Ask several pug owners if their breed of choice is difficult to housebreak, and many of them will probably tell you pugs can most definitely be challenging in this area. There are those who say they found the right method for their dog within a few weeks, and others who claim to still be working on it after many years of effort. As pugs can be a little stubborn, housebreaking one calls for a measure of patience and persistence, but it is a goal that can be reached.
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Methods of Housebreaking
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Crate training can be a useful tool in your housebreaking efforts, especially if you have a puppy. The crate should be big enough for the puppy to be able to stand, lie down and turn around in. Giving the puppy a larger crate will make it much easier for it to have plenty of room for accidents. Most dogs and puppies like to have a safe, secure den to sleep in, and do not like to soil their sleeping area. You must take the puppy out to the potty area at regular intervals. It would be ideal to take the puppy out after every one to two hours in the crate, after each nap, after each feeding or playtime, and before and after bedtime.
The pug who does not take to a crate can be housebroken with a regimented schedule. Take the dog or puppy to the potty area every one to two hours, in the morning, after each nap, after meals or playtime, and before and after bedtime. Patience is the key to housebreaking your pug. He will make many mistakes, and scolding him for them will not help him learn. Catch your pug in the act, and tell him, "Oh, Oh!" Pick him up immediately, put him on a leash, and show him where he should go. Do not talk to him other than telling him to go potty. It is not the time to play, and your quiet, calm attitude will tell him that you mean business. If he goes in the right place, reward him with praise and treats, on the spot.
Possible Additional Aids in Housebreaking
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Some owners have found it to be useful to train their pug to use a doggy door. This can take away the pressure of always watching for signs that your puppy needs to go out. A pug can learn quickly that a push on the doggy door means easy access to the yard without having to ask. You must consider that the pug is temperature sensitive, and the weather must be watched if your dog is allowed to go out of the door at will. Pugs can become overheated very quickly in hot weather. And though they have a double coat, it is not enough to protect them from extreme cold. Also, if you live in an area where coyotes roam, a doggy door is not a safe alternative to walking your dog on a leash.
Many pug fanciers have had luck with training their dogs to use bells as a method of letting you know they need to go out. Teach your dog to hit the bells hanging on the door by repeatedly touching her paw to the bells. When the bells ring, immediately take her out to the potty area. Once she learns this trick, be aware that she will expect you to be listening. If you ignore the bells, she may walk off and do her business where she pleases, since you are not doing your part.
When housebreaking a pug, use her favorite edible treats when rewarding her for a job well done. Your average biscuit may not be enough for her to really get the point that she has done something special. Save the treats that really make her salivate for this task.
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