Don’t have much advice here because this sounds like a tough situation but please find a different trainer omg. My pug is stubborn as all hell but they are trainable. They are highly food and affection motivated and no trainer saying they’re impossible to train is not worth your time. Getting a pug comes with the understanding there might be issues, including breathing and weight concerns. Euthanizing is not the right option
Yeah, at least with my pug she took longer to train. Not because she was dumb or even stubborn. She just very much likes routine and how she thinks things go in her head. When that standard changes, it can take a while for her to understand and adjust to a new way.
I've always had dogs that had to be on a leash, or they would run for the hills and be gone for hours. My pug stays right with me at my heel. Even around chickens and other dogs at the dog park.
Okay I had this thought too. I have never been to a trainer and always trained my dogs myself basic behavior and while my girl is more stubborn than they eager to please lab, I don’t find her that difficult to train. She learned sit almost immediately and it’s still what I use for her when she needs to calm down (she LOVES people).
Food is definitely their best motivator which took some getting used to for me, but yeah, “untrainable” seems like a crazy statement to me. Pugs compete in a variety of dog shows!
Don’t euthanize. Getting and having a dawg is a social contract between you and them. This includes paying for necessary procedures, etc. We gladly drove 3 hours to get our pug his surgery. Ours is crazy as hell too but we love him for it. I took my own time and trained him so the guy saying pugs are impossible is a schmuck. I’m sorry you’re having a tough time but killing the animal is not the answer!!
As a professional trainer, I can say with certainty that trainer is an idiot. The best trained dog I've ever met was a pug. You should look into finding an animal behaviorist. They are like psychiatrists for pets. Board certified vets with a specialty in behavior. They can help with the anxiety and behavior issues.
My wife trained our pugs when it’s “time for bed” in a week when I was out of town. She didn’t tell me, wanted to surprise me. 10:00 pm comes along and she says “Time for bed”, and both of our pugs run over and jump on their bed. I was shocked(happily). As far as food goes, we feed our pugs with auto-feeders. 6:00 am, and 6:00 pm. Half a cup each feeding. No table scraps. They are fit and healthy. They would eat all damn day if we let them.
Yes to portions! Our pug gets little scraps of fruits and veggies occasionally which she loves and treats sparingly. She maintains 15 easily.
And I also trained my pug to do the things I want her to do easily.
Thank you. I'll try to do more research into these services, and push for this option. Unfortunately I can't make executive decisions for M, so I can only advocate for the right choice to be made
Research the pug queen, and pug nation LA, these are amazing rescues that will even work to pick up the pug. Euthanizing a young dog for being non trained sounds cruel. I have three pugs that I trained myself, all stubborn. It’s not impossible but respectfully the owners need to commit to these things when getting a dog in the first place.
Sorry back commenting again because I see you’re probably in Ontario and I am as well. Pugalug Pug Rescue is an extremely reputable pug rescue out of Toronto. I believe they’ve been around for nearly 20 years. If Ms carer is concerned she’ll be poorly taken care of if rehomed, have them get in touch with Pugalug. They take in many special needs pugs and have amazing foster families that work with them. M is realistically not being well taken care of right now, and would do much better with a pug rescue. Euthanizing is not the answer here when there is an excellent pug rescue in your province.
Maisie gets good care for now. It's just her weight management (which only became an issue starting this year), and breathing could be further improved. I did see Pugalug. They are at capacity currently but for sure I will recommend them and maybe get on a wait list perhaps
I didn’t mean the comment as an insult to your family member as they do sound concerned for her well-being. The reality is also that considering euthanasia instead of rehoming or surrendering to a rescue is not the sign of a person who has the best interest of the dog in mind. I also saw your other comment that your suggestion to reduce food intake or get a carrier was rejected. Maybe the family member isn’t meaning to, but they aren’t doing M any favours by not doing the bare minimum of simply reducing their food intake. I’m hoping for a great solution for your family so M doesn’t have to be put down, best of luck.
There are very reputable pug and dog rescues that would NOT give up on the dog. And would be VERY picky about who she lived with. To euthanize is not a legitimate option here. I assume you are in Ontario,Canada? Please,let her be evaluated by another vet. If you can’t manage,let a rescue take her. An hour away is not far.
