Laying Down the Law
Among themselves, dogs abide by a strict set of rules of behavior, so don't let your pug get away with being a free spirit. It's his nature to follow a leader — or to be a leader himself if no one else steps in to take the role. Your pug will happily run the household if you let him, so prevent this by establishing yourself as the one in charge. You do this by setting boundaries and establishing rules. If he knows what the rules are, and that you expect him to follow them, he'll be much less likely to get into trouble. Here are some ways to show that you're the leader of the pug pack:
Show your pug what he can and can't do.
Expect your pug to behave toward you in certain ways, such as not grabbing treats out of your hand or stampeding you at mealtime.
Train your pug so he learns to respond to your commands the first time you give them.
These are kind but effective ways to teach your pug that you're in charge.
Another way to establish leadership is by requiring your pug to perform a command before you do something for him. This is the canine version of the magic word “please.” For instance, ask your pug to sit before you feed him. Then put down his food, releasing him with an “Okay!” or “Chow!”
Pugs have a relatively short attention span and lose interest if asked to do the same thing over and over. Give your pug a break after about fifteen minutes to do something he wants to do.
Other ways your pug can show respect are by moving out of your way or waiting for you to go first out the door. Teach him to wait before you go out the door, until you start walking, or until you tell him it's okay to jump in the car. Practice waiting at curbs before you cross the street. Wait is a variation on the stay command and is taught in much the same way (as described on page 214). You're simply using it in specific circumstances and giving it a different name. Or you can just use the stay command.
Regular training sessions also help your pug understand his place in the family pack. They don't have to take long. Spending five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening working on obedience commands will do wonders for your pug's attitude. Don't forget to praise him for a good performance. Being a leader means letting your dog know when he's done a good job, as well as when he's made a mistake.
