Alright, you finally brought home that adorable pug puppy you’ve been dreaming of, but now it’s time to start thinking about training. While pugs are natural charmers, teaching them basic obedience takes work. Never fear – with the right approach, that stubborn little furball will be sitting, staying, and fetching in no time. Get ready to unlock the secrets to turning your mischievous pug puppy into a model canine citizen. In this article, we’ll walk through 12 insider tips to get your pug puppy off on the right paw with positive, reward-based training. With a mix of patience, consistency, and lots of treats, you and your pug will be graduating from obedience school with flying colors. So let’s dig into these essential techniques to start your pug puppy’s training journey off on the right foot.
Understand Your Pug Puppy’s Unique Personality and Traits
Your pug puppy will likely display behavior that is typical of the breed. Know that pugs love being the center of attention. Pugs crave human interaction and bonding. They always want to be near their owners and hate being left alone. Make sure you give your pug plenty of love, play, and quality time every day.
Be prepared for stubbornness. Pugs can be stubborn little creatures. Patience and positive reinforcement training are key. Never use harsh discipline or punishment, as this will likely backfire.
Understand that house training a pug can take time. Pugs are notoriously difficult to house-train. Their small bladders mean they need to go out frequently, and their stubbornness means they need consistent training. Crate training, close supervision, and taking your pug out every 1-2 hours are musts.
Expect snoring, snorting, and wheezing. Pugs are brachycephalic dogs, meaning they have shortened snouts and upper airways. This anatomical quirk means pugs tend to snore, snort, wheeze, and grunt. Loud breathing sounds are normal for the breed, so get used to the snoring symphony!
Pugs shed heavily. Don’t let their short coat fool you. Pugs shed a lot, especially in the spring and fall. Daily brushing will help, but you’ll still find tumbleweeds of fur floating around. Regular bathing and grooming every 4-6 weeks will minimize the mess.
Pugs are animated, amusing, and have loads of character. While their traits may present challenges, their playful and loving spirit makes pugs rewarding companions. With patience, consistency, and understanding, you’ll navigate your pug’s unique personality and have many happy years together.
Start Training Early and Keep Sessions Short
One of the biggest secrets to training a pug puppy successfully is to start as early as possible and keep training sessions short and fun. Pug puppies have a short attention span, so start simple obedience training and socialization within the first few weeks of bringing your puppy home. Focus on simple commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and ‘come,’ and keep sessions under 10 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
Start with ‘Sit’
The ‘sit’ command is an easy one to begin with. Hold a treat above your puppy’s head and say ‘Sit.’ If he sits, say ‘good sit!’ and give him the treat. Practice this multiple times per session. Once he’s sitting on command, start giving the treat only occasionally when he sits, so he learns to respond even without the treat.
Move on to ‘Stay’
Once your pug has mastered ‘sit,’ you can start teaching him to stay. Have him sit, say ‘stay,’ hold your hand out, and take a step back. If he stays sitting, say ‘Good stay!’ and give him a treat. If he gets up, have him sit again and start over. Practice this multiple times, slowly increasing the time between the treat and command. The goal is for him to stay sitting until you say ‘Come!’ and call him over.
Finish with ‘Come’
The ‘come’ command is important for your pug’s safety. Play with your puppy, then run away from him while saying ‘Come!’ When he catches up, give lots of praise and a treat. Practice this regularly, even when he’s not playing, by walking away, crouching down, and calling ‘Come!’ Give a treat each time he comes. He’ll soon learn to come running whenever you call!
Short, fun sessions, lots of praise, and the occasional treat will have your pug pup mastering basic obedience in no time. Stick with it, be patient through the challenges, and continue reinforcing these commands as your puppy grows. His good behavior and response to you will be rewarding for years to come!
Use Positive Reinforcement and Treats for Motivation
Positive reinforcement training using treats and praise is the key to teaching your pug puppy obedience. Harsher discipline like yelling or punishing will likely backfire and damage your bond of trust. Instead, focus on rewarding and motivating your puppy when they respond well.
Treat your puppy when they respond to a command
Have some small, high-value treats on hand like bits of chicken, cheese, or commercial puppy treats. When your puppy responds to a command like “sit,” give an enthusiastic “Good boy!” along with a treat. Repeat this each time they respond well. Soon, they’ll associate following your commands with getting a reward.
Provide praise and belly rubs, too
While food treats are very motivating for pugs, also give your puppy praise, play, and belly rubs when they obey a command. Speak in an encouraging, happy tone of voice and provide some affectionate interaction. This positive reinforcement will strengthen the bond with your puppy and keep them engaged in the training.
