Doug's Pugs
I have been asked many times "How do you train your pugs to behave so well?" or "How do you house break your pugs?" The answer is actually quite simple on both cases. You Must be the Alpha and you must follow through with training.
First lets talk house breaking. I think Chiana was my toughest cookie to break. Pugs are generally stubborn but she is ten fold and no mater how you scold her she would look at you with that bright smiling pug face as if to say " you don't mean little old me" "Not cute little old me!".
First you must create a schedule for them. You can start out on a regular time frame, say every hour. As they get a little older and show more control you can lengthen the time frame. When they are set in the schedule then YOU must keep it. If you get up at 5:30am 5 days a week for work and take them out at that time then on your days off you MUST get up at 5:30 am and take them out Note that I said take them out not let them out. Remember Pugs are very social and attached dogs. They just want to be with you and please you. Use this to your advantage and to theirs. Be with them, even if it is cold, hot, raining or snowing. And when they do thier business outside, praise them, pet them, and make a fuss. Just as important if they have an accident inside let them know how displeased you are. DO NOT sugar coat this... I know it is hard but lower your tone and raise your voice a bit... "NO BAD BOY!" "WHAT DID YOU DO!" "BAD" You have to remain firm and do not back down or get mushy when they cower. Again Pugs just want to please you. They hate when you are mad at them and on the same token they love when you are pleased with them. To often I will see people discipline their pug with " no sweatie that is not a nice girl, you should not do that. Don't you want to be mommy's good little girl" This will only confuse them, keep it LOW toned, LOUD and keep it short.
Now for the rest of the training. I have never been one to teach my pups tricks. It more about how they are in public and towards others. All my pugs will play with us and in that play they put their mouth around our hands or fingers sometime nibbling but never biting, As pups they will bite down with thier sharp teeth but, I teach them from a young age this is unacceptible. Usually a loud "OWE" will surfice but sometimes on the more deterimined pup (like Chiana) you have to be more forceful. A pinch on the lip with a loud NO will ussually get their attention. And they do learn fast but the stubborn ones will need additional incentives. Just remember to always be firm with your voice.
Finally lets talk about treats for training. I am dead set against using treats for training of a pug. Pugs are very smart and they will soon learn to use you to get what they want.... a treat! But remember Pugs have been breed for over 2500 years to be companions to royalty and they have a deap set desire to please, so use this in your training. When they are good let them know, make a fuss, pet them, scratch their back (they love this), tell them how good they are, but keep it simple " Good Boy" or "Good Girl" Keep commands, praise, and disapline to 2 sylables as much as possible.
I had my first exposure to a pug when I met my wife. we had about 3 dates and she was going on a weekend family trip. I begged her not to put Pugsley, her 1 year old pug into a kennel. She agreed on the day she was leaving. Pugsley was not even house broken. In three days she was not only house broken but lease less trained to stay at my side. I was amazed at how smart and eager she was!
First lets talk house breaking. I think Chiana was my toughest cookie to break. Pugs are generally stubborn but she is ten fold and no mater how you scold her she would look at you with that bright smiling pug face as if to say " you don't mean little old me" "Not cute little old me!".
First you must create a schedule for them. You can start out on a regular time frame, say every hour. As they get a little older and show more control you can lengthen the time frame. When they are set in the schedule then YOU must keep it. If you get up at 5:30am 5 days a week for work and take them out at that time then on your days off you MUST get up at 5:30 am and take them out Note that I said take them out not let them out. Remember Pugs are very social and attached dogs. They just want to be with you and please you. Use this to your advantage and to theirs. Be with them, even if it is cold, hot, raining or snowing. And when they do thier business outside, praise them, pet them, and make a fuss. Just as important if they have an accident inside let them know how displeased you are. DO NOT sugar coat this... I know it is hard but lower your tone and raise your voice a bit... "NO BAD BOY!" "WHAT DID YOU DO!" "BAD" You have to remain firm and do not back down or get mushy when they cower. Again Pugs just want to please you. They hate when you are mad at them and on the same token they love when you are pleased with them. To often I will see people discipline their pug with " no sweatie that is not a nice girl, you should not do that. Don't you want to be mommy's good little girl" This will only confuse them, keep it LOW toned, LOUD and keep it short.
Now for the rest of the training. I have never been one to teach my pups tricks. It more about how they are in public and towards others. All my pugs will play with us and in that play they put their mouth around our hands or fingers sometime nibbling but never biting, As pups they will bite down with thier sharp teeth but, I teach them from a young age this is unacceptible. Usually a loud "OWE" will surfice but sometimes on the more deterimined pup (like Chiana) you have to be more forceful. A pinch on the lip with a loud NO will ussually get their attention. And they do learn fast but the stubborn ones will need additional incentives. Just remember to always be firm with your voice.
Finally lets talk about treats for training. I am dead set against using treats for training of a pug. Pugs are very smart and they will soon learn to use you to get what they want.... a treat! But remember Pugs have been breed for over 2500 years to be companions to royalty and they have a deap set desire to please, so use this in your training. When they are good let them know, make a fuss, pet them, scratch their back (they love this), tell them how good they are, but keep it simple " Good Boy" or "Good Girl" Keep commands, praise, and disapline to 2 sylables as much as possible.
I had my first exposure to a pug when I met my wife. we had about 3 dates and she was going on a weekend family trip. I begged her not to put Pugsley, her 1 year old pug into a kennel. She agreed on the day she was leaving. Pugsley was not even house broken. In three days she was not only house broken but lease less trained to stay at my side. I was amazed at how smart and eager she was!