Pugs are bright, food-motivated and surprisingly trainable, with a slightly stubborn streak that keeps things interesting. If you've ever tried to call your pug away from a cheese crumb on the kitchen floor, you know exactly what we mean. The trick with training a pug isn't to out-stubborn them, it's to make doing the right thing the easiest, tastiest option in the room.
Here's a practical NZ guide to training a pug, from a puppy's first sit through to adult recall, with gentle methods that suit a brachycephalic breed and the kit that makes life easier along the way.
Quick answer
Pugs respond best to short, upbeat training sessions with high-value treats. Aim for 5 to 10 minutes, two or three times a day, in a low-distraction spot. Use reward-based training (clicker or marker word, treat, praise), keep your pug cool because they overheat easily, and start the basics like name, sit, come and lead manners from day one. A well-fitted harness is essential because pugs shouldn't be pulled by the neck. Food motivation is your superpower, so swap calories from the bowl into training treats so you don't end up with a chunky pug.
Understanding the Pug You're Training
Pugs are companion dogs through and through. They were bred to be lap dogs, which means they love being near you, they read your face well, and they pick up routines quickly. They're also brachycephalic (the technical word for a short, flat-faced breed), which has a few practical training implications worth knowing.
Very food-motivated
Pugs adore food. That's a brilliant training advantage if you use it well, and a fast track to weight gain if you don't. Keep treats tiny, and take them out of the day's food allowance.
Sensitive to heat
A flat face means less efficient cooling. Train indoors or in the shade in summer, watch for heavy panting, and keep sessions short on warm days.
Short attention span
Pugs do their best work in short bursts. Five to ten minutes is plenty. Two or three sessions a day beats one long one every time.
Stubborn streak (but soft)
Pugs can be selectively deaf when something more interesting is happening. They also bruise easily emotionally. Reward-based training works far better than firm correction.
Small but solid
Pugs are heavier than they look. Standard small-dog gear sometimes doesn't fit well. Look for harnesses designed for chunky chests and short backs.
Strong social drive
Pugs want to be with their people. Use that. Turning your back, walking away or pausing the game for a few seconds is often more effective than telling them off.
Setting Up for Success
Before the first "sit", get the basics sorted. A few small choices at the start make every training session easier from there.
The starter kit for a pug puppy
A few tiny, high-value treats; a clicker or a clear marker word ("yes!"); a well-fitted harness instead of a collar for lead training; a 1.2 to 2 metre lead; and a treat pouch so you've got rewards close to hand. That's plenty to get going.
For treats, pugs do best with tiny, soft, smelly options. Love'Em Liver Puppy Treats are the most popular puppy training treat at Petdirect by a long way, and they break easily into pea-sized pieces. Black Hawk Chicken Jerky Bites for puppies are another excellent option, and Bocce's Quack Quack Quack Training Bites are gentle on tummies and soft enough for fast rewarding.
For adult pugs, slightly bigger soft treats and air-dried liver work brilliantly. Petdirect's own vitamin-rich beef liver treats are a popular pantry staple, and Black Hawk Chicken Jerky Sticks snap easily into training-sized bites.
Walking and Lead Manners
Pugs should never be walked on a collar lead. The pressure of pulling against the throat is particularly bad news for a brachycephalic breed, and most pugs find it uncomfortable. A well-fitted harness is the right starting point.
For young pugs and gentle walkers, the EzyDog Formfit Mesh is one of the most popular pug-friendly harnesses on site. For pugs that pull or get excited on lead, a Halti head collar, Beau Gentle Leader or an EzyDog Chest Plate harness gives you more control without putting pressure on the neck.
The "be a tree" trick for pulling
When your pug pulls forward on the lead, stop and stand perfectly still. Don't move forward until the lead goes slack, even if it takes a minute. Reward generously the moment they look back at you. Pugs are clever and they figure this out fast: pulling pauses the walk, slack lead means more walking.
The Five Core Cues Worth Teaching First
These five cues give you a solid foundation for everything else. Teach them indoors first in a low-distraction setting, then practise them in slightly busier environments as your pug gets confident.
Your first month checklist
- Name recognition. Say their name in a happy voice, mark and treat the moment they look at you. Build to looking at you instantly, every time.
- Sit. Lure with a treat held just above their nose and moved slowly back. As their bottom hits the floor, mark and treat. Add the word "sit" once the action is reliable.
- Come (recall). Crouch down, call your pug in a happy voice, reward heavily the second they come to you. Always make recall the most exciting thing happening.
- Down (lie down). From a sit, lure the treat slowly down to the floor and out along the ground. Mark and treat the moment elbows touch down. Build the cue word in once they've got the hang of it.
- Wait or stay. Start tiny: ask for a sit, pause for one second, treat. Build up the duration and the distance very gradually over weeks, not days.
