Maybe you’ve started noticing that when you and a friend are standing outside calling your Pug, your dog tends to run to your friend’s side first. That’s happened to all dog owners at once and it’s NOT fun, but you shouldn’t take it personally. In this article we’re going to answer the question “do Pugs bond with one person and how they choose?”
Do Pugs Bond With One Person?
Pugs tend to love everyone they meet, however, they do tend to pick one person they will cling to and follow you around everywhere. This is why they are often referred to as “velcro dogs.”
Just like humans, animals will develop a close relationship with their favorite humans. Pugs are loyal dogs and if you become their favorite person, you’ll have a four-legged friend for life. Not only that, but they will stare at you and watch your movements so they can get to know and understand you better.
I’ll be sharing some tricks that you can use to get your Pug to bond with you later on in this article.
Before you try building a bond, let’s take a look at why and how dogs choose their fave person.
Why Dogs Choose Favorites
It’s easy to think that you’ll become your Pug’s favorite person, after all, you bathe, groom, feed, and take care of him/her. However, that isn’t always the case.
Dogs tend to pick their favorite person based on familiarity rather than a matter of preference.
In fact, according to Rover, canines tend to choose their favorite person based on positive associations.
Let’s take a closer look at what this means.
What Are Positive Associates?
Positive associates are nothing more than your dog realizing you’re the person they can turn to for good stuff (treats, playtime, walks).
It’s no different than a child forming a positive association with their grandparents who always bring them a gift or money when they come to visit. If you ask them who their favorite grandparents are, it’s going to be the ones that lavish them with gifts and love.
If you want your dog to bond with you so you can become their person, you need to develop new associations with your dog.
This means that you have to be more than just the person who plays, feeds, and baths them.
Instead, you need to become the person who gives them the most attention, treats, and joyful experiences.
Don’t worry, Pugs are NOT a hard breed to build a bond with.
My Pug loved every one, but my Pug was attached to me and followed me everywhere I went. I used to call her my shadow. It’s not unusual for a Pug to follow their owner everywhere.
How To Be Your Dog’s Favorite Person
Now that you know how important it is to develop a positive association with your dog, let’s take a look at how you make new associations.
#1 Start Socializing At An Early Stage
A canine’s key socialization period is from birth to six months old. A puppy’s brain is extremely receptive during this time period, and it’s during this time that you want to start working on those positive interactions with them.
This means that instead of watching television, you want to be down on the floor playing along with them and their favorite toys.
If you’ve adopted an older dog, they may be set in their ways and have already developed some beliefs of their own, that can prevent you from building a strong bond.
Let’s say that you adopted a Pug from a family that had a two-year-old that tortured them every day.
That Pug will most likely be skittish around children and may be better off in a household that doesn’t have kids.
However, it’s NEVER too late to start socializing your dog, regardless of age. The more experiences they have and the more people they meet, the better off they will be to warm up around both you and others.
#2 Quality Attention And Affection
Going for a 30-minute walk every day is not the same as sitting and playing with your Pug.
Pugs love attention and when you take the time to rub their belly, have an interactive play session, take them for car rides, or give them special treats, they will bond with you.
Start paying attention to what your dog likes and dislikes. Understanding your dog’s preferences such as favorite treats, games, and things to do means that you can spend at least 30 minutes a day doing what he really wants.
Remember, the type of affection and attention you give you dog makes a big difference.
As long as you make your Pug feel like they are important, they will most likely bond very quickly with you.
#3 Touch Your Dog
Spend time sitting on the couch or floor petting your Pug or giving them belly rubs.
My black Pug loved belly rubs and would automatically roll over on her back as soon as she saw me.
This is a great way to bond with your Pug, plus there is evidence that petting and grooming a dog can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure in humans.
#4 Give Them Praise
Just like humans, dogs love to be told they did a great job. Many dogs love praise, especially, when you talk in a cheery tone and scratch them behind the ear or pet them on the head.
Dogs understand body language and learn to associate your upbeat tone with things they absolutely love like praise, special treats, or going for a ride.
They won’t necessarily understand what you’re saying if you talk to them in a normal tone, in fact, it may just sound like white noise to them.
However, you might notice that they tilt their heads as if they are trying to understand you.
Start giving them more praise and you’ll notice the difference in how they act whenever you’re around.
How Do I Know If My Dog Has Bonded With Me?
It can be hard to know if your dog has bonded to you, after all, they can’t say “you’re their favorite human.” As far as I know, there’s not a dog bond test, so it’s important to understand the signs to look for to know that your dog has bonded with you.
Here are some of the signs that your Pug is attached to you:
- Follows you everywhere
- Relaxed whenever they are around you
- Happy to see you
- Constantly makes eye contact
- Listens and responds to your voice
- Continually seeks out your affection
- Snuggles to both you and your belongings
Bonded Pugs love and follow their humans anywhere.
What Can I Do If My Dog Is Bonded To The Wrong Person?
We’ve all heard that familiar story from a friend “My dog bonded with me not my wife, and she’s the one who wanted him.”
If you’ve found yourself in this predicament, then most likely, you have not created enough positive associations between you and your dog.
No dog regardless of the breed will bond with a person, if you’re not willing to put in the effort to actually bond.
Final Word Pug and Human Bonding
Any dog regardless of the breed will usually pick their favorite person and develop a deep bond. Yes, there are some things that you can do to try to make them bond with you.
When you become the person with the most positive experiences, they will reward you with a lifetime of love. Even though sometimes they act more excited to see your sister, brother, husband, or friend.
References and Further Reading
Sage Journals – Linda M. Hines – Historical Perspectives On The Human-Animal Bond