There's nothing cuter than a pug puppy jumping up for attention. A pug adult jumping up for attention is almost as cute. Nevertheless, this can be an annoying behavior, especially when the dog's toenails scratch your bare legs. Teaching your pug to sit for attention is a much better option.

The main difficulty you'll find in teaching off is that lots of people think jumping up is cute, so it's hard to persuade them to participate in the training process. Don't let them undermine your training by saying “Oh, it's okay” when your pug jumps on them. Explain that you're teaching him not to behave that way, and ask for their cooperation.

When to Use “Off”

Use the off command when your pug is jumping up on people or to move him off a piece of furniture. Don't use it interchangeably with the down command. The two words mean different things, and you want to avoid confusing your dog.

Teaching “Off”

Any time you see that your pug is about to body-slam you, say “Off,” turn aside, and walk away so he misses his target (you'll have to move fast). Before he recoups, tell him to sit, and praise or pet him for doing so. This shows your pug that he gets attention when he sits, not when he jumps up. Another way to respond to jumping up is to ignore the dog (fold your arms, turn your head away from him, and stand like a tree) until he sits on his own. The second he does, click and treat him, saying “Good off!” Whichever method you use, your pug needs to learn that “Off” means four feet on the floor.

Your pug probably greets guests by jumping on them as they come through the door. Put a stop to this by practicing sits and downs at the door. Ask family members or neighbors to help. Have them knock or ring the doorbell. Put the dog in a sit/stay or down/stay and open the door. Praise or click and treat if your pug stays where he is. If he jumps up, use your “try again” word or sound and start over. Don't let anyone pet or talk to him until he performs correctly.

Off the Furniture

Once your pug understands that “Off” means all feet on the floor, you can also use the command to tell him to get off the furniture. If you need to make up the bed or change the sheet on the sofa that protects it from pug hair, firmly say “Off” and point to the floor. If he complies, praise him (“Good off!”) or click and treat the behavior. Also say “Off” any time you see him getting off anything so that he learns to make the connection between his action and the command.

If he doesn't make the connection, help him off the furniture by luring him with a treat or toy or gently guiding him with your hands or the leash, saying “Off” as you do so. Then praise him or click and treat once he's on the floor. Use the treat lure only two or three times in the beginning or your pug will start to demand a treat in exchange for getting off the sofa or bed. In this case, the treat's only purpose is as a lure to get the training process started.

To practice some more, encourage your dog back on the forbidden furniture by patting it and saying “Up!” This serves two purposes. It allows you to repeat the off command sequence, and it starts the process of teaching your pug that it's only okay to get on the furniture when you invite him. As he improves, you can pair the verbal command with a hand signal, such as a sweeping motion of your forearm.

If you want, you can teach your pug that he's allowed on the furniture only when you invite him up. And before you invite him up, require him to perform a sit or down command. Any other time you spot him on the sofa or bed, use the off command. You can also designate certain pieces of furniture as “his.” Invite him up only on the designated furniture, and consistently use the off command for everything else.