Pug Puppy

Basic Pug Training

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

pet containment

Basic Pug training begins with the understanding that, as Pug owner, you must be firm but loving. Pugs are a very sensitive breed often in tune with their owner’s feelings. This makes it easy for them to sniff out a weak owner. Don’t let the endearing Pug face damage your training efforts.

Many Pug owners fail to understand that a lack of basic training can actually put the Pug at risk! Pugs are naturally curious and, unless properly training, will explore their surroundings without regard for dangerous situations. Take ownership of Pug training and teach them how to behave as well as their role in the pack. Pugs have a stubborn personality but beneath the tough exterior is a strong desire to please its master. A well-trained Pug is within reach if you have patience, dedication, and consistency.

Mental toughness is also a requirement if you want to be successful at training a Pug. Pugs think they are a member of the family with equal rights. If you give your Pug special privileges, such as jumping up on the couch or the freedom to ignore commands, then the upper hand in obedience training is sacrificed.

Getting your Pug the proper exercise is the first step for effective Pug training. While Pugs won’t be running alongside you in a marathon any time soon, they will get mischievous if you don’t provide an outlet for their rambunctious energy. A daily walk and some indoor playtime should be enough to wear them out. Keep in mind their short snout leads to many breathing problems, so make sure to monitor their breathing, especially in hot weather situations.

In addition to exercise, the following approaches will help bolster your Pug training efforts:

Basic Commands: The cause of many Pug issues can be traced back to a lack of basic obedience training. Commands such as “sit”, “stay”, and “down” are the building blocks for successful Pug training. A lifetime of obedience problems and headaches for your family can be avoided with these basic commands.

Clicker Training: With their strong-willed nature Pugs can get an attitude and ignore your commands. The distinctive clicker sound gets the Pugs attention and can accelerate your efforts when used as positive reinforcement.

Short Burst Training: This is the foundation for successful training, especially for Pug puppies. Short 5-10 minute sessions of focused training is the best method for success. Using the clicker during these short burst training sessions is highly recommended.

It may seem obvious but you should NEVER hit your Pug. Negative reinforcement in any manner such as yelling or hitting produces fear and only harms the training process. It has been proven that rewarding for positive behavior accelerates the learning process for dogs. Mix up positive reinforcement with both treats and praise. Pugs by nature crave acceptance and attention from their master so they will quickly respond to what makes you happy.

Good luck on your Pug training endeavors!

Josh runs a website providing Pug training resources to Pug owners from all walks of life. If you are new to Pug training be sure to check out www.bellaspugtraining.com. There you will find training resources and you can sign up for your free eBook on Pug training secrets.

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How to Prevent Your Pug From Getting Heat Stroke

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

Pugs

Pugs are very susceptible to heatstroke due to their shortened muzzle. Dogs rely on panting to cool down their bodies and release excess heat. Because pugs have less room in their little noses, they have a harder time staying cool.

Heat stroke occurs when your dog is no longer able to maintain his normal body temperature, which is approximately 101°F. In dogs, a body temperature higher than 103°F is considered heat stroke, which can be fatal. If the dog survives, overexposure to high temperatures can cause long-term damage.

The major cause of heatstroke in dogs is leaving them in parked cars. It is important that your pug does not stay outside for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Some warning signs that your pug may be suffering from heatstroke are: rapid heavy panting, drooling, bright red mucous membranes on the gums and conjunctiva of the eyes, staring, glassy eyes, refusal to obey commands, fever, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, weakness or collapsing.

To prevent heat stroke, exercise your pug early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature is cooler. If possible, keep your dog indoors with proper ventilation or air conditioning. Remember that humidity makes temperatures much hotter and if your pug is outside during the day, make sure there is plenty of shade and access to cold water. Some pugs love to swim, so fill up a children’s swimming pool and let your pup play. Or make sure to spray him or her down frequently with cool water.

In the unfortunate event your pug has symptoms of heat stroke, take action immediately. Move them to a well ventilated or air conditioned area and provide access to cool water, but do not let them drink too much. Immerse them in cool water. Do not use cold water because a dramatic change in temperature is dangerous. Get to a local emergency dog clinic as soon as possible. Even if you manage to reduce your pug’s temperature at home, take him to your vet for a thorough checkup. Internal damage to your dog’s organs might have taken place even though he recovered from heat stroke.

By taking precautions, you can avoid losing your lovable little friend to heat stroke. It is okay to have some summer fun, but remember that it only takes a matter of minutes for a pug to reach critical condition. So be wise.

Alicia Cramer is a contributing author for a variety of clients including http://www.pugdorable.com a website devoted to pug owners.

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How Often Should I Feed My Pug Puppy?

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

How often and how much should I feed my two pug pups? They are 8 weeks old and are completely weened. First time pug puppy owner. And how often should I take them outside to go potty? Thanks in advance.

