 Basic Training
1. Sitting is relatively easy to teach and pays big dividends. A pug that sits for his leash and food knows they are subservient to the person commanding them to sit. It also helps to get an overly excited pug under control. 2. Jumping up is a common problem with rescue pugs—they are so happy to have someone to love! But, it’s best if they are taught not to do this, since it can knock people over or just be considered rude. The best prevention is to see it coming and tell them to stop and sit. Once they have this down, they can be invited “up” for a visit, but only by invitation. 3. Leash walking is challenging to teach. Many rescue pugs have never been on a leash and have no idea how to behave. If you’re ambitious, you can work on “heel”, but even “easy” is fine. “Easy” is when the pug isn’t necessarily healing at your side, but they are also not dragging you down the street. This takes time to learn and patience on your part. A nervous pug may not be pulling but reluctant to walk or trying to get away from you and the leash. The goal then is to get the pug to relax and walk confidently with you. We can give you some pointers on either of these cases.
Click Here for Other Basic information on Pugs & ASPCA Dog Care Information _______________________________________________________________________________
House Training Pugs
House training is definitely desirable for both you and the future adopter. This is often one of the biggest
issues infostering. And if you have a pug, you know how tough this issue can be. You may find that your own dog suddenly regresses with a new dog in the house and you are not only dealing with an unhouse- broken foster, but your own dog seems to have forgotten everything he or she knew about pottying.
First, RELAX. It can be done. I approach all my fosters as if they were new puppies and knew nothing about housetraining. I start from scratch just as I would a puppy. I make sure that everyone gets out A LOT–6 to 10 times a day or more. I buy Nature’s Miracle by the gallon. I gate off rooms that I can’t clean easily if there is an accident. If I’m going out, I either crate the unhousebroken one or I gate them into the kitchen with pee pads or newspapers.
NEVER punish a dog for an accident. EVER. If you catch them in the act, then a sharp NO and immediately move the dog outside. Stay outside with the dog as long as it takes for something to happen–especially first thing in the morning when you KNOW they have to go. Then reward them like crazy– both with a treat and a lot of positive praise! Reward house breaking behaviour with top quality treats. I have treats that I only use for pottying behavior.
There are hard cases out there. If a pug is particularly stubborn about house training, keep them on a leash in the house; this will prevent them from wandering off to hide to go potty.
Remember, the secret to house training is patience, consistency and repetition. Out often, stay out with them, praise every outdoor elimination. And if you can’t catch them in the act, then put them where it’s easier to clean up if they mess up. If a pug is particularly stubborn about house training, keep them on a leash in the house; this will prevent them from wandering off to hide to go potty.
_______________________________________________________________________________ Socializing Pugs
Socialization is definitely a TOP priority. This means ensuring that a rescue pug is acclimated to meeting new people,pugs, cats, children, as wide a group as possible. If you have a shy pug, this is a big task, and should be approached slowly (but all the more important to address it so that your pug overcomes his shyness.)
With a more outgoing pug, it’s more about curbing enthusiasm so that people aren’t overwhelmed upon meeting the pug (or knocked over with love!)
_______________________________________________________________________________ Aggression in Pugs
Watch the foster and your own dog carefully and learn to tell the difference between aggression and noisy play. If things are getting out of hand–step in and separate everyone. Some of the puppy mill rescues will be fearful of other dogs and may be less than cordial.
Ensure that they are safe and not being harassed by your dog. Your dog may only be wanting to play, but it may be seen as aggression, or just plain annoying to the other dog.
Click here for Additional Information from ASPCA on Aggression.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Crate Training
Crate Training is a great way not only to potty train, but also to establish general house manners since the pug will not be roaming free in the house unless he is being supervised. So, no chewing on couch cushions, counter-surfing, or garbage can diving if the pug is left alone.
Many of the dogs that come into rescue have been crated for long hours–often most of their lives. Crating can be very useful if used appropriately. We are not opposed to crating as long as it is not used to discipline a dog, isn’t introduced suddenly and the dog does not spend extensive hours at a time in a crate.
You may want the rescue pug to sleep in the crate until house training issues are cleared up. This is certainly acceptable as long as the dog has been acclimatized to the crate slowly, is comfortable being there and is not frightened in it. Pugs are a bit famous for being hard to crate train.
Some dogs that have been crated all their lives will defecate and urinate in their crates. This is a tough house breaking issue and will require careful handling. Some dogs will defecate and urinate in their crate out of fear. Go slowly if you are going to crate a foster dog. Read up on training to the crate if you haven’t done this before. It’s a long and slow process if done correctly and should result in a dog that sees the crate as a safe and happy place.
Many dogs do better being gated into a room with baby gates. It allows them some room to move, they can see out and may reduce anxieties that previous poor crate training has created.
Click Here for Additional information from the American Dog Trainer's Network
_______________________________________________________________________________ Behavioral Issues in Pugs Resources:
ASPCA - Virtual Pet BehavioristNow you can get pet-behavior advice from ASPCA experts 24 hours a day, right from your computer. Our nationally recognized team of animal behaviorists offers possible solutions to a wide range of issues at no charge. Simply type your pet's behavior problem into our easy-to-use database, and you'll receive step-by-step advice -- without leaving home for free. ____________________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
So You Want a Pug? >
Training your Pug |