Start with the basics, and keep initial training sessions short
Focus first on simple commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and ‘come.’ Have short, frequent sessions of 5 to 10 minutes so your puppy doesn’t get bored or distracted. End each session on a high note, with praise and treats, so they’ll be eager for the next training time.
Gradually phase out the treats
Once your pug puppy has mastered certain commands, you can start giving the treat only intermittently when they obey, so they don’t become dependent on it. For example, give a treat every other time they sit, then every third time. Replace it with praise so they know they still did well. The ultimate goal is for them to obey out of habit and a desire to please you, not just for the treat.
Positive reinforcement training requires patience, but it will yield results and help ensure a lifetime of obedience and loyalty from your pug puppy. Keep lessons fun and motivational, focus on the basics, and gradually build up the difficulty level as your puppy’s skills improve.
Teach Basic Commands First: Sit, Stay, Come, Down
To begin obedience training your Pug puppy, focus on a few basic commands: sit, stay, come, and down. These provide a foundation for good behavior and control.
Sit
Hold a treat above your Pug’s head and say “Sit”. As his head tilts back, his bottom will naturally lower into a seat. Once he sits, say “Good sit!” and give the treat. Practice this a few times per session. Soon he’ll learn to sit when you give the verbal cue and hand gesture.
Stay
“Stay” teaches your Pug to remain in one spot. Have your Pug sit, say “stay”, hold your hand up like a stop sign, and take a step back. If he stays, say “Good stay!” and give him a treat. If he gets up, have him sit again and repeat. Slowly increase the time and distance. This command prevents unwanted chasing and teaches patience.
Come
The “come” command calls your innocent Pug to you. While gently holding his collar, back away from him while saying “come” and waving your hand. When he takes a step toward you, say “Well come!” and give a treat. Practice this on a leash at first, then off-leash in a fenced area. This important command keeps him safe when off-leash.
Down
Teaching “down” helps establish your leadership. Hold a treat near the floor and say “down”. If he lies down, say “good down!” and give the treat. If not, gently guide him into a down position while saying the command, then treat. Repeat and practice the hand motion of moving your hand toward the floor. With consistency, he’ll learn to follow the command.
Using positive reinforcement training with treats, praise, and play, keep practicing these basic commands with your Pug several times a week. Be patient through the process, and in no time you’ll have a well-behaved companion by your side!
Be Patient and Consistent With Your Pug Puppy
Pug puppies require patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. House training a pug can take 4-6 months and teaching basic obedience 2-3 months. Don’t get frustrated if your pug isn’t picking things up quickly. With regular training sessions, your puppy will get better over time.
Start training your pug as early as possible. As soon as you bring your puppy home, start teaching simple commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and ‘come.’ Use lots of praise, treats, and play to keep things fun while reinforcing good behavior. Short, frequent sessions (5-10 minutes) are most effective for pug puppies.
Potty training also requires diligence and time. Take your pug out frequently, especially after they eat, drink, or wake up. Also, closely supervise them indoors and take them out if they start sniffing, circling, or pawing at the door. Never punish your pug for accidents, just clean them thoroughly using an odor eliminator.
Pugs can be stubborn, so avoid harsh discipline. Be patient and help your puppy succeed by setting clear rules and boundaries from the start. For example, don’t let your pug sleep in your bed if you don’t want them there as an adult. Be consistent in your training and everyone in the household should enforce the same rules.
Socialization is also important for pug puppies. Gently expose your pug to new people, sights, and sounds to help them become well-adjusted. Invite friends over, take your pug on walks around the neighborhood, and enroll them in a puppy socialization class. Early positive experiences will help ensure your pug grows into a friendly, confident companion.
Raising a pug puppy requires time, patience, and consistency. But with positive reinforcement training, plenty of play, and rewards along the way, you’ll be well on your way to many happy years together. Keep at it and celebrate all your pug’s little victories along the way!
Conclusion
So there you have it, 12 secrets to get your pug pup listening and learning. It takes time and patience to train any pup, but armed with these tips you’ll be well on your way to a happy, obedient pug. Just remember to keep sessions short and positive, use plenty of treats, and be consistent. Your adorable little wrinkly buddy will be heeling, sitting, and staying before you know it. Training time is a special bonding time too. Enjoy this precious puppy phase – they grow up so fast! With the right approach, you’ll have a loyal companion for years to come. Now go give that good boy or girl some belly rubs!