A clicker or a clear marker word ("yes!") makes all of these easier. The click or marker says "that's the bit I'm paying you for", which makes timing rewards much sharper. The EzyDog Command Clicker is the most popular pick at Petdirect, and a treat pouch like the EzyDog SnakPak or Coachi Train & Treat Bag keeps your hands free.
Toilet Training Your Pug
Pug puppies, like all small-breed puppies, have small bladders and need frequent toilet breaks. Set up a predictable routine and most pugs are reliably toilet trained within a few weeks.
The simple toilet-training rhythm
Take your puppy outside after every nap, every meal, every play session, and every 60 to 90 minutes during the day. The same spot in the garden each time helps the habit form faster. Reward generously the moment they finish weeing or pooing outside, while you're still in the spot. Accidents inside are nobody's fault, just clean up and try a more frequent schedule.
Some owners find toilet bells helpful. The Coachi Dog Toilet Training Bells hang on the back door so your puppy can ring them when they need to go out, which makes the "I need a wee" signal much clearer than barking or pacing.
Brain Training and Tiring Out a Pug Without Overheating Them
This is where pug owners really benefit from mental enrichment. Pugs can't run as hard or as long as a working breed because of their flat faces, so brain games are an important way to satisfy them without overheating them. Twenty minutes of puzzle time can tire a pug as much as a longer walk.
Lick mats are brilliant for pugs, especially in summer. Smear with a thin layer of soft food (a small dab of dog-friendly peanut butter, plain yoghurt or wet food) and you've got 10 to 15 minutes of calm focused licking. Puzzle feeders slow down the food, which is great for a breed that bolts meals.
A classic stuffable rubber toy, like the KONG Classic, is a fantastic everyday tool. Pack with a small portion of wet food or a few of their normal kibbles and a smear of soft food on top, freeze for an hour, and you've got a quiet, focused activity that scratches the brain itch without a single step taken.
Things to Watch For in a Pug
Training a pug isn't just about cues, it's about reading them. Pugs can't tell you when they're getting too hot or too tired, so it pays to know the signs.
Take a break if you notice
- Heavier or noisier breathing than usual
- Loss of interest in treats or the game
- Wanting to lie down or sit suddenly
- Drooling more than normal
- Tongue looking very red or hanging extra wide
- Bumping into things or seeming a bit hazy (a warm pug)
If any of these show up, end the session, find shade or a cool indoor spot, and offer fresh water. Most pugs cool down quickly with a bit of rest, but if a pug seems really uncomfortable or doesn't recover within a few minutes, call your clinic for advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should I start training my pug?
From the moment they come home. Pug puppies are usually ready for very gentle, treat-based training from about 8 weeks. Keep sessions short (2 to 5 minutes for tiny puppies, building up to 10 minutes by 4 to 5 months) and focus on name, recall and toilet training first.
Are pugs hard to train?
Not really, they're just particular about it. Pugs are smart and food-motivated, which makes them very capable. The catch is they're a bit stubborn and they tune out long sessions. Keep things short, fun and rewarding, and most pugs pick things up quickly.
How long should a pug training session be?
5 to 10 minutes, two or three times a day, works much better than one long session. Pugs lose focus when sessions drag on, and they overheat if they're trying hard for too long.
What treats are best for training a pug?
Tiny, soft, smelly ones. Love'Em Liver Puppy Treats, air-dried beef liver, or small pieces of soft chicken jerky all work well. Take training treats out of your pug's daily food allowance to avoid weight gain, because pugs are very prone to becoming overweight.
Should I use a harness or a collar for my pug?
A harness, always. Pugs are brachycephalic and pressure on the neck from pulling on a collar can be uncomfortable and isn't great for their breathing. A well-fitted harness like the EzyDog Formfit Mesh or Chest Plate is far safer.
How do I stop my pug pulling on the lead?
Reward your pug for walking next to you with a slack lead. Stop walking the moment they pull (just stand still, like a tree), and only move forward again when the lead goes slack. It feels slow at first but most pugs get the hang of it within a few weeks. A head collar or front-clip harness can speed things up for keen pullers.
Can pugs be trained off-lead?
Yes, with patience. Pugs aren't sighthounds and don't have huge prey drive, so off-lead recall is achievable for many. Start in a fully enclosed area, build the recall up step by step, and only progress to busier or more open spots once you're confident. Some pugs always do better on a long line outdoors because they get distracted by interesting smells.
Pug Training Essentials at Petdirect
From soft training treats and clickers to pug-friendly harnesses, treat pouches and brain-game toys, find everything you need to get a confident, well-trained pug. Save with Autodeliver on the everyday items, and enjoy everyday member pricing as part of Pet Perks.
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