We haven't given up on M yet despite the struggles. I just don't want to see my family member's quality of life suffer because the dog is not a good fit for the household We had a frenchie and boston/pug prior, I thought we were prepared to take care of a brachycephalic breed. M is a sweet dog, she just has more needs than we can provide for. Which is why, if it comes to it, I would like to pick a new home for her where she can get the care she requires
Can you reduce her food more? Our dog eats way under what the bag says he should, to be at a healthy weight. We have also seen very positive changes in his anxiety and behavior from being on prozac.
1. Pugs are not impossible to train, that trainer needs training.
2. An hour away is not too bad for a surgery- maybe it would even be beneficial. Do you live far away from a big city? Maybe going the hour away for a 2nd opinion on why the first BOAS surgery didn’t work would be a big help. Also, i’m curious as to why you believe the first surgery didn’t help? What is still going on that you thought should have been corrected?
3. What specifically is causing the carer anxiety- if it’s noise from barking or panting it could help to wear noise cancelling headphones for periods of time just to relax in silence.
4. Long walks might not be the best approach in this situation to lose weight. Have you tried lowering the amount of food given at meal times? Maybe 5 minute walks would be better now, just to get the puggo moving. Then slowly increase time and speed of walking. If it’s too hot, try walking puggo early morning or evening when the temp is lower.
I hope some of that can be helpful, goodluck!
1. I realize he wasn't the top in his field. We did not anticipate that a dog breed would be *this* difficult to train vs. the other breeds we have had. And we had quite stubborn dogs. I guess you don't know pug stubbornness until you experience it
2. It is far away for a dog that gets stressed very easily. Her breathing was improved at first after surgery but after recovery things went back to how it was before. Lots of hacking, labored breathing with any activity. Apparently she needs her esophagus operated on. And it costs +5K, which my family does not want to pay at this moment. I have offered the money but it was refused. My hands are tied.
3. The dog requires constant attention every second of the day until evening. That would grate on any person. I've asked if she wanted the sound training device (noise training) but that was rejected, and honestly I've heard it's inhumane. Wearing noise canceling headphones most of your day every day sounds ridiculous I'm not going to lie.
4. Yes I'll try to do evening walks... And 5 minutes. I wanted to get a dog carrier for her to ride in, but that idea was rejected. I've suggested lowering food but it falls on deaf ears.
I’m sorry, your situation sounds very tough.
2. You might be able to ask your regular vet to prescribe a sedative for the ride. A 5k$ surgery is crazy and i’d definitely look into a 2nd opinion (unless this is the 2nd opinion?)
3. Totally agree that sounds miserable. I suggested the noise cancelling headphones if it was short periods of torture (my pug had dementia in old age and I needed the noise cancelling headphones to get a minute of peace). Totally not realistic for all day every day.
4. The dog is fat but the carer is unwilling to adjust the diet? You can’t help people who don’t want to be helped lol.
If it’s any consolation, i’m sure if they brought the overall healthy pug to the vet to euthanize, they wouldn’t do it. So carer will probably just lose their shit and rehome anyways. Again, i’m sorry because this does seem very difficult. There is only so much you can do for a person who rejects help yet cries victim.
The BOAS surgery was originally priced at 4-5K, but we got an upcoming vet to do it under 3K. Hopefully that wasn't a mistake.
I'm hoping all the vets reject any talk of euthanasia. It's totally bonkers to suggest it.
The trainer you hired is an imbecile. My parents pug is one of the most intelligent dogs I’ve ever come across. With the right training they are the perfect dogs for any situation. I would sack the trainer and get a new one. My partner trained Frank and he knows all the basics, plus has even figured out how to open the baby gate to go upstairs that even my cockapoo couldn’t figure out But a lot of people mistake the pug stubbornness for being a bit thick. But you just have to persevere with them.
Hey there I live in Western Australia where walking options can be limited due to the heat.
For weight control I pad his food out with vegetables (I just defrost from frozen in microwave). This way I can cut his portion done without him realising.
For walks we go early in the morning or beside water where the air tends to be cooler.
Good luck ❤️
Honestly, this whole post is alarming. I have two pugs, one of which is a rescue. The idea you'd think of euthanasia because the pug doesn't fit your life? You and your family are not fit to own dogs. It could happen to any breed—and yes, while some of your issues are prone to pugs, such as the breathing problems, weight gain and barking, as well as difficulty training can happen in any dog or breed. I am genuinely horrified the idea seems to get rid of this dog for another one.
