One of the first things every new pet owner wants to teach their puppy is to potty outside. When you think about the Pug dog breed, you usually think about a lazy, stubborn, loyal, and highly affectionate dog that has a mind of their own. So are Pugs hard to potty train? They can be if they struggle with any of the issues below.
Are Pugs Hard To Potty Train?
Pugs are highly intelligent dogs, but they have a tendency to act stubborn in certain situations that will require certain motivational tools, special needs, patience, and determination on your part to fully potty train your pup.
The great news is they are no more difficult than other breeds to house train!
The downside is this breed displays certain attitudes and behaviors that may make it more challenging to potty train them. We’ll take a look at some of the most common circumstances that can make it more challenging to house train your pooch.
Don’t worry, we’ll cover everything you need to make it the easiest and most pleasant experience for both you and your pup. We’ve also put together a potty training Pugs resource for Pug owners regardless of what stage you’re at.
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Let’s take a look at why Pugs are so challenging and what to expect and the solution to make it easier for both of you.
Why Are Pugs So Hard to Potty Train?
Are you not sure how to start potty training your Pug? Learn how to potty train any dog in 7 Days or Less!
Every dog is different, but there are several reasons this breed is hard to potty train. Here’s some of the reasons it could be taking longer than you wanted to potty train your pooch!
#1 They Don’t Want To Miss Anything
One of the biggest reasons this breed is so challenging to potty train, is they want to be around people as much as possible. Pugs are companion dogs, and once they bond with you, they will become your shadow and follow you all over the house.
If your puppy is having a lot of accidents, it could be because they don’t want to go outside in fear of missing something.
You’ve probably seen one of those funny videos on social media where a puppy is falling asleep while sitting down. Puppies crave attention and will do anything they can to avoid missing out.
So What’s The Solution?
Whenever your puppy is playing inside, pick them up and take them outside every 30 minutes to an hour depending on how old your pup is.
You will want to stand outside with them, so they don’t just run back inside before doing their business.
#2 They Are Stubborn
Pugs are known for their stubbornness and if they don’t want to do something, they just won’t do it. In fact, it’s not uncommon for it to take a year to fully potty train a Pug, depending on how stubborn he/she is.
So What’s The Solution?
Make the training process as pleasurable as possible and make sure you have plenty of treats. If you’re still having issues, you may want to consider hiring a trainer to help you out. Getting your Pug properly potty trained, won’t cost as much as most people think.
Be sure to check out this in-depth guide on how to potty train a stubborn Pug.
#3 They’re Scared
Maybe you rescued a dog that was in a bad environment that was punished whenever they did something wrong. If so, then it’s not uncommon for the dog to be more challenging to pee and poop outside.
Some rescued dogs will go as far as to hide their accidents from you because they are afraid of being punished. Others may be scared and timid of everything it makes it challenging to properly train them.
What’s The Solution?
Never spank a dog, especially one that has been abused in the past. I’d recommend crate training the Pug, as long as they are not scared of it.
Take them out every hour on the hour regardless of whether they have to pee or not. Use positive reinforcement to let them know how well they did. Don’t forget to give them some treats, this will help your pup learn quickly.
If you’ve rescued a Pug, you will need to have more patience as they will be more challenging to train than a dog that was never abused.
#4 You Waited Too Long
This will be easier if you’ve purchased or adopted a young 8-week old Pug. As soon as you bring them home, start teaching them to go outside and use the potty. Some experts say you should wait until the puppy is 10-weeks old before you start toilet training them.
However, the sooner you start teaching your puppy what you expect of them, the easier it will be to potty train them.
What’s The Solution
As soon as you bring your puppy home, don’t let walk on carpeted floors. Carpet floors make it easy for your pup to squat and pee.
Implement a potty training schedule and stick with it for as long as it takes until your puppy is fully potty trained.
#5 You Adopted An Older Pug
An older dog that wasn’t properly house trained doesn’t know that it’s wrong to pee or poop inside. It’s up to you to teach them what you expect.
The downside is that it can take a lot longer to train an older Pug that has never been trained.
What’s The Solution?
The easiest way to potty train an older dog is to use scheduled and consistent feedings. This will help you create a potty schedule so you know when they need to go outside.
A healthy adult dog will need to go to the bathroom 4-5 times per day. Be sure to take them to the same spot every day.
Your main goal is to teach your dog “consistency” until they learn how to potty outside.
#6 The Weather
If you got your puppy for Christmas, you’re likely to have more problems potty training your pooch. Pugs don’t like standing outside in the rain or snow and it will be harder to get them to use the toilet.
Any changes in the weather such as rain, sleet, snow, can make toilet training much more complicated. This can be especially challenging if you live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains all the time.
If you live in the south, you’re dealing with the heat and humidity which can also affect toilet training.
What’s The Solution?
The first thing you’ll want to do is get your Pug comfortable with the different weather conditions. You may even want to consider investing in a sweater or jacket to help them stay warm when it’s cold outside.
If you live in an area where it’s really hot, you’ll want to have plenty of cold water ready when your dog comes back inside. You may even want to invest in some cool dog ice cream you can give your dog after they do their business.
Brachycephalic dogs don’t do well in the heat, so make sure you don’t leave them outside too long.
#7 Stress And Anxiety
If your dog uses the bathroom when left home alone, they could be stressed. A stressed dog can be challenging to train because they require more patience.
What’s The Solution?
Every dog requires patience, but a nervous or stressed dog will require even more patience. Make training as fun as possible and speak in a very soft, calm, and quiet voice so you don’t scare them or make them feel threatened.
During your training sessions, make sure you don’t bend over them or touch their head as this behavior can cause them to feel threatened by you and lose their trust in you.
Final Word
Pugs can be trained to do what you want them to do. Every Pug is different and one may be more challenging to potty train than the other, even if they live in the same household or are brother and sister.
We’ve covered some of the most common reasons that can make potty training a Pug more challenging. Most pet owners will be able to train their own dogs. If you’re still having problems training your pooch, you may want to invest in this puppy training guide that will help you see a difference in your puppy a lot quicker.
Make sure you have plenty of Pug treats, as this will be the quickest way to potty train your new pup!
References And Further Reading
PetMD – The Ins and Outs of Potty Training Older Dogs
Wag – How to Train Your Rescue Dog to Pee Outside