you only need a good brush and you can be done within a few minutes. You will still have to deal with their shedding every single day, but it won’t take long at all. This will also help reduce those pesky little hairs that you somehow overlook and you only notice they’re on your clothes on your way to work.
Care Guide – Diet, Exercise & Health Issues
You should keep in mind that a Peagle has above-average tendencies to get fat. This means you need to supervise each meal and always keep track of how much the pet is eating. If it gets treats during the day, subtract that quantity from the usual daily portion.
The great part about these dogs is that there isn’t a need for lots of exercise as they’re quite small and don’t have an extreme amount of energy. A 15-minute walk is more than enough every time you take it out. But when it comes to their health, you should keep in mind that they’re from two different breeds that are known to have a wide range of health issues.
Diet Tips: What does it eat?
These dogs are small so you should be able to offer them high-end quality food. And they typically eat around a 1/2 cup of food each day, plus or minus a few treats. Every dog will need its diet changed as it gets older. So you should expect to get one type of food for pups, one for adults, and one for seniors. These foods are specifically designed for dogs of different ages and with different nutritional requirements.
While they’re young, Peagles should be fed good food that’s made for dogs with medium energy. As they get older, they should get food made for dogs with very low energy and more sensitive teeth. The best way to make sure your dog gets all the food it needs is by talking to your vet about what diet fits your dog each year.
Exercise Requirements: Keeping the dog in shape
A few walks in the park each day is everything this dog needs. You don’t have to run and the walk doesn’t need to last more than 15 minutes. And while they live great in apartments, they thrive in homes that have a small yard as well. But a bit of space in the apartment will be just as helpful. All you need to get is a few chewing toys and something you can both play with. It’s a great bonding time, which means you should always spend a few minutes playing with your Peagle each day.
As we mentioned before, those dogs are very smart as well. This means they will need to stimulate their brain and will benefit a lot from toys that make them put their brain to work. There are lots of options on the market and they’re typically quite affordable.
Common Health Issues for a Peagle
The Pekingese and the Beagle are both prone to a few health problems that breeders just can’t get rid of. This means you should get used to annual vet visits and lots of tests. You will always need to know how your dog is each year. Some diseases are hidden and can’t be found in time unless your vet is specifically looking for them.
Some of the major health concerns you need to look out for are Patellar Luxations, BAOS, Eye problems, Cleft Palete, Cryptorchidism, Hydrocephalus, Heart Problems, Intervertebral Disk Disease, Epilepsy, and Hypothyroidism. You should also keep an eye for Hip Dysplasia, Beagle Dwarfinism, CBS, and Fold Dermatitis. And don’t forget Bloating as it’s something any dog can suffer from when they eat too fast and it can be prevented with the help of a slow eater.
You should take your Peagle to the vet and take various blood tests each year. It’s also important to ask for a radiography, urine test, dental checkup, etc.
Training a Peagle
It’s not hard to train Peagles, but training a dog is always a responsibility that needs to be dealt with responsibly. Consistency and patience are very important when training dogs of this breed, as their intelligence facilitates the rest of the process. Make sure the dog understands who the leader really is, but do it in a gentle, but firm way.
If training is unsuccessful, you should contact a professional trainer around you. Any good dog trainer should be able to easily help you out and get the dog under control in a very short amount of time. You will need lots of patience but they’re smart cookies, which means you won’t have to spend a very long time training them.
Obedience Training
Obedience training needs to start as soon as your dog gets comfortable at its new home. Any dog will challenge your patience if it’s not sure who the boss is in the house. This is why showing authority from time to time is very important, especially when they misbehave. While it’s preferred to do the obedience training on your own so the pet can be clear on who’s the alpha, you can always get help from a professional.
Training a dog comes with a lot of responsibility as harsh methods can have the exact opposite effect you want it to have. Anger is never the answer and it can actually make the dog think you’re trying to harm it and it will retaliate in self-defense. Starving is another extremely bad method some dog owners attempt and it’s very harmful as well.
Socialization
Socialization is one of the most important training a dog needs to get through if they’re taken to dog parks or you live in an apartment. If any stranger can get in contact with your dog, you should make sure the dog won’t hurt anyone. This can be done by introducing the puppy to lots of new animals and people at the dog park. And if you typically have friends over all the time, it’s even better.
A socialized dog will also need to learn that jumping on strangers that want to be left alone is not acceptable. This can lead to the dog getting kicked by the stranger or worse if you’re not around, even if it only wants to play. More than that, the dog can retaliate and hurt the stranger as well. An untrained dog should never be far from you when you’re in public.
Exercise requirements
Peagles are very adaptable to living in apartments and it can be said that this is the ideal environment for them, especially if they do have just a little space where they can run and play. They need to have a certain level of physical exercise in order to keep fit, even if they are a small–sized cross breed. All dogs are different and you might even get a very active Peagle.
It’s also important to pay attention to their brain stimulation needs. They’re very smart, which means you should make sure they’re keeping their brains active as well. Otherwise, they can get quite destructive or depressed. You can find toys that help them train their brains in any petshop and online store. There are also lots of DIY videos on the internet.
Breeding & Puppies
A litter of Peagles is usually around 8 puppies and they can look very different from each other. It’s very important for the parents to be as healthy as possible and you need to check the breeder before deciding to buy. Ask as many questions as possible and answer everything as well. Any breeder looking for lots of information on whether you can take care of the puppy or not is a good breeder.
The puppies will need regular vet checkups. At first, it’s best to get the vet home so the transportation won’t bother the litter of newborns. Then they will need weekly checkups until they’re ready to be adopted. You will also have to invest in lots of tests to ensure they are 100% healthy.
Finding a Beagle and Pekingese Mix – Kennels & Pedigree
These dogs are not popular, which means there’s a very low chance you’ll find one in a shelter. You should find a good breeder instead. The Peagle mix is also not accepted by the American Kennel Club as they’re not a pure breed. Some other clubs accept them but very few.
A Pagle is a 50-50 mix between a Pekingese and a Beagle, and only the first generation is accepted by some kennels. It’s not recommended to breed Peagles between each other as some health issues persist and even get worse.
How much does a mixed Peagle cost?
You should expect to pay between $400 and $1000 on a single puppy. The annual medical expenses would probably range from $400 to $550. And the non-medical expenses each year can reach between $550 and $650.
If you find cheaper puppies, you might want to double-check the breeder as they might not be Peagles at all. You should be extra careful when getting your puppy from a new breeder as well. It’s best to always get your puppies from people with experience.
History & Origins of the mixed breed
The Pekingese is actually an ancient Chinese breed that was brought to England in 1860 during the Opium war. On the other hand, the Beagle’s history is a bit blurry but they appeared around the 1800s as well. The Peagle is a direct mix of these two pure breeds but their history is unknown, which is very common with designer dogs.
Designer dogs became a thing in the 1990 in North America and now it’s a very serious business that provides crosses between various pure breeds. This is why the dogs can be quite expensive and some of them can get very sick when they’re old as there’s not much known about them.
Conclusion
Peagles are some of the best dogs to have as companions and family dogs. They’re active but not extremely active, they’re alert but they’re not aggressive, more than that, they are very intelligent as well, This makes them a good match for small families or single people that live in apartments. They can adapt to both an apartment and a house life.