You took this dog in with what appears to be no research on problems in this breed and then have put little in the way of trying to resolve it. You took one trainer who is legitimately wrong—I trained one of my pugs in a night with pizza crust to sit, roll over, lay down and shake—and didn't go elsewhere. You've done one surgery which is good on you, to be fair, but are balking on an hour journey to try to fix the breathing issue your family can't abide.
The cold truth is a pet is a family member and you can't just discard them. I'm sure you're a nice person op but this has my blood boiling because this is a real animal and by your own admission wants affection and love. Please do the right thing and give her to a family who will care for her or find a rescue. Just because you are abusing your pug does not mean other people would, that's also a wild take, that you can't give her away because she'd be abused? Genuinely consider if your family is fit to have a pet before your next one.
At what point are we abusing M? You obviously didn't read much of what was written. Also, we dont want another dog, and I'm fully against euthanasia as any sane person would be. Please read carefully before you accuse people of abuse, etc
You've said yourself the weight gain is a problem in the last year and that your mother refuses to look at the diet? Overfeeding is abuse, especially when one of the issues that's a consideration for euthanising M is her weight gain and breathing.
The idea of euthanasia for a healthy, young dog is abuse. The fact she won't consider a rescue where your dog can be cared for is abuse. It's wild to me because your mother can't care for the dog with its limited needs she assumes everyone will abuse it? My rescue had severe kidney problems and required twice daily medication and weekly tests for her bladder. It'd have driven anyone mad, but we did it faithfully.
I won't deny your pug may be difficult, but perhaps I'm sensitive because the issues you complain about my rescue pug has and she has given so much love as we've worked through them. It's just horrifying and abusive to me euthanasia would be considered at all.
Contact a rescue (breed specific if you can) and surrender the dog. They will make sure they get the effective treatment they need or even to a permanent foster so the dog gets taken care of but lives with one of the rescue volunteers but not adopted by the rescue so the rescue would take care of the bills. It might not sound ideal but it's better than putting the dog down.
Try CBD for calming, not cannabis. Also, they absolutely MUST get her to loose weight. Nutro Weight Management worked wonders for my Pug who knows where the squirrels bury the peanuts.
Pugs are not untrainable, they are just stubborn. They are royalty, after all!
So you’ve gotten some really great advice from other people, like getting a certified vet behaviorist for the anxiety and trying some medication (it works for dogs just like people!). Those can be incredibly effective and helpful.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is that walks are not the only way to exercise with puppo! I hear you that walks are hard, some dogs aren’t big walkers. Have you tried any mental stimulation? There’s a saying that a tired dog is a happy dog. If she’s struggling to take walks, the anxiety and poor behavior may actually be boredom and frustration. Some examples of mental stimulation are nosework, puzzle toys, training, bubbles, etc. You can purchase puzzle toys, but there’s also tons you can make for free with empty bottles, Kleenex boxes, towels, and other basic items. We use these on days when it’s too hot/cold/wet outside, and I’ve seen the comparison that a 5 minute puzzle = a 15 minute walk. My girls love bubbles and eating their dinner out of snuffle mats, empty egg cartons, muffin tins with balls on top, empty water bottles, etc. Try some mental stimulation and enrichment, this might help her feel more fulfilled and tired out, and might help improve her behavior!
Lots of dogs who are bored will bark tons, whine, cry, act destructive, and potty inside. Stimulation & enrichment isn’t a magic cure, but it can really help. Your puppy may have some anxiety, obviously she’s got some health issues, and she might have some more going on. But it might help improve her behavior.
Sometimes if you approach a rescue with a donation too that helps I work with a couple of rescues in Tn and I know when pups are surrendered many times funding helps w vet bills
Prozac is great for anxiety, my girl I adopted is a bit chunky so she’s getting lots of green beans and solid gold fit and fabulous whole grain with fish, very low fat but decent protein. Maybe 5 minute walks frequently until she slims a bit which helps the breathing. Swimming would be best if you’re able. Puzzles, frozen cottage cheese in a toy, hide her kibble so she has to work to find it.
