housebreaking a pug puppy!!

[Tinkermommy]

Well, I am at my wits end. We have a cute, lovable pug puppy who is 5 months old and is nowhere near housebroken.

Roxxi (my puppy) is very smart, but is just not going (especially #2) outside. I will take her out and she will sniff and frolic forever, then I will put in back in her crate (we are crate training her) and she will go then!

My other dog is almost 13 so it's been some time since we last puppy trained. I am just wondering if pugs are more difficult? Anyone have any advice?

 

[JARNJ3]

I think the crate is too big.

We are currently crate training a shih tzu puppy (named - are you ready - Mickey Mouse!), and are following the advice from a website like this:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1548&articleid=157

We took up all the paper - so we're trying to get him to know its not ok to go in the house any more.

Still some accidents - but he is getting better!!!

 

[mrsv98]

1. I agree the crate is too big. If there is too much room, then the pup will make one end the "potty". Either block off one end or get a smaller crate for the time being.

2. Potty time is all business. Take the pup out on a leash to the same area all the time. Don't interact, just let her sniff. If she doesn't go, take her back in the house and back inthe crate. Wait 15-20 mins and repeat. Try to do this at predictable times, like 30-60 mins after she eats. This will help you be successful in your training. Also, when she does poop, act like an idiot and praise, praise, praise! I know that I sound so ridiculous to the neighbors when we are training a pup but it does work!

Good luck, potty training can be nerve wracking but she will get it.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

I have three pugs-the oldest is now 10 yrs old. They are the most wonderful, lovable, snuggliest breed I have ever owned.

Yet, they can be extremely stubborn.Females are worse.

I agree that the crate might be too big. I attempted to crate our first and one day I came home from work and he was covered in poo. I felt horrible-so we just ended up buying a baby gate and blocking him in the kitchen. My pugs just hated confinement.

Usually when they start running around like a maniac with their butts down (like a "Road Runner"-beepbeep!),that is usually an indication they are loosening up. Give her enough time outside and praise/hug/love and kisses and give major treats when she does go. They eat it up.

The pug pic in my sig is my adopted furbaby. Is yours fawn or black?

 

[AnninIowa]

I have two pugs, 4 and 2, and I still work hard to reinforce potty training. I take them out regularly, encourage them to "hurry up" (hurry up is a training phase I read about - keep saying it until they go), then I make the biggest deal out of it ("Yea! Good job!! Good, good, good boy and girl!!!"). Then they get a treat when they come in. Pugs love to please their people AND eat...so praise them until there is no tomorrow and reward with food.

 

[muffyn]

we got our pug in winter ,,absolutely no way would we even try to train her in the cold!
so she lived in our bedroom, at night IN a play pen with a litter box, then in an area with a dog fence ( we have a few fences for puppies to go outside to play when little) in the kitchen with a litter box.
she quickly learned how to use the litter box & we just kept it in the kitchen for her.. when she was a year old she decided she had enough & trained herself to go outside. (probably following the other dogs).

um pug poo is NOT like golden retriever poo,,,
your best bet is to get the litter box & live with that, until your pug is ready on its own.

(yup I have read pugs are tricky with housebreaking)

 

[Tinkermommy]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I do think the crate is too big. We call it her apartment! I will block it off somehow.

I told my husband about the leash and her took her out this am and no problem! So we will try the leash as well.

I also know what you mean about the roadrunner thing. She is so funny when she does that, but I will be sure to make sure she has enough time to go after that.

I work at home, so I will just keep trying throughout the day.

By the way, Roxxi is a fawn. She is our first pug and we really love her! She is great with my two kids and our other dog.

Thanks again!

 

[NikiM20]

Also try bell training,tie a bell on the door. when you take her out to go potty, ring the bell. After a few days take her paw and ring the bell. It wont be long before she associates bell with potty and will ring to go out

 

[mrsv98]

Also try bell training,tie a bell on the door. when you take her out to go potty, ring the bell. After a few days take her paw and ring the bell. It wont be long before she associates bell with potty and will ring to go out

I have also heard about putting a dot of peanut butter on the bell. When the pup licks the bell, it rings and you take her outside. They learn the connection pretty quickly and after awhile you won't need the pb.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

We have a 11 month old puppy who was never trained by his previous owners--they said they tried but didn't have time blah blah blah

We have had him for just over 3 weeks and have trained him to go outside!!

We keep him in the kitchen,breakfast room,laundry room area because it is all linoleum and he hates it because he can see us in the living room and wants to be with us.

We used only 3 words. We start with OUTSIDE--while inside we start saying "Gus OUTSIDE?" and get his leash and put it on him while repeating OUTSIDE----once outside we say "Gus PEE" and when he goes, as he is going, we say "Yeah Gus PEE PEE" and give him a treat and lots of petting then we start saying "Gus POOP" and as he is pooping we say "yeah Gus POOP" and he gets another treat and of course lots of petting

If he goes outside he is allowed to come into the living room as an extra reward.

Now when we say OUTSIDE he runs to the door and waits for his leash and has had no accidents in the house.

Just remember to give the praise and treat as he/she is actually doing what they are supposed to be doing

Our neighbors also know when we are outside with the dog because of all the "Yeah Gus Pee and POOP!!" they hear but are surprised by the fact he is already doing what he is supposed to do because they are still cleaning up messes in their house---Last night I heard our neighbor to the left giving the commands to her white german shephard they have had for about a year

We have also taught him to sit,roll over and give kisses on command---we're still working on lay down--my DD6 taught him another way to sit also--she makes a hand gesture and he sits when she does it,she doesn't say a word just does the hand gesture.

You should check out the show--It's me or the dog---the trainer on there has lots of tips!