Pug Housetraining Using a Crate and a Leash

For most Pugs, the opportunity to run around in a big yard just can't happen. Pugs are more likely to spend their days cooped up in the house while their owner or family goes out. This makes creating a potty schedule difficult.

A good way to combat this is by incorporating a crate and leash into your Pug's daily routine. If the Pug is full grown or just returning to your house from the kennel, you may need to treat the training process as if your Pug was a puppy.

One popular option is to leave your Pug in his crate while you are away from home and take him out on the leash when you return. Restricting a Pug all day every day is not healthy for your Pug so you need to make sure that he gets plenty of breaks.

Start as you would with a puppy and set up regular potty breaks. Make sure that you time the elimination breaks with enough time after feeding so the Pug can do something meaningful on the trip outside.

Start by devoting a whole weekend to observing your Pug on a leash when he is out of his crate so that you can learn the signs that he needs to use the bathroom. Your Pug might act shaky or agitated and may even squat down. Take these signs as your cue to take pup outside.

Remember to praise him lavishly when he does his business during the potty break. That's the positive reinforcement needed to show your Pug where he's supposed to do his business.

Perhaps you were on vacation and your Pug had to stay in a kennel for a while. During his stay he probably had to potty in the same areas where he ate and slept. This behavior can hinder any previous housetraining accomplishments and may have made your Pug very sad and depressed.

Pugs really don't like to incorporate potty space with living space. Your Pug will need you to boost his confidence with his bathroom skills.

An older Pug probably has better bladder control than a puppy, so he can usually go longer periods between potty breaks. However, your Pug may have a urinary tract infection, diarrhea or other medical problem that's the real cause of his accidents.

If you see a noticeable change in your Pug's potty behaviors and there are no other apparent reasons for it, then you want get him checked at the vet. The potty problems may be a symptom of a greater problem.

While he is being treated for his medical issues you will need to show him that you care and not try to push potty training as hard as before. Your Pug needs to have time to recuperate from whatever is ailing him first. Keep your Pug on a leash when he is out of his crate and be certain to look out for any signs that your Pug needs a potty break until he recovers.

Download free videos on Pug house training from the Pug health experts of UltimatePug.com.