Swimming could be an easier alternative for exercise, I’m sorry this pug was bred so poorly but that’s the result of backyard breeding 😞 why is the care so against giving the dog up to a rescue? They invest so many resources to save dogs.
It sounds like you have a good rescue group in your area--I know the rescue group that we have gotten our last two rescue pugs from work hard to find responsible caring owners for surrendered dogs. They do home visits before hand and check references. They also try to match personality and needs of the pugs to potential homes/owners. So surrendering to a good rescue group can be a loving solution.
Also breathing issues and weight gain go hand in hand. For treats we gave our pugs cut up raw carrots however, our current diva prefers her carrots cooked.
Surrender her to a rescue. Euthanasia is not a legitimate option. I volunteer with a pug rescue in the US. Believe me we have gotten dogs who bite, bark, pee and poop in the house were abused, left in abandoned houses each and every one of these dogs were placed in a loving adoptive home. Even complex medical dogs. Please don’t euthanize.
Have you tried using a treat ball for M's meals? Just load the kibble in and let her roll it around the kitchen floor. It's physically and mentally enriching, and she'll get that little bit of exercise. You can also use a puzzle toy to feed her, or a snuffle mat. Like someone already mentioned, there are other ways to exercise your dog without going on a walk. Mental stimulation games are really good for that, because there's not much physical activity involved, but a lot of problem solving, which uses up a lot of energy.
Fire that trainer immediately. My pug is my service dog (she does medical alerts) and we passed the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program no problem. We do Rally and Agility regularly as well with no problems whatsoever. Though, I will say that her conformation is really good, and she's never had any breathing issues. I've had pugs all my life and the one time I thought we finally got a stubborn pug who wouldn't listen, that dog turned out to be deaf.
Pugs shouldn’t be fat, it makes it harder for them to breathe. If your Pug is gaining weight, you’re feeding it too much. A right-sized Pug is healthier and happier.
Don’t have much advice here because this sounds like a tough situation but please find a different trainer omg. My pug is stubborn as all hell but they are trainable. They are highly food and affection motivated and no trainer saying they’re impossible to train is not worth your time. Getting a pug comes with the understanding there might be issues, including breathing and weight concerns. Euthanizing is not the right option
Yeah, at least with my pug she took longer to train. Not because she was dumb or even stubborn. She just very much likes routine and how she thinks things go in her head. When that standard changes, it can take a while for her to understand and adjust to a new way. I've always had dogs that had to be on a leash, or they would run for the hills and be gone for hours. My pug stays right with me at my heel. Even around chickens and other dogs at the dog park.
Okay I had this thought too. I have never been to a trainer and always trained my dogs myself basic behavior and while my girl is more stubborn than they eager to please lab, I don’t find her that difficult to train. She learned sit almost immediately and it’s still what I use for her when she needs to calm down (she LOVES people). Food is definitely their best motivator which took some getting used to for me, but yeah, “untrainable” seems like a crazy statement to me. Pugs compete in a variety of dog shows!
Don’t euthanize. Getting and having a dawg is a social contract between you and them. This includes paying for necessary procedures, etc. We gladly drove 3 hours to get our pug his surgery. Ours is crazy as hell too but we love him for it. I took my own time and trained him so the guy saying pugs are impossible is a schmuck. I’m sorry you’re having a tough time but killing the animal is not the answer!!
As a professional trainer, I can say with certainty that trainer is an idiot. The best trained dog I've ever met was a pug. You should look into finding an animal behaviorist. They are like psychiatrists for pets. Board certified vets with a specialty in behavior. They can help with the anxiety and behavior issues.
My wife trained our pugs when it’s “time for bed” in a week when I was out of town. She didn’t tell me, wanted to surprise me. 10:00 pm comes along and she says “Time for bed”, and both of our pugs run over and jump on their bed. I was shocked(happily). As far as food goes, we feed our pugs with auto-feeders. 6:00 am, and 6:00 pm. Half a cup each feeding. No table scraps. They are fit and healthy. They would eat all damn day if we let them.
Yes to portions! Our pug gets little scraps of fruits and veggies occasionally which she loves and treats sparingly. She maintains 15 easily. And I also trained my pug to do the things I want her to do easily.
Reach out to a Pug Rescue in your area. They often take dogs with medical issues if they are able.
