Training Your Pug. Brenda Belmonte

classes with a curriculum geared specifically toward puppies aged ten weeks to six months are offered by kennel clubs, boarding and training kennels, veterinary clinics, and local park districts. These classes, known as Puppy Kindergartens or Puppy Socialization, teach basic obedience commands while offering your Pug puppy a chance to play with other dogs of similar age.

      Puppy classes are a terrific way to socialize your Pug properly after you bring it home. A well-run class provides a safe environment for your puppy to play in, and gives you an early way to begin training your Pug.

      A properly run puppy class has a maximum of six to eight puppies per instructor and is located in a space that is large enough to accommodate safe play. The instructors should be knowledgeable about dog behavior, proper dog training techniques, and be able to communicate these in a clear manner. The curriculum should include instruction on how to handle common puppy problems, basic obedience commands, and should be taught in a positive manner.

      Using these guidelines, you can begin to understand why some Pugs may be difficult to housebreak, anxious about new people or places, and appear to learn more slowly than others. Some Pug puppies may be slow to housebreak if they are only used to eliminating indoors, on newspapers, at twelve weeks of age. A Pug puppy with little contact with strangers before being sent to join his new home may always be apprehensive of new people. The Pug puppies offered through pet stores are usually separated from their littermates before eight weeks of age, which may make it difficult for them to properly interact with other dogs.

      Positive new experiences need to continue after you bring your puppy home. Exposing your Pug to new people and places, and avoiding situations which may be too frightening or stressful, lays the foundation for your Pug puppy to accept new rules and succeed in becoming a well-trained Pug.

Where to Buy Your Pug

      While Pugs have become more popular, their availability from reputable sources has not increased to meet the demand. Remember that what happens to your Pug before he joins your family can directly influence his training once he comes home. Choosing a Pug from the right source must be considered a part of the training process.

      The Show Breeder

      Purchasing a puppy from a show breeder can be a lengthy process. These breeders often keep puppies longer, as they observe them and continually evaluate their potential in the show ring. A show breeder is keenly aware of the Pug’s health concerns, screening for genetic defects prior to breeding. They usually know the pedigree of their Pugs for many generations, and can share information about your puppy’s grandparents and great-grandparents.

      Show breeders do not produce a large number of litters in a year. It is not uncommon for a show breeder to have a waiting list for puppies, and many will require a deposit in order to reserve a puppy from a future litter. Show breeders seldom advertise in newspapers or on the Web. Most of their puppies are sold by referral from other puppy purchasers or other breeders.

      Breeders of show Pugs can be a great source of information for a puppy buyer.

      Show breeders may also have older puppies or young adults that have been trained for the show ring, but for one reason or another, are not as competitive as the breeder had hoped. These Pugs are usually quickly acclimated to a new family and home, as their preparation for the show ring has previously exposed them to frequent handlings, new people, and storage environments. Show breeders’ experience with Pugs, combined with their ability to properly care for and socialize puppies before they are sold, makes them the perfect option for purchasing your new Pug puppy.

      To find a show breeder you should plan to attend a local dog show. The American Kennel Club (www.akc.org) can provide you with a list of upcoming shows in your area. Show breeders may appear to be difficult to talk to at first, especially if you approach them while they are waiting to enter the ring. Be patient and persistent. You should ask if there is a good time to ask them some questions. If you intend to compete with your Pug in any performance event, the show breeder can evaluate his or her puppies and provide you with the best candidate for your chosen activity. If you cannot attend a local dog show try contacting a kennel club in your area and ask for a breeder referral list. Local veterinarians may also be able to provide referrals.

      Pug puppies can be hard to resist

      The Hobby Breeder

      A hobby breeder is someone who breeds Pugs strictly for placement as pets. These breeders usually have one or two males and breed them to the female Pugs they own. Hobby breeders may produce several litters per year. They may also have limited knowledge about the health problems of the Pug, and may know very little about the Pugs in their puppies’ pedigrees.

      Puppies from hobby breeders are generally raised in the breeder’s home. A hobby breeder may advertise in local papers, veterinary clinics, and on Web sites dedicated to puppy sales.

      The Pugs used for breeding by hobby breeders are most often of the Victorian type, so it is important to observe both the mother and father. Victorian-type Pugs often lack the sedate, easygoing Pug temperament, one of the qualities that draw families to this breed. Their hyperactivity can make them a challenge to breed. The future behavior of your puppy will be influenced not only by the genetics inherited from mom and dad, but his observations of their behavior.

       Pet Stores

      Pet stores generally have Pugs available within a short period of time. If you are impatient and must have a puppy right away, a pet store may be your only option.

      All pet stores purchase their puppies from commercial breeding operations. The puppies are usually sold through a middleman, known as a broker or wholesaler. These puppies are almost always separated from their littermates at an early age and may have been housed in poor conditions prior to arriving at the pet store. These factors can negativelyaffect a puppy’s adaptability and train-ability in its new home.

      The parents of pet store puppies seldom receive any screening for genetic health issues, and are used for breeding regardless of medical problems, type, or temperament. While it may be hard to resist a Pug puppy that looks at you with those big, sad eyes, it is important to remember that you have no knowledge of his background or breeding.

       Newspaper Ads

      Your local paper may contain advertisements for Pug puppies. These ads may be placed by hobby breeders, or puppy brokers, the very same people who supply the pet stores. You can distinguish where the puppies are from with a little observation and by asking a few simple questions:

      ∎ Check the phone number. If the same phone number appears several times, listed with several breeds of dogs, the puppies are being sold through a broker.

      ∎ Ask the person who answers the phone if one or both parents are on the premises. A hobby breeder usually has them and will let you meet them. A broker only has puppies available for purchase. A broker may also indicate that the litter was bred in another state by a “friend” or “relative” and that they are trying to help sell the puppies.

      ∎ Ask when you can come and see the puppies. A hobby breeder will set up a time for you to visit. A broker may offer to meet you halfway, usually in a parking lot, in a location they seem to know very well.

      Puppies sold through brokers generally originated in facilities such as barns or outdoor pens that have poor conditions. Once again you will have no knowledge of the puppy’s parents, and should a problem arise with your puppy in the future, you will often be unable to locate either the breeder or the broker who sold you the puppy.

       Internet Sales

      A fancy Web site does not necessarily indicate that