School of Gremlin: Training Your Pug Puppy Without Summoning a Meltdown
Training a pug is like trying to convince a marshmallow to do taxes. They’re clever, yes. But also dramatic, stubborn, and powered by mysterious internal rules such as: “I sit, but only when there’s cheese. And only if the moon is in Scorpio.”
But here’s why it matters…
Why Bother Training a Living Meatball?
Mental stimulation keeps them sharp and reduces destructive boredom (aka sofa annihilation).
Bond building: You’ll become their safe space, snack source, and moral compass (ish).
Safety: "Leave it" and "stay" could literally save their googly-eyed lives.
Social acceptance: People forgive snorts. They don’t forgive humping the neighbour’s Crocs.
Pugs might act like royalty, but every royal needs etiquette.
When to Start? Yesterday.
Okay, maybe not literally, but as early as 8–10 weeks you can begin the basics:
Their brains are spongy.
Their bladder control? Less so.
Their attention span? Think goldfish on espresso.
Start with simple cues like “sit,” “down,” and “don’t lick the plug socket.”
Understanding the Pug Mindset (Enter at Own Risk)
Stubborn? Yes. Untrainable? Absolutely not.
They thrive on positive reinforcement—praise, treats, worship.
They don’t handle harsh corrections—try that and they'll pretend they’ve been mortally wounded.
Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes), fun, and full of drama and snacks.
To a pug, training is theatre. You are the audience. They want a standing ovation and cheese.
Toilet Training: The Nightmare Arc
Take them out after meals, naps, play, and random full moons
Praise every success like they’ve discovered fire
Accidents will happen—don’t scold, just clean and reboot
Pick one consistent toilet spot outdoors. Do not follow them around the entire garden like a desperate butler.
Pug logic: “I wee inside → I get cleaned → Therefore humans enjoy this ritual.” Foil their plans.
Socialising Without Summoning Mayhem
Expose them to dogs, children, loud noises, traffic, vacuum cleaners, doorbells, and the apocalypse soundtrack that is a dropped spoon.
Keep introductions short and positive—never force interactions
Let them sniff other dogs but not declare war or form cults.
The goal isn’t a pug who loves everyone—it’s one who tolerates chaos without barking at it.
What to Teach (Besides World Domination)
Sit / Down / Stay – for basic gremlin containment
Leave it – for things like chicken bones and your favourite charging cable
Come – for when they escape and lead you on a Benny Hill-style chase
Drop it – for the sock ritual
Settle – for moments you’d like to drink tea without a surprise armpit pug
Use hand signals too—they’re surprisingly visual little loafs.
Safety First, Somehow
Avoid retractable leads until their recall doesn’t involve disappearing into shrubbery.
Always train with a harness—not a collar—you’ve seen that neck shape, right?
Puppy classes can help—but find one that understands small breed quirks (like passive-aggressive snorting)
Final Thought: You’re Raising Chaos, Lovingly
Will they chew a shoe while ignoring every command? Definitely. Will they suddenly recall all their training at the sight of a treat bag? Also yes.
Training your pug isn’t about creating a robot—it’s about guiding the goblin into a version of themselves that can exist peacefully in polite society... or at least not scream at pushchairs.
The Porch Potty! An incredibly stylish design, around a very functional product!
I now own two of these, one for indoors and one for my decking area. Having an elderly pug and a puppy sleep upstairs with you can offer a toileting challenge, and when the puppy starts eating disposable pads, you need alternative options!
The design of this fantastic, simply place a bowl under the grass, and it’s good to use. Of course, remember to clean the bowl each day and wash the grass once a week to save any unwanted smells.
The one I have outdoor is fantastic for pugs who hate the rain, and makes clean up super easy. It also saves my real grass from burns.
This is the harness Roo wears, you’ll see it a lot on my socials.
I’ve been impressed with it as it wasn’t expensive, but the build quality is solid. It has lots of options to adjust it to suit, and fits snug around the neck and body.
It’s pretty lightweight compared to others I’ve had, and cleaned up well in the washing machine after a fun day at the beach!
One great addition to this HEELE Dog Harness, it has a handle on the back! So providing you can catch your dog, you’ve something to get hold of while you clip the lead back on!