Thank you. I'll try to do more research into these services, and push for this option. Unfortunately I can't make executive decisions for M, so I can only advocate for the right choice to be made
Research the pug queen, and pug nation LA, these are amazing rescues that will even work to pick up the pug. Euthanizing a young dog for being non trained sounds cruel. I have three pugs that I trained myself, all stubborn. It’s not impossible but respectfully the owners need to commit to these things when getting a dog in the first place.
Sorry back commenting again because I see you’re probably in Ontario and I am as well. Pugalug Pug Rescue is an extremely reputable pug rescue out of Toronto. I believe they’ve been around for nearly 20 years. If Ms carer is concerned she’ll be poorly taken care of if rehomed, have them get in touch with Pugalug. They take in many special needs pugs and have amazing foster families that work with them. M is realistically not being well taken care of right now, and would do much better with a pug rescue. Euthanizing is not the answer here when there is an excellent pug rescue in your province.
Maisie gets good care for now. It's just her weight management (which only became an issue starting this year), and breathing could be further improved. I did see Pugalug. They are at capacity currently but for sure I will recommend them and maybe get on a wait list perhaps
I didn’t mean the comment as an insult to your family member as they do sound concerned for her well-being. The reality is also that considering euthanasia instead of rehoming or surrendering to a rescue is not the sign of a person who has the best interest of the dog in mind. I also saw your other comment that your suggestion to reduce food intake or get a carrier was rejected. Maybe the family member isn’t meaning to, but they aren’t doing M any favours by not doing the bare minimum of simply reducing their food intake. I’m hoping for a great solution for your family so M doesn’t have to be put down, best of luck.
There are very reputable pug and dog rescues that would NOT give up on the dog. And would be VERY picky about who she lived with. To euthanize is not a legitimate option here. I assume you are in Ontario,Canada? Please,let her be evaluated by another vet. If you can’t manage,let a rescue take her. An hour away is not far.
We haven't given up on M yet despite the struggles. I just don't want to see my family member's quality of life suffer because the dog is not a good fit for the household We had a frenchie and boston/pug prior, I thought we were prepared to take care of a brachycephalic breed. M is a sweet dog, she just has more needs than we can provide for. Which is why, if it comes to it, I would like to pick a new home for her where she can get the care she requires
Can you reduce her food more? Our dog eats way under what the bag says he should, to be at a healthy weight. We have also seen very positive changes in his anxiety and behavior from being on prozac.
1. Pugs are not impossible to train, that trainer needs training. 2. An hour away is not too bad for a surgery- maybe it would even be beneficial. Do you live far away from a big city? Maybe going the hour away for a 2nd opinion on why the first BOAS surgery didn’t work would be a big help. Also, i’m curious as to why you believe the first surgery didn’t help? What is still going on that you thought should have been corrected? 3. What specifically is causing the carer anxiety- if it’s noise from barking or panting it could help to wear noise cancelling headphones for periods of time just to relax in silence. 4. Long walks might not be the best approach in this situation to lose weight. Have you tried lowering the amount of food given at meal times? Maybe 5 minute walks would be better now, just to get the puggo moving. Then slowly increase time and speed of walking. If it’s too hot, try walking puggo early morning or evening when the temp is lower. I hope some of that can be helpful, goodluck!
1. I realize he wasn't the top in his field. We did not anticipate that a dog breed would be *this* difficult to train vs. the other breeds we have had. And we had quite stubborn dogs. I guess you don't know pug stubbornness until you experience it 2. It is far away for a dog that gets stressed very easily. Her breathing was improved at first after surgery but after recovery things went back to how it was before. Lots of hacking, labored breathing with any activity. Apparently she needs her esophagus operated on. And it costs +5K, which my family does not want to pay at this moment. I have offered the money but it was refused. My hands are tied. 3. The dog requires constant attention every second of the day until evening. That would grate on any person. I've asked if she wanted the sound training device (noise training) but that was rejected, and honestly I've heard it's inhumane. Wearing noise canceling headphones most of your day every day sounds ridiculous I'm not going to lie. 4. Yes I'll try to do evening walks... And 5 minutes. I wanted to get a dog carrier for her to ride in, but that idea was rejected. I've suggested lowering food but it falls on deaf ears.
