Tahltan Bear Dog vs Pugalier - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Pugalier is a designer dog which dates to the 1980s and 1990s. Being a fairly new dog breed, it doesn’t have a long or detailed history.

It is thought that they were first bred in the United States. There was a purpose behind the crossing of the Pug and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Dog enthusiasts were looking for a dog that would have less breathing problems with a longer nose.

There are a few dog breed registries that recognize the Pugalier as a designer dog breed, one of which is the American Canine Hybrid Club.

The primitive Tahltan Bear Dog comes from Canada. The dog was developed by the Tahltan people to hunt bears, so you can imagine he was a strong, brave dog.

They also had fox-like yaps that confused bears until the hunter could come and kill the bear. These dogs are descended from pariah-type dogs with their diet being birds and fish.

It was in 1988 that the Canadian Post Office honoured the Tahltan Bear Dog by having a picture of it appearing on a stamp.

Some people claim that after the 1960s there are no longer any living descendants while others say that breeding projects were established and that there are still a few of these dogs around today. There are records on the other hand that claim the dog became extinct in the 1970s.

These dogs have been recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Pugalier looks fairly similar to a pug but with a slightly longer nose and longer ears. The tail isn’t as coifed as with the Pug, but is longer and straighter, sometimes curling slightly over the back.

As with any crossbreed, the dog’s appearance can vary between the two dogs. They can be small to medium sized, usually standing at between 30 and 35cm in height and weigh between 6-10kg.

Pugaliers mostly have a fairly short coat but there are some which have longer hair because of the Cavalier's influence. The coat can be an apricot color, white, brown or even tri-color - white, black & tan.

Temperament:

Friendly, social ad loving, the Pugalier makes a splendid pet. He will easily adapt to life in the city or the countryside and he also gets along well with children and other dogs. They can also be amusing and entertaining, while being intelligent too.

You’ll find your Pugalier easy to train as he is intelligent and then he becomes a splendid pet with training and socialization, being obedient and well mannered wherever he is.

Not like a bear, but more foxy in appearance or even more like a husky, the Tahltan Bear dog is medium sized, standing at between 36 – 43cm in height and weighing between 6 – 9 kg.

It is believed that they were similar to spitz and pariah type dogs, and were athletic. The short to medium length coat of the dog was mainly black or brown with some white.

He had fairly large pointed, erect ears and also a fairly pointed muzzle. The tail was interesting and was short and furry and always carried erect.

Temperament:

The Tahltan Bear Dog is fearless, not being deterred when meeting large bear. It's why the dog has been valued by hunters – their bravery and fearlessness.

They’re great family dogs too and will get on well with children. He is intelligent and easy to train if you want to give him training and socialization.

The Pugalier gets his characteristics from both the popular parent breeds he comes from – the Pug and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Both these dog breeds are immensely popular, friendly, loving and amusingly entertaining. He is an excellent dog choice for the first time dog owner.

The Pugalier is an intelligent dog breed and easy to train too. When you bring such a sweet dog into your home, you open the doors to a deep, meaningful friendship and loyalty from your canine pet.

Because some claim that this dog is extinct, there are only a few accounts of what he is actually like.

Even though they were hunting dogs, they were devoted pets and companions of the people of the Yukon.

If these dogs are still to be found today, you will find them to be easy going, protective, loyal, intelligent, playful, alert, watchful and energetic. Just don’t allow them to get too hot as they prefer cooler climates.

Less wrinkles and a longer snout make the Pugalier a healthier dog than the purebred Pug. The dog, when well cared for, can still reach a good age of 14 or so years.

Eye problems can still be a problem as both the Pug and the Cavalier have protruding eyes.

Patellar Luxation is another health issue to watch for. The patella or the kneecap is dislocated and the dog will have difficulty with putting weight on the leg. Your vet may perform surgery on your dog and the prognosis is very good if arthritis hasn’t already developed.

Healthy dogs are unlikely to pick up any of the many common dog illnesses there are. There are many – cancer, diabetes, bloat, hip dysplasia, ear infections, dental disease and many more.

Kennel Cough:

This is a contagious and infectious disease known as canine tracheobronchitis and which is transmitted through the air. Treatment is usually administered as a nasal spray, but your dog will need to get to the vet because of his dry, honking cough and lack of appetite.

Rabies:

This is a viral disease which in most instances is fatal. It is mostly transmitted when an animal that carries the disease bites the dog. Your dog develops behavior which is totally uncharacteristic of him. He'll also froth at the mouth and become aggressive. Death is nearly always guaranteed.

Exercise:

Your Pugalier will require daily exercise, and he will just love a walk. The Pug part of him will tell you to go slowly with exercise and to ensure it isn’t too strenuous.

The Spaniel part of him will love a robust ball game or running backwards and forwards between two people throwing a frisbee. Watch the Pugalier during exercise and don’t allow him to get overly hot and bothered.

Grooming:

Pugaliers do shed hair and you will need to brush him twice a week. Check his eyes and inside his ears and make sure all is as it should be.

Trim his nails and look inside his mouth for bad teeth. Dog’s can’t tell you they’re in pain and bad teeth can cause terrible pain and a lot of health issues throughout the entire body.

Diet:

Every dog needs an excellent diet if he is to ward off illness and live a long life.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market so read the packaging carefully and avoid those ones with low quality ingredients like colorants, lots of preservatives and fillers.

High quality dry kibble can be made more inviting when you add in some home-cooked food twice a week. Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be excellent for him – it is simple and nutritious.

Chop the food up finely and add it into the dry kibble. Also, your little pet will thrive on some raw meat occasionally too as this keeps the coat shiny and and the skin free of infections. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

This double coated hunting dog’s thick coarse coat will require brushing at least twice a week to free the dog of loose hair. He is regarded as a low mainenance dog.

During brushing, you would check inside his ears and make sure there are no signs of redness. Eyes of the dog should be bright, eager and free of discharge.Always keep the nails of the dog trimmed.

If you keep your pet outside for any lengths of time it is imperative that this dog has shade to lie down in as he doesn’t do well in too much heat.

Exercise:

Because he is a hunting dog, he is used to being outdoors and being active. He wont be content to lie around inactive for too long. He’ll want at least a walk every day and some ball games.

Diet:

A pet dog can’t choose his own food so they depend on us to make the right choices for them. It’s always convenient to have a packet of commercially manufactured dog food available, but who knows if this dog, which some claim is extinct, ever ate commercially manufactured food.

If he did, you would want to mix it every now and again with home made food - boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach. This food could be chopped up and added to the dog’s kibble.

Ensure that a constant supply of fresh, cool water is available to him.