I feed my dogs at 9am 3pm and 9pm so they never have to much time between feedings. i take their daily feeding and divide it by 3 but i take a bit off of the first and third feeding so they eat the most at lunch when they are most active. With puppies you should take them outside as soon as they wake up, after every meal, and every 2 hours through out the night. I sleep downstairs for the first 3 weeks or so with a new pup to avoid accidents and get through potty training as quickly as possible. Im getting a new puppy on Saturday :) Good luck with your pugs!!!!!

What Is a Reasonable Re-Homing Fee for a Pug Puppy?

Monday, May 30th, 2011

I put an add on craigslist, looking to adopt a pug.
Someone made an offer for a puppy, but she’s asking $150.
This puppy is 9 months old, has had her first 2 rounds of shots, obviously is too young to be spayed.

This "re-homing" fee seems a little steep to me. What do you think would be more reasonable?
Oh dear. I meant 9 weeks, not 9 months. I’M SORRY!

wow you are cheap. try going to a shelter, they are more expensive, you rarely find a purebred pug, and it will cost you more.

Can I Feed My 4 Month Old Puppy the Same Homemade Food as My Adult Pug?

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

I found homemade dog food and puppy food recipes that appear to be similar. I plan on combining boiled chicken meat with peas, carrots and rice, is that ok for both? If not what can I do to make both meals from scratch such as different ingredients? I have an adult 2 yr old female pug and a 4 month old female pug puppy. Thanks in advance.

Hello Johnny

Your puppy should be on a special puppy food to ensure the pups nutritional needs during her growth period are being met.

There is an excellent puppy food section on dog-food-aid that also has some food options and I will put a link below for you.

Just select the puppy food button from the left hand side.

Good Luck.

The Characteristics of a Pug Puppy and Dog

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

If your lucky enough to have a new Pug puppy or dog, then you must have had some good luck! Pugs are a funny breed of dog that will make you laugh one minute, and then make you wonder what they heck they are doing the next minute.

The Pug is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, believed to be around since 400 BC. It is believed that the Pug came from Asia, and was used as pets to the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet.

The average size of a pug is usually about 14 to 18 pounds with males usually weighing more, and the life expectancy is about 10 to 11 years old.

Most all Pugs are either fawn or black colored, with fawn coming in different shades almost, from white, to apricot, to fawn. Their face has plenty of wrinkles in it to give them that wrinkly look. The creases in the wrinkles need to be cleaned the right way, so that the folds can be cleaned, so your puppy or dog stays healthy, and does not get any infections.

Pugs can suffer from a variety of aliments that can affect them, from their eyes that seem like they pop out of their heads, which can easily get hurt or scratched, which is very common in pugs.

Pugs are also in trouble if they get into to much heat. Pugs do not really like to exercise, as their mouths and nose to not breath that well sometimes. Pugs have flat snouts almost, that leaves many Pugs unable to breath properly. They must control their body temperature by evaporation from their tongue.

A Pugs normal body temperature is between 101 and 102 degrees, if their body temperature goes over 105 degrees, they can no longer control cooling themselves down, and they could lose lots of oxygen and have a hard time breathing, or even death if it gets worse. It is important that you don’t keep your Pug outside in hot summer months, or in hot areas. They need plenty of clean cool drinking water and shade.

Pugs have the ability to become over weight very easily, since they are not much of an exercise dog, and mostly just walk around and sleep. So you should make sure you dog gets some exercise, but not to much, and make sure they do not over eat.

Pugs can be the life of a party and the center of attention one minute, and sound asleep the next minute. Pugs have a mind of their own sometimes, but are rarely aggressive. Pugs usually get along great with other animals and small children, as long as they were socialized when they were little.

Pugs can make good watch dogs, as they will bark when they hear or see something that is not right. They can’t make very good guard dogs because of their size, but make great watch dogs to alert you to trouble sometimes.

The Pug has been recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 1885, and a Pug won the Westminister Kennel Club show in 1981.

The Pugs have an elongated palate, which makes them seem like they are reverse sneezing when they get excited. It seems like your Pug is gasping and snorting and sneezing, and it is because they got excited. They have fluids or food particles under their palate, and this causes the dog to sneeze. It is not harmful to the dog, but you can massage their throat lightly, and make it go away quicker.

Some Pugs you might remember are: Frank the Pug, from Men in Black, and some other shows Pugs where in include: The Adventures of Milo and Otis, Disney’s Pocahontas, Hotel for Dogs, and more.

Your Pug might be a little bit more difficult to train than some other breed of dogs, and that is just because they are a Pug and have a mind of their own sometimes. You will hear your Pug make all kinds of weird and funny sounds when they are asleep and awake. Pugs make lots of different snoring sounds, and breathing sounds when they are awake.