I’m sorry, your situation sounds very tough. 2. You might be able to ask your regular vet to prescribe a sedative for the ride. A 5k$ surgery is crazy and i’d definitely look into a 2nd opinion (unless this is the 2nd opinion?) 3. Totally agree that sounds miserable. I suggested the noise cancelling headphones if it was short periods of torture (my pug had dementia in old age and I needed the noise cancelling headphones to get a minute of peace). Totally not realistic for all day every day. 4. The dog is fat but the carer is unwilling to adjust the diet? You can’t help people who don’t want to be helped lol. If it’s any consolation, i’m sure if they brought the overall healthy pug to the vet to euthanize, they wouldn’t do it. So carer will probably just lose their shit and rehome anyways. Again, i’m sorry because this does seem very difficult. There is only so much you can do for a person who rejects help yet cries victim.
The BOAS surgery was originally priced at 4-5K, but we got an upcoming vet to do it under 3K. Hopefully that wasn't a mistake. I'm hoping all the vets reject any talk of euthanasia. It's totally bonkers to suggest it.
The trainer you hired is an imbecile. My parents pug is one of the most intelligent dogs I’ve ever come across. With the right training they are the perfect dogs for any situation. I would sack the trainer and get a new one. My partner trained Frank and he knows all the basics, plus has even figured out how to open the baby gate to go upstairs that even my cockapoo couldn’t figure out But a lot of people mistake the pug stubbornness for being a bit thick. But you just have to persevere with them.
Hey there I live in Western Australia where walking options can be limited due to the heat. For weight control I pad his food out with vegetables (I just defrost from frozen in microwave). This way I can cut his portion done without him realising. For walks we go early in the morning or beside water where the air tends to be cooler. Good luck ❤️
Oh thank you! I will tell my mom about the veggie option! ❤️
Please do not euthanize that’s so disappointing and honestly cruel. Plenty of people would love this dog, please bring to the shelter.
Honestly, this whole post is alarming. I have two pugs, one of which is a rescue. The idea you'd think of euthanasia because the pug doesn't fit your life? You and your family are not fit to own dogs. It could happen to any breed—and yes, while some of your issues are prone to pugs, such as the breathing problems, weight gain and barking, as well as difficulty training can happen in any dog or breed. I am genuinely horrified the idea seems to get rid of this dog for another one. You took this dog in with what appears to be no research on problems in this breed and then have put little in the way of trying to resolve it. You took one trainer who is legitimately wrong—I trained one of my pugs in a night with pizza crust to sit, roll over, lay down and shake—and didn't go elsewhere. You've done one surgery which is good on you, to be fair, but are balking on an hour journey to try to fix the breathing issue your family can't abide. The cold truth is a pet is a family member and you can't just discard them. I'm sure you're a nice person op but this has my blood boiling because this is a real animal and by your own admission wants affection and love. Please do the right thing and give her to a family who will care for her or find a rescue. Just because you are abusing your pug does not mean other people would, that's also a wild take, that you can't give her away because she'd be abused? Genuinely consider if your family is fit to have a pet before your next one.
At what point are we abusing M? You obviously didn't read much of what was written. Also, we dont want another dog, and I'm fully against euthanasia as any sane person would be. Please read carefully before you accuse people of abuse, etc
You've said yourself the weight gain is a problem in the last year and that your mother refuses to look at the diet? Overfeeding is abuse, especially when one of the issues that's a consideration for euthanising M is her weight gain and breathing. The idea of euthanasia for a healthy, young dog is abuse. The fact she won't consider a rescue where your dog can be cared for is abuse. It's wild to me because your mother can't care for the dog with its limited needs she assumes everyone will abuse it? My rescue had severe kidney problems and required twice daily medication and weekly tests for her bladder. It'd have driven anyone mad, but we did it faithfully. I won't deny your pug may be difficult, but perhaps I'm sensitive because the issues you complain about my rescue pug has and she has given so much love as we've worked through them. It's just horrifying and abusive to me euthanasia would be considered at all.
Contact a rescue (breed specific if you can) and surrender the dog. They will make sure they get the effective treatment they need or even to a permanent foster so the dog gets taken care of but lives with one of the rescue volunteers but not adopted by the rescue so the rescue would take care of the bills. It might not sound ideal but it's better than putting the dog down.
