The pugapoo is a cross between two different dog breeds: the pug and the poodle. The appearance can vary widely based on what traits it inherits from each parent, but in general, most individuals have a moderately sized snout, droopy ear, and a slim physique. The coat of fur, which can vary between a smooth to curly texture, comes in several different colors, including apricot, white, and black, and the tail can be either curly or straight.
Due to how genes are passed down from one generation to another, the pugapoo will not inherit traits equally from both of its parents; some traits may be more dominant than others. In fact, the same litter may contain wildly different-looking dogs. This can result in very unpredictable traits.
While the poodle and the pug may not seem to have much in common, both breeds are well-regarded for their friendly and affectionate nature. The pug and the poodle are incredibly popular in the United States, even as the pugapoo mix itself is not well-known at all. Fortunately, the pugapoo has become more common in the 21st century and can be bought for a relatively low cost.
For many different dog mixes, including the pugapoo, there is unfortunately little population-wide data about the most common health problems. Even closely related dogs may have different health vulnerabilities, depending on how the genes fall. Nevertheless, the most common health problems are likely the same as the poodle and the pug.
That means it may be prone to Addison’s disease (in which the body doesn’t produce enough steroid hormones, causing fatigue, dizziness, and low blood pressure), patellar luxation (in which the kneecaps regularly moves out of its normal location), and diabetes. If the pugapoo inherits a shorter snout, then it may also have some of the same breathing difficulties as the pug.