If you remember that your Pug has a hard time breathing, especially if they are outside, and it is very hot out. Pugs can tolerate a little bit of exercise, but not a lot of it. Just make sure they to not over eat, and you should have a very happy and healthy Pug on your hands. When you have the time, you should enroll your Pug and yourself in obedience classes as soon as possible, so that you get to bond with your dog better.

Vince Stead is the author of over 20 books, and has been raising dogs for over 25 years now.

You can find his books at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and even his own website at http://www.vincestead.com

You can get every one of his books as a book at regular price, and you also get them as digital downloads for only $2.99 each.

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Your Dog’s Barking Annoys Your Neighbors – What to Do?

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

Even if you are not aware of it, your dog might cause so many problems in your household and neighborhood that it drives everyone crazy. Permanent barking is definitely something that needs to be fixed quickly. It is normal for a dog to bark when it senses imminent danger, enemies or other serious situation. But there are times where a dog, due to a lack of training, obsession, or boredom, might bark. These dogs resemble to those annoying persons who talk all the time without actually having something to say. In the case of human beings, they can be taught as children to mind their manners, and not talk at inappropriate times, or not to talk too much. Dogs, however, need to be taught good manners even if they already reached adulthood.

There are more means you can use in order to train your dog, and one of them is the anti-bark collar. Some people dislike the bark collar because they imagine it hurts the animal. The reason why people might think that these bark collars might be harmful, is because they give the dog a shock when they bark. In fact, static collars are rather harmful. They even come equipped with a light sound that alarms the dog that it’s about to be shocked if it doesn’t stop barking. A bark collar is also comfortable to wear. These collars are made from good materials that do not stress the dog more than any other regular collar. They also come in more sizes, so that any type of dog could wear them. They are also designed so that the dog won’t be able to chew into it.

The dog will in time learn that when it gets a mild shock to stop barking. Such a device can be a wonderful instrument of correcting your dog’s behavior and bring peace into your house. Some dogs are simply too big and too active to keep in the household all of the time, and it does them well in their upbringing to stay outside, at least to go outside and play. Unfortunately, keeping a large dog outside, when it has the bad habit of barking all the time, can put a lot of pressure on your neighbors. In these situations, a bark collar is more than welcome; it will make the annoying noise stop and your neighbors won’t be stressed out anymore.

If people in your neighborhood cannot stand the barking anymore and ask you to do something about it, you can let them know you consider buying a bark collar for your dog. One more great thing about a bark collar, is that it not only trains the dog barking excessively, but it trains the dog to bark only when it’s appropriate. If the dog barks very rapidly, then the collar’s device shuts down automatically. This happens because such barking usually announces a dangerous situation in which the dog must react. Then again, when the dog barks slowly, it means that it got bored or requires extra attention.  

A dog that barks all the time can be a serious problem for both your family and your neighbors. The bark collar is programmed to react to the dog’s barking. If you want to purchase a bark collar click this link.

Potty Train Your Older Pug Dog

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

If you’ve ever come home and found that your mature, always-house trained Pug has just left you a big mess to clean up, you’re not alone. “Whoa!” you might say.

The possible alternative, such as a defrosting refrigerator, leaky water pipes, or a spilled cup of coffee, eventually gives way to the awful truth…when you actually see your loyal household Pug in the act of soiling inside the house.

It’s typical, after a lot of screaming and disbelief by an owner and the family, for the Pug to be quickly banished out-of-doors. But the truth is that such harsh and fast action can actually have a negative impact on a mature Pug dog. That’s because most often it is a medical or psychological cause involved that requires some treatment.

Let’s cover the medical reasons first, since this is the most typical cause of the problem in older Pugs. You need to carefully consider and diagnosis the problem here before you start on a treatment and/or retraining program.

Most Pug owners know that the aging process of their Pug will manifest itself in a gradual loss of hearing, followed by diminished vision. Squeezed somewhere in between, signs of arthritis might show up, decreased in appetite, more frequent naps, and other tell-tale signs which may become evident. What is not widely known is that toilet training is one of the first things to go!

Pug owners are often particularly surprised and confused, and as a result they blame their dog for back-sliding on potty training. In reality, this is likely a sign that your Pug dog is simply getting older. That’s because the muscles of the bladder gradually lose control as Pugs (and people!) age.

The prostate gland gets bigger as most male Pugs get older, leading to an inflammation that will cause him to pee much more frequently. It’s also true that over seventy percent of Pug dogs 8 years or older will come down from kidney disease. And as a Pug gets more mature, kidney functions start to weaken, which can contribute to bladder control problems.

Older Pugs need to drink 2x the amount of water that Pug pups to fight off these kidney problems. It’s little wonder then, with such increased water consumption comes the need for more pees.

