Train Your Pug Puppy

Pug Training

There are quite a few commands that your pug puppy should be taught, you have to remember that your puppy has so much to discover and explore in this new world. It will be exposed to thousands of different smells and tastes, materials and grounds. Your pug puppy will meet all kinds of life forms that will all react in different ways upon contact. 

When you bring your puppy home for the first time, give it time to sniff around to get to know its new living environment. It is important to get your puppy used to different sounds, especially loud ones. If you have a train station close by, take your pug there. If it gets scared by the noise of a slowing down train, pet it, but don't pity it. Repeat that a few times and you will have a pug that is immune to most loud noises.

Then your puppy has to learn to walk on different grounds. If you have a park nearby, have your puppy walk on as many different surfaces as possible. You might also want to take your pug puppy to crowded areas, which could be tourist promenades, central streets, simply areas with a large amount of traffic. Basically, you should try to show your puppy the world around it, let it get used to its environment, without fear. 

The Pug is a wonderful dog who is typically happy, fun loving, loyal and affectionate. They also usually get along well with children and other dogs and are highly intelligent. With such a loving personality it is clear to see why the Pug is such a popular breed. However, as with smaller dogs, there are some unique potty training issues. As a result Pug puppies are often surrendered to rescues or returned to the breeder because of perceived potty training problems by the owners. In most cases these owners simply do not realize that potty training any dog is a long process but this can be especially true with small dogs such as the Pug where potty training can take as long as six months. This article will provide one method for potty training a Pug.

This part of this blog will focus on the crate training method which is usually very effective; however, the reader is encouraged to seek out different methods if the crate training method does not work for them or if they simply do not want to try this method. In selecting another potty training method for a Pug it is important to remember the concepts of consistency and of praising and rewarding your Pug for going potty in an appropriate location will likely be a part of any successful potty training method.

Crate Training and Potty Training a Pug

Select an appropriately sized crate for your Pug. A crate which is sized appropriately is one which is only large enough to allow your Pug to stand up, turn around and lie down. This is because most dogs and puppies will not want to eliminate in their living space so if you provide a crate which is too large they may designate a separate area for going potty. If you are crate training a puppy you might want to purchase a smaller crate for the purpose of potty training the puppy or you can purchase a crate which would be appropriate for a full sized pug and create a divider wall which will make the usable space in the crate appropriate for the puppy's size.

Next it is important to realize that while you are in the process of potty training, your Pug should not be left unattended for long periods of time. Even full adult Pugs will need to go out to potty at least three times a day and depending on their bladder control some adult dogs may need to go out to potty even more frequently. For puppies, a general rule is they will need to go out to potty every few hours according to the following rule: the puppy's age in months + 1 hour. For example a two month puppy should be taken out to potty every three hours while a four month puppy should be taken out at least every five hours.

When using the crate for potty training, you can place the Pug in the crate while you are taking care of household chores but if you hear the dog begin to whine or otherwise indicate he needs to go out, put him on leash and immediately take him to an appropriate location to go potty and give a command such as, "Go potty." If he does go potty, praise and reward him immediately. Verbal praise such as saying, "Good go potty," in a high pitched, happy voice will show your Pug you are pleased with him and will also help to reinforce the command. The reward should be any treat which your Pug finds particularly appetizing. If he does not go potty put him back in the crate and take him out again in another hour or so.

The process of keeping the Pug in the crate for short periods of time, taking him outside to the designated potty location and praising and rewarding him if he is successful will help to establish the pattern of desired behavior. Through this process your Pug will learn he is rewarded for going potty in this specific location.

While potty training, always watch your Pug carefully when he is loose in the house. If he begins to sniff around or give off other signals that he has to go potty, immediately take him outside to a designated potty area and give a command such as, "Go potty." If he successful eliminates in the designated area offer praise and reward immediately.

If during the potty training process your Pug has an accident in the house it is important to clean up the mess and use an odor eliminator. However, scolding your dog for this accident will not be effective as he will likely not associate the scolding with the behavior. However, if you catch your Pug in the act of going potty in the house say, "No" firmly and immediately pick up the Pug and take him outside to go potty. In most cases saying, "No" firmly and picking up the Pug will cause him to stop going potty. If he goes potty outdoors, offer praise and reward as usual.

It is important to remember that potty training a Pug requires a great deal of patience. As a small breed, it is not unusually for Pugs to not be fully potty trained until they are six months old. Remaining consistent in your training and offering praise and reward when your Pug is successful will be very helpful in the potty training process.

Once your Pug knows a few basic obedience commands, such as Sit and Down, then he can begin doing some tricks.

Train to “Play Dead”

One popular trick to teach your Pug is to play dead. This is a simple trick to teach. Give your dog the command to lie down. Once he’s lying down you will need to hold a treat where your dog can see and smell it. Then move it in circles toward the floor and tell your dog to “play dead.” This will encourage your dog to roll over and he should eventually be lying on his back if you keep moving the treat. Once your dog is in position you can give him the treat and give him lots of praise. It may take a few tries before your Pug puts it all together, but it’s a very cute trick once he learns it.

Train to “Rollover”

Many Pugs learn how to rollover, which is taught the same way as playing dead. You simply keep the dog rolling from one side to the other so he can get his treat. Use treats to lure your dog into position.

