Arriving Home
When you get home, walk the puppy around outside first so he can relieve himself. He'll be excited and nervous, so this probably won't take long. Praise him when he performs: “Good go potty!” The sooner he learns this phrase, the better.
Take him inside on leash. Until you're sure he's reliably house-trained and knows the house rules (which will be some months from now), don't allow your pug the run of the house. Keep him on leash, confined to his safe place or crate, in a fenced yard or dog run, in someone's lap, or under a watchful eye.
Your pug's crate is his safe place, where he can go when he wants to rest. Teach the kids not to bother him when he's in his crate, and don't let them climb inside the crate with him.
Use baby gates to prevent wandering when you don't want him to go anywhere. He'll be curious about his new surroundings and will follow you from room to room. Put his crate wherever you want it to be, with the scented towel inside it. Show him the crate so he'll know where to go for a reassuring sniff. Dogs are pretty adaptable, though, and your pug will probably settle nicely into his new home in a day or two.
Busy, Not Bored
Spend plenty of time playing with and training your pug these first few days. You can teach simple commands such as “Sit” and “Come.” Your attention and the activity will help distract him from his missing mother and littermates. He may be shy at first, even if he was outgoing at the breeder's home. He was comfortable there, and it may take a few days for him to adjust to you and your home. Take him out every couple of hours so he starts to learn that “outside” is where he needs to go potty. And play, play, play! A tired pug is a pug that's more likely to sleep through the night.
Nap Time
After half an hour of play, your pug will probably be ready to rest. This is a big day for him. All the new sights, sounds, smells, and people he encounters will completely bewilder your pup. Don't overwhelm him with a lot of new experiences all in one day. Walk him outside to see if he'll potty again, then put him in his crate. Give him a treat before you close the door, and tell him he's a good dog. When you're ready to let him out again (he'll let you know when he's ready for more action), take him straight outside on leash for a potty break.
The Kids and Their Friends
If you have children, they'll want to show off their new four-legged friend. That's fine, but make a rule that only one or two friends at a time can come over to play with the new pup. Keep a lid on loud squealing, poking, and prodding, and rule out dressing the dog up in baby clothes or carrying him around unless they're mature enough to do so safely.
Teach young children to hold the puppy only when they're sitting down. It's safer for both of them. It's easy for a child to accidentally drop a squirming puppy and although pugs are fairly sturdy, they can be injured by a fall.
Another rule to establish is that your children are never to hit the dog. Many young children like being the dog's “boss” and think it's their job to yell at or hit the puppy if he does something wrong. Explain very clearly that it's never okay for anyone (including adults) to hit the dog. Instead, the children should let you know if there's a problem.
Meeting Other Children
Even if you don't have children, your pug is likely to encounter them in everyday life. Be aware of approaching children so you can control the situation. Hold a toddler or young child's hand to guide her strokes, and suggest that children ask their parents' permission before petting your dog. Explain that dogs have very sensitive ears, so it's not nice to scream around them.
The Neighbors' Dogs
Ask neighbors not to bring their own dogs over to meet the pup. It's important for him to get to know the neighborhood dogs, but right now his immature immune system needs to be protected. Ask your veterinarian what age is appropriate for dog-to-dog meetings. Usually it's advisable to wait until the pup is twelve weeks old and has had two series of vaccinations.