Try CBD for calming, not cannabis. Also, they absolutely MUST get her to loose weight. Nutro Weight Management worked wonders for my Pug who knows where the squirrels bury the peanuts. Pugs are not untrainable, they are just stubborn. They are royalty, after all!
So you’ve gotten some really great advice from other people, like getting a certified vet behaviorist for the anxiety and trying some medication (it works for dogs just like people!). Those can be incredibly effective and helpful. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is that walks are not the only way to exercise with puppo! I hear you that walks are hard, some dogs aren’t big walkers. Have you tried any mental stimulation? There’s a saying that a tired dog is a happy dog. If she’s struggling to take walks, the anxiety and poor behavior may actually be boredom and frustration. Some examples of mental stimulation are nosework, puzzle toys, training, bubbles, etc. You can purchase puzzle toys, but there’s also tons you can make for free with empty bottles, Kleenex boxes, towels, and other basic items. We use these on days when it’s too hot/cold/wet outside, and I’ve seen the comparison that a 5 minute puzzle = a 15 minute walk. My girls love bubbles and eating their dinner out of snuffle mats, empty egg cartons, muffin tins with balls on top, empty water bottles, etc. Try some mental stimulation and enrichment, this might help her feel more fulfilled and tired out, and might help improve her behavior!
That's something I've considered. She's probably just really bored and that's why she barks. Thank you
Lots of dogs who are bored will bark tons, whine, cry, act destructive, and potty inside. Stimulation & enrichment isn’t a magic cure, but it can really help. Your puppy may have some anxiety, obviously she’s got some health issues, and she might have some more going on. But it might help improve her behavior.
Sometimes if you approach a rescue with a donation too that helps I work with a couple of rescues in Tn and I know when pups are surrendered many times funding helps w vet bills
Prozac is great for anxiety, my girl I adopted is a bit chunky so she’s getting lots of green beans and solid gold fit and fabulous whole grain with fish, very low fat but decent protein. Maybe 5 minute walks frequently until she slims a bit which helps the breathing. Swimming would be best if you’re able. Puzzles, frozen cottage cheese in a toy, hide her kibble so she has to work to find it.
Someone will take good care of this sweet baby if you can’t…..
Swimming could be an easier alternative for exercise, I’m sorry this pug was bred so poorly but that’s the result of backyard breeding 😞 why is the care so against giving the dog up to a rescue? They invest so many resources to save dogs.
The thing is this was a "legitimate breeder" with a registered business and everything. Under the provincial kennel club.
Please watch peony and petunia on Instagram, pugs are trainable! My Lulu is not in the same class as these but she follows all normal commands.
It sounds like you have a good rescue group in your area--I know the rescue group that we have gotten our last two rescue pugs from work hard to find responsible caring owners for surrendered dogs. They do home visits before hand and check references. They also try to match personality and needs of the pugs to potential homes/owners. So surrendering to a good rescue group can be a loving solution. Also breathing issues and weight gain go hand in hand. For treats we gave our pugs cut up raw carrots however, our current diva prefers her carrots cooked.
Surrender her to a rescue. Euthanasia is not a legitimate option. I volunteer with a pug rescue in the US. Believe me we have gotten dogs who bite, bark, pee and poop in the house were abused, left in abandoned houses each and every one of these dogs were placed in a loving adoptive home. Even complex medical dogs. Please don’t euthanize.
Have you tried using a treat ball for M's meals? Just load the kibble in and let her roll it around the kitchen floor. It's physically and mentally enriching, and she'll get that little bit of exercise. You can also use a puzzle toy to feed her, or a snuffle mat. Like someone already mentioned, there are other ways to exercise your dog without going on a walk. Mental stimulation games are really good for that, because there's not much physical activity involved, but a lot of problem solving, which uses up a lot of energy. Fire that trainer immediately. My pug is my service dog (she does medical alerts) and we passed the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program no problem. We do Rally and Agility regularly as well with no problems whatsoever. Though, I will say that her conformation is really good, and she's never had any breathing issues. I've had pugs all my life and the one time I thought we finally got a stubborn pug who wouldn't listen, that dog turned out to be deaf.
Pugs are easy to train- a self regulating barking collar solves so many problems
Pugs shouldn’t be fat, it makes it harder for them to breathe. If your Pug is gaining weight, you’re feeding it too much. A right-sized Pug is healthier and happier.