Train to ‘Shake Hands”

You can also teach your Pug to shake hands. This is also easy to teach with some treats. Ask your Pug to sit, then tell him to “shake.” Reach out and pick up his paw to shake hands. Give him his treat and offer lots of praise. You will need to do this several times until your Pug figures things out. While your Pug is learning, be sure to praise and reward him for any attempts he makes to shake even if they don’t quite work. If he lifts his paw or scratches at you those are steps in the right direction. It won’t take long for your Pug to start shaking your hand when you ask.

Train to “High Five”

Once your dog learns to shake hands it's easy to teach him to give you a “high five.” Simply hold out your hand for a shake and when your dog starts to shake your hand move your hand to an upward position. Say, “High Five!” and let your dog touch your hand with his paw. Give him lots of praise and treats for touching your hand with his paw.

Train to “Bow”

It’s also fun to teach your Pug to bow. Pugs are such clowns and performers that this trick will come in handy. Ask your dog to sit. Then, with a treat in your hand hold it in front of his nose and say “bow.” Move the treat toward your Pug’s chest. He should move his head to try to follow the treat. This will put him in the bowing position. When he does this little bow you can reward him and give him lots of praise. With practice the bow can become more elaborate.

Train to “Speak”

You can teach your Pug to speak on command. This is an easy trick. Simply wait until your Pug barks and say, “Good bark!” Praise your dog for barking and give him a treat. You can teach your dog to wait until you ask for the bark (this is great for dogs who bark too much!). Your dog will be silent because he’s waiting for the bark command -- and the treats that go with it. You can make up your own tricks for your Pug to learn. Maybe he's good at finding your husband? Give that trick a name and reward him when he does it. Can he fetch the remote? Give it a name and reward him so you can ask him to do it for you. Does your Pug like to dance? Many Pugs love to entertain so let them show off and give them praise and treats when they have something they want to show you. There's no limit to what you and your Pug can come up with together. Have fun with it!

Leash Training

Leash training is another very important part of teaching your pug puppy obedience.

Even though it might not be necessary for the puppy to wear its collar or harness and the identification tags inside your home, it should always wear these outside the house, leashed securely to your hand. The earlier you get your pug puppy used to wearing its collar or harness, the less trouble you will later have controlling it outside the house.

Begin the training by leaving the collar or harness on for a few minutes at a time. Gradually extend the time you leave it on. It won't take long and your pug puppy will get used to wearing its collar or harness and eventually forget that it is even wearing one.

After this is accomplished, attach a lightweight leash to the collar, while you play with your puppy. Important is now that you don't try to guide the puppy at first, it first has to get used to the feeling that something is attached to the collar.

Some pugs may refuse to be guided with the leash and intend to strangle themselves before submitting. If your pug puppy is one of the latter, your should not continue to force the leash training with collar. On this point I want to advise you to use a harness instead of a collar. Especially harnesses that are to be put on around the shoulders and chest will not choke your pug puppy and also prevent damage to its rather gentle neck. Young pugs seem to object less to this method than to having the leash around the neck. 

Motivate your pug puppy to follow you as you move away from it. If the puppy does not want to follow you, coax it along with a treat. Simply hold the treat in ront of its nose to encourage it to follow you. As soon as your puppy takes a few steps towards you, praise it enthusiastically and continue to do so as you move along.

It is important that you make the leash training sessions very brief and enjoyable. Continue the training in your house or in your yard until the pug puppy is fully comfortable with being on a leash. Now you can begin to guide your puppy in the direction you wish to go, maybe with the help of a treat. As soon as the puppy is used to be guided by you with the leash, you can start having short walks down the street or around the block. 

You can’t expect your puppy to follow you always and everywhere. It might sometimes just not want to walk because it is tired or simply because they are not willing to. Try first to encourage it to follow you with a treat or praises, before you start pulling. Remember that you are stronger and the leader of the "pack". Your puppy knows this, if you have not made the mistake of always giving in to the puppies will, and it will obey when you pull a little harder combined with saying "follow" with a somewhat harsh voice.

Train   “Sit and Stay” Command

First of all, the pug that is to be trained should always have a collar and leash on for all its lessons. 

Give the Sit command while pushing down (gently) on the pug puppy’s hindquarters. When the puppy does sit, praise and pet it to associate this command with a positive experience. 

In general it doesn't take long for a pug to learn this very command, especially if treats are being used as a "thank you" after the puppy obeyed the command.

The meaning of the Stay command is to have your pug remain in one position until you release it. It can be very useful in situation like standing on a cross street, having to wait for the traffic light to turn green. You tell your pug puppy to sit and stay. This way you won't have the trouble of pulling your puppy back from the street, because it decided not to wait for the green light. 

Once your pug has understood the sit command, you can put your hand on the puppy’s chest and exert slight backward pressure to keep your pug in position.

You should allow your pug to get up from the sit position only when you decide he can do so. But do not test the puppies patience to the limits, since the attention span of a young dog (same as with young children) is very short. 

Once you decide that your puppy can get up, call its name and say OK, and praise it lavishly and give it a tasty treat. After this is accomplished, we can move on to the stay command. 

If the puppy attempts to get up and follow you, say firmly: "Stay!", while raising your hand, the palm towards your pug, and command him again to "Stay!" 

Every attempt to get up must be corrected at once. Return your pug puppy to the sit position and repeat "Stay!". You can slowly increase the distance you step back, once your puppy begins to understand what you want it to do. 

As a release command I would suggest you use "OK". Walk back to your sitting and staying pug and say: "OK" as a signal that the stay command is over. Later, when your pug becomes more reliable in this respect, you can call it to you by its name, without walking back to where your puppy sits.