Pugs are adorable. When you pass one on the street it's hard not to stop and admire this cute little dog that is the largest member of the Toy Breed. They have that distinct "worried" look, a jaunty little walk and an extremely friendly disposition. The Pug is a unique breed with physical characteristics and personality traits that set them apart from the other dogs in their group. It should come as no surprise that when you want to train your little companion, it's worth learning about some of the characteristics that could help you in that process as well as some of the little challenges that most Pugs will present in dog obedience school. A little insight can make the experience a truly enjoyable one for both you and your Pug. Let's take a look at a couple of the more troublesome myths or misconceptions that exist around Pug training.

One of the common misconceptions about Pugs is that they are difficult to train. Some people believe this breed can be a little stubborn and just a little bit too playful to put up with the rigors of training. While they may not be as motivated as some other dog breeds to learn different training commands, they certainly are a very trainable breed. They'll probably never achieve the same reputation as a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd but they are a very intelligent dog and love nothing better than pleasing their owner. We'll tell you how to work that to your advantage.

A second misconception is that, since the Pug is a small dog, training is not as important as with a bigger breed. After all, given his small size, you can just pick up your Pug and take him out of troublesome situations. This is a mistake and could put your little companion in a dangerous situation. You want your Pug to be able to respond to at least the basic commands. We'll explain some of the more important commands that can be mastered so that you will have a well behaved Pug that you can be proud of. After all, the only thing cuter than an adorable Pug is a well trained adorable Pug!

Pugs are, indeed, very trainable dogs who do well in competition or shows. They are very intelligent, love to be the center of attention and seem to exist only to give complete loyalty and companionship to their owner. They respond very well to almost any show of affection from their owner and, as most owners will attest to, live to eat. That forms a perfect foundation for training! With Pugs, however, you need to be careful that your training sessions are short. This is especially true for a puppy. They are very curious and playful and long sessions to learn specific commands can become counter productive. You will get amazing results if you are firm and consistent in your training methods and always work with sessions that are fifteen to twenty minutes in duration. If the session doesn't start out well, consider postponing your time until both of you are in a better frame of mind. But, remember, you should always be the one in charge. Don't let the training get postponed too often. Pugs can pick up on that very quickly.

Training usually focuses on specific commands and takes place in short sessions at a particular time of the day but it is also appropriate at any time if there are certain things you want to keep your Pug from doing. If there is certain behavior that you want to stop (like sleeping on the couch or begging at the table) you need to be consistent. Don't allow it at certain times and not others. One of the biggest obstacles is when one or more members of the household allow a behavior that you find objectionable. This is quite common with children. You want to make it clear that the best thing for everyone is to be consistent at all times. You'll have a much happier Pug when he knows what to expect.

You don't need to have your Pug learn hundreds of commands to be a model of good behavior. If your Pug learns a few commands very well and is carefully socialized as he is growing up, the chances are you will have a dog that is a pleasure to be around. Many people focus on the "command obedience" part of training. While obeying commands is very important, carefully socializing your Pug as he is growing up can have an even bigger impact because it will condition him on how to respond to new situations. If you're bringing a Pug puppy into your home you can have his crate in a busy part of the house where he gets used to the sounds and action of family life. If possible introduce him to new situations gradually but on a consistent basis. A Pug who knows nothing but his owner's house can't be expected to act calmly in a strange environment.

Two of the most useful commands are "sit" and "come". Sitting is also one of the easiest commands to teach and will be very useful in calming your Pug in a stressful situation. Making sure your Pug responds to his name or comes to you on command is extremely important if you are taking your dog outside. You should never let him off his leash if you are not sure he will come back to you when you call him. You can gradually add new commands over time and should always be working on something new. It can give both dog and owner a great feeling of accomplishment when the behavior of your Pug is praised by others.

One of the common themes of successful dog training programs is positive reinforcement. If you do any research into this topic you will find that a positive approach will yield better and longer lasting results. This is especially true with Pugs. They are very sensitive animals. In the end you do not want your Pug to have any fear in coming to you. This can be life saving in a dangerous situation. There have been many books written on the subject of dog training and, if you keep in mind the unique traits of your Pug, you'll find the basic methods to be very successful. The biggest asset for any trainer or teacher is patience and you'll find that a firm but loving and patient approach will yield the greatest results.