Complete Information Regarding the Pug Dog                                      
 


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House Training Your Pug
The Task of House Training

One of the most important things that you will ever teach your Pug is house training.  Smaller toy dogs such as the Pomeranian or Chihuahua can actually be trained to use a cat litter box.  However, with the Pug being the largest of the toy dog breed, you will need to teach your dog how to eliminate outside.

In addition, your Pug is an inside dog.  This means that while you can certainly can and should bring your dog outside for walks, play and exercise, your Pug needs to live inside the home and cannot be left outside for any large amount of time.

Therefore, house training will be top on your list whether you just got your Pug or your long time canine companion needs some nudging in the right direction.

When Will Your Dog be Ready?

Do not expect or even try to train your Pug until he or she is at least 10 weeks old.  House training efforts before this time will be a waste of time.  When your Pug is just a small puppy, you can keep him or her inside a gated room lined with newspaper, so that you can easily clean any messes. 

Once your Pug is past the 10 week mark, it is time to begin.  Keep in mind that this is a process, a step-by-step training that in time will become second nature.






When you begin house training your Pug, it is best to keep a few pointers in mind.  A dog can only hold its needs for a certain amount of time.  It is not fair to expect your dog to be able to hold itself for any longer than logically possible.  Following these guidelines will help your Pug succeed.

A Pug puppy can hold it's elimination 1 hour per month of age, up to 6 hours maximum.  Example: A  2 month Pug can hold it's needs for just about  2 hours. A full grown dog can hold on for up to 8 hours.

It is recommended that you take your dog outside:
  • Immediately after any confinement, such as a dog crate
  • When he or she first wakes up 
  • 10 to 15 minutes after eating
Different Methods of Training

Your Pug will not know that eliminating inside the home is wrong unless you tell them.  You must do this in a calm and control manner; if you yell or get angry the only thing your dog will learn to do is be afraid of you.  Most of the time, a dog will not know what they did wrong.  Rubbing a dog's nose in their feces is an abusive method that is far outdated and never worked in the first place.  Your Pug will need your loving guidance to show them what is appropriate.

It is suggested to keep your Pug near you at all times.  In doing so, you will be able to immediately see when they are making motions of getting ready to eliminate and you can step in and lead them outside.  It is best to choose one area that you wish for them to do their business.  However, a dog needs the freedom of choosing a spot.  Therefore, you should always lead your Pug outside while on a 6 foot (1.82 meter) leash.  Bring your dog to the area you choose, and allow them to pick a spot within that 6 foot radius.

You can keep your Pug close to you by several methods.  The most recommended being the umbilical cord method.  You will simply connect one end of the leash to yourself, usually your belt loop and one end to your Pug.  This way your dog will have freedom, you will have freedom and you will be able to always see them. 

You may also choose to keep your dog in a crate.  Many recommend this, but it is not needed if you are home. There is no reason to confine a dog unless they are home alone and other methods are not feasible.  Keeping your dog in a gated area may work, however with both crate and gate methods, there is a good chance you will not be able to always catch your dog before they do their duty.

What About When You Are Not Home?

Having a puppy and house training them while you are away all day is difficult.  It is best if you can take time off from school or work to train them.  If you are in school, it is suggested to get a Pug as a long break is approaching.  If you work full time, it is recommended to see if friends and family can take rotating turns to stay with your dog so that the house training can be effective as possible.  If this can not be done, you should keep your Pug in a non-carpeted gated off room or in a crate.  Do make sure that the crate is large enough for your dog to have plenty of room to turn around and be comfortable.



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