When it comes to training a pug, it all depends on you, the owner, and your training abilities. Pugs are known to be stubborn and therefore need constant concise teaching. The amount of time you put in and quality of your efforts will directly affect the behaviour of your pug. A pug can either be a wild, out of control beast or a calm, well-mannered pet. This article will highlight the main areas of pug training and how to approach each situation.

In order to raise a well behaved pug it is crucial to start training immediately. Although pugs have a tendency to be stubborn, they are also intelligent. If a pug pup acts in an unacceptable way from the start, those bad habits will stick with them and it will be almost impossible to reverse their behaviour later on. Letting your pug get away with unacceptable behaviour as a puppy will cause more difficultly in training as an adult because backtracking will end up confusing the dog. It is much easier to teach pugs correct mannerisms as a baby. Owners need to establish what is right and what is wrong from day one.

It is advised to teach your pug simple commands first and then transition to more advance training. It has been said that dogs only understand the first word of a command. Lengthy commands are not as efficient and should not be used. It is important to be short and clear when training your pug. For example, instead of saying "get down from there," keep it simple with a one syllable one word "down." This will make learning much simpler for your pug and will speed up the training process. Once your pug has got the basics understood, it is safe to try more innovative rules.

Make sure you establish a clear role of dominance when starting pug training. A pug needs to know that you are in charge at all times. It is easy for pugs to determine who the alpha is and who is not in a very short amount of time. Pugs who feel they are in control will only listen to your commands when they feel it necessary. Much like any teacher-student relationship, the teacher needs to be respected in order to be effective. Use your energy and body language to portray your authority. Keep a relaxed and calm approach when training your pup. A pug will not respond well to someone who acts in a high strung, out of control manner. It is very important to stay patient with a good attitude at all times during training.

When training a pug it is important to stay consistent with the rules you have laid out. If you decide it is unacceptable for your pup to sit on the couch, you should always keep them off the couch. Do not allow your pug to occasionally get away with breaking rules. If you are continuously changing the rules, it will confuse your pug and might lead to them ignoring your commands all together. Acceptable actions should always be positively reinforced and unacceptable actions should always be discouraged.

Positive reinforcement should be given vocally due to the fact that pugs are sensitive to their owner's voice. Food reinforcements should be few and far between because they are apt to easily becoming overweight. Training sessions should also be short and fun. If you are trying to train your pug for too long they will easily become uninterested and lose focus. A pug will not learn good behaviour overnight, so it is a good idea to have a couple short training sessions daily.

Make sure you are exercising your pug throughout all of your teaching. Training an exercised pug will be easier than training a lazy pug. Let them burn some energy before they have to focus and listen. Even we as humans find concentrating to be much easier with a clear mind. Exercise should stop after training however. Working out your pug is beneficial for training as well as keeping them healthy.

Some dogs are raised to hunt while pugs are meant to serve as trusty companions. Pugs were originally bred as lap dogs and need to feel a sense of affection constantly. You will build a better relationship with your pug if they know they are loved on a consistent basis. If a pug senses fear, it will be harder for them to learn and focus. Try to form a special bond with your pup in order to create a trusting environment.

Pugs have a bad habit of chewing everything in sight and will start the second they get their paws on something. Do not allow your pug puppy to playfully bite your fingers as this is the beginning stage of their chewing tendencies. Although they mean no harm, letting your pug nip at your fingers will set a bad example early on. Verbally discipline the pug when he or she is caught in the act of destroying something and replace the chewed item with a bone or toy. Praise them for chewing on appropriate items until they understand what is allowed and what is not. Pugs like to think that everything around them is a toy.

A pug owner should never physically punish their pooch by any means. Physically punishing your pug will instill fear in them and will be counterproductive to the training process. A pug needs to know that they can trust their owner in order to follow their commands. If a pug does not trust their owner, training will virtually become impossible.

The last important aspect of training is socialisation. As a pug owner, you will discover that your pup follows you constantly. Pugs are known to be little shadows and become very protective of their owners. You do not want your pug to become so protective that they feel threatened by any other dog in your vicinity. Pugs should know what it's like to be around other dogs starting as early as possible. However, make sure that you have given your dog their necessary shots before they are exposed to other dogs. When your pup becomes familiar with other animals being around, it will be easier to raise a controlled obedient dog. Dogs that are sheltered for too long will not understand how to properly engage with other dogs.

Following these guidelines will definitely help a new pug owner raise a smart and well behaved new addition to the family.