Pugs are arguably one of the most coveted dog breeds. Their distinctive physical features, like their wrinkled, wrinkled snout and large, loving eyes, along with their charismatic personality, are part of what makes them so cute and lovable. Unfortunately, many people acquire this playful little dog before doing their due diligence on how to train a Pug or understanding the psychological profile of the typical Pug.
In addition to being fun, loving, sensitive, and loyal, pugs are also stubborn, manipulative, and overconfident. Therefore, pug obedience training is a high priority and should be done as soon as possible. Ideally anytime from 12 weeks of age to 6 months of age. Do your training in small isolated blocks of time. Puppies, just like children, have short attention spans. The key to success is repeating, repeating, repeating, and reinforcing positive behavior with rewards.
It’s also important to know that Pugs are highly food motivated!
If you already own a pug, you have probably witnessed many pugs act bigger than they are. They are also quite eager to greet new people and other dogs and are prone to jumping on others for attention. These traits can be security issues for your pug if left unaddressed, but luckily they are easily corrected with proper training.
Another attribute of a pug is their desire to please. Pugs are people’s dogs and they yearn to be by your side all the time. This is important to keep in mind because it can lead to attachment and socialization problems. It is recommended to get your pug used to other humans and dogs at an early age. Pugs generally interact very well with others, especially young children.
Once Pug psychology is understood, you are now ready to move forward with the actual mechanics of Pug training. You can find a more detailed article by searching for “pug training” or “how to train a pug,” but here is an abbreviated list for your convenience.
First, you must establish your role as the alpha dog and take control of your home. Although the small, innocent-looking pugs are stubborn and… They really are a different breed and have their own style. Have you ever heard the phrase “I don’t own a dog, I own a PUG”? Many Pug owners let their dogs have free reign of the house, including their bed and diapers. This type of owner behavior can send mixed signals and give the Pug the impression that he is the alpha dog in the house.
Once your alpha position is established, you need to create ground rules for acceptable behavior around the house. Don’t be seduced by the cuteness of your pug! It’s not cute when your pup bites you while he’s playing or cocks his head to the side when you call him over and just sits there, or barks at squirrels, or, or… well, I hope you get the point here. Everything you do or don’t do is considered Pug training in the eyes of your Pug. You need to determine if your pug will be able to be on the couch, in bed, order food, etc. from the first day your new partner comes home with you.
Pugs are creatures of habit, so you will need to institute a regular schedule that your Pug can count on day in and day out. Here are some areas to consider when creating a consistent schedule.
- feeding times
- Walking
- Play time/mental stimulation
I hope you have found this article useful.
Until next time!
-Josh