Pug Training
Is Pug Training Any Different?
Is there anything special about Pug training that does not apply to other breeds? Owners of Pugs will probably say yes, though the methods employed are really not all that much different. The Pug considers itself a large dog, with a large personality, though it is wrapped up in a small package. It's the personality and the temperament of the breed that make the difference. The Pug, though an extremely intelligent dog, does not always take well to training. If one has the time and patience however, a Pug can be trained to do the right things just as can any other breed.
Learn To Speak Pug - Training a Pug is a little like training a horse. You can't just go through the motions and expect the Pug to pick things up and follow along with what you're trying to accomplish. A horse won't meet you half way in your attempts to train it, and neither will a Pug. You have to make an effort to see the world as the Pug sees it. You need to understand why the Pug acts the way it does so you can understand how to change certain behaviors. Pug training is almost a negotiation, and if you're trying to be boss rather than negotiator, you may not win the battle.
House Training, Extra Effort Needed – House training a pug, unless you're an experienced dog trainer, can take up to a year, surpassing records often attributed to Beagles and a few other of the more stubborn breeds. It isn't that the pug does not have a desire to please that makes house training so difficult. It's actually quite the opposite, and the reason why Pug training in general can be a challenge. Pugs love company. Pugs like to be close to people, very close, especially close to their owner. It can be hard to train a dog that would rather be right at your feet, or underfoot, instead of sitting a few feet away awaiting a command. It's just the way the Pug is.
Why Learn When I Can Sleep? - When it's not busy following you around the house, from room to room, it is probably sleeping. A Pug will normally spend a little more than half its life asleep. It would rather sleep than go through a training session. A high energy dog will often take to training because it is eager to participate in a new experience. Not so the Pug, a dedicated low-energy animal. It's not that it will be impossible to get your dog's attention during a training session, but you'll generally have to keep the sessions fairly short. As intelligent as the Pug is, it often seems to have the attention span of a lightning bolt, and long training sessions will usually be unproductive.
While all of this may make Pug training a hopeless activity, it really isn't that bad. You just have to be patient, try to understand why your dog acts the way it does, and stick with it. Most Pugs live to go for a walk, on a leash, so work on teaching the dog to heel as you take you daily stroll. It may take time, but the Pug will eventually become a superb walking companion.
Voice Commands - Teaching a Pug the meaning of "No" will usually not take a lot of time, but only if you are persistent and don't give in once you've given the command. Repeat it until you get the desired response. Like a horse, the Pug will test you. Successfully teaching the Pug to "Come" often requires nothing more than using its name every time you give the command. Using its name will get attention, then you can work on teaching the meaning of the command. It's the same with "Sit" and "Stay". "Stay" can be one of the more difficult commands for any breed to master, and the pug, who would rather be next to you, than waiting out of sight for the "Come" command, might have a little trouble with this command, but it will learn.
You don't have to get a book on Pug training, a book on dog training in general will often be good enough, but you do have to understand how the world works according to Pug, to make good progress.