Unlike their younger days, mature Pug dogs will need to potty a lot more often. It’s common for the dog to make itself clear by going to the door, ringing its bell, etc. And it’s also common for owners to miss their Pug’s signs because they’re used to how things used to be. The Pug then has only one choice and ends up peeing in the home. No doubt the Pug is just as unhappy as you when things come to this.

Avoid yelling at your Pug or scolding him, as this will lead to a worsening of the situation and further problems.

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Stop Excessive Barking

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

If you have started to become annoyed by the insistent barking of your dog, then you should think of a solution fast. Yes, there are other options, but will they work for you? It depends on the situation.

Why Does Your Dog Bark So Often?

Before resorting to a solution for the excessive barking, you need to find the underlying cause of your dog’s behavior. Sometimes dog bark because they are scared, lonely or simply too aggressive. If this is one of the reasons why your dog is so loud, then you cannot solve the problem with a bark control collar. Spending more time with your dog and train it more are likely to be better alternatives.

But for dogs that bark just because they are bored, the bark control collar can help them break the barking habit

Choosing A Bark Control Collar

If you made up your mind and decided to choose a bark collar, you should know there are three popular options of collars. bark control collars either use simple mechanisms to control barking, or combinations of techniques.

One type of efficient bark collar is the one using citronella smell. Dogs don’t like this smell, and, over time, the dog will avoid having the smell around them. There are types of citronella collars that also produce a hissing sound before spraying the citrus, and your dog will stop barking even sooner.

Electronic collars will shock the dog when it barks. The electronic shock does not harm your dog, and it is similar to people feeling static shocks. However, this “punishment” is enough to prevent further barkings. Many of these electronic collars stop sending shocks after a while, so you do not need to handle it manually.

Another great alternative is the sonic or ultrasonic bark collar that uses the sound mechanism. People cannot hear this sound, but it is enough to annoy the dog and stop the barking.

A great advantage of these products is that you do not have to be there for them to function. You can do whatever you please without worrying that you have to be with your dog in order to train it.

These dog collars are not efficient if the dog barks from other reasons, such as aggressivity, loneliness or fear. bark control dog collars work best for the dog who barks out of boredom or habit. Any of the three alternatives will work wonders and you will not have to worry about your dog’s barking anymore.

Before using bark control collars you need to figure out why your dog barks so often. Bark collars come in different versions, using a single method of a combination of mechanisms. You can read more about bark control dog collars here.

Are Bark Collars a Good Anti-Barking Solution?

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

Bark collars were invented to resolve a rather exasperating problem of dogs that bark all the time. If you happened to be in a neighborhood that had two or more of these, life was miserable indeed, because they reinforced each other’s behavior.

Initially, only one type of bark collar was invented – the static one. Back then, its mechanism wasn’t so advanced and it led to several complications. These versions could not distinguish between more types of barking, and they reacted to all dogs within a certain perimeter, even if the dog wearing it was silent. Some owners did not supervise their dogs during the first few days of wearing the device and their animals displayed various kinds of trauma.

In the time since they were first introduced, no bark collars have improved dramatically.

None of these collars intend to harm the dog, but rather teach it not to bark all the time. (This also works with other behaviors, so many collars have a manual remote that will allow you to help train the dog to stay off the furniture or not dig in the garden).

There are three different types of collars available on the market – with citronella, static and sonic. bark collar with citronella spread a strong citrus scent whenever the dog barks for longer that a certain amount of time. Static collars use high-frequency sounds that only dogs hear. Both of these styles are best used on ‘sensitive’ dogs; those that are high-strung or over-react to physical stimulation (spray collars are not recommended for scent hounds due to the sensitivity of their noses).

People seem to like static collars best, due to their constant innovation. When the collar detects barking of a certain range of frequencies and volume (both audibly and vibrationally) for a preset number of times, it will then be triggered. The static collar only reacts to the barking of the dog wearing it. It features volume and frequency settings that can be adjusted so that the collar does not react to manifestations of fear or stress, These devices can be adjusted manually. In addition, they have an automatic shutdown period if the dog barks for a certain period without cease. The bark collar will also reset to a lower level if the dog is silent for a preset amount of time. This reduction reinforces the idea that being quiet has benefits.

Anti-bark collars work best when associated with proper dog training. The collar should reinforce the training when the owner is not around; not BE the training. A reward system must be set in motion, so that the dog understands the proper behavior faster.

These devices are most recommended, over their alternatives – giving the dog away to a dog shelter or subjecting it to a stressful debarking surgery that comes with high risks.

Even though the first versions of bark collar weren’t perfect, they have been improved in time. Most types of dog collars can be adjusted manually or digitally. If you want to find out more about different types of bark collar, click here.