a trick for pugs dawdling in the morning...

[Lemon]

Now that the weather's nicer, Lemon has been taking longer and longer to "find her spot" in the morning, sometimes needing to go halfway down the block before she's satisfied. Even worse, sometimes she won't go at all. I hate watching the clock, worrying that I'm going to be super late for work.

Well, I found a solution. I get her food bowl ready, put it down so she can see it, *then* take her outside. It's hilarious to see how quickly she starts circling. I can't even get out the words "go now!" She does her business in record time then runs back up the stairs, already drooling.

That's the thing about pugs. There's almost no behavioral issue that can't be fixed with food.

[lashwish]

This has been driving me nuts lately!

What a fabulous idea!

It's one thing to go out in the backyard w/my PJs on, but walking down a main street is another!

Oscar's also been doing it when I get home from work.

He's gotta pee, right? He's been inside all day! He used to pee immediately when I came home from work. Now he sniffs the air, eats dirt clumps, etc...I've just been taking him back inside, changing into pug safe clothes & then taking him out for a walk, all the while fearing he's going to pee inside.

[colleen]

Yes this works miracles! If I don't get the bowl ready and he's dawdling outside I just say let's go get breakfast and he runs to do his business and then heads back to the house pulling me along behind

[ScootersMom]

We're not having this problem in the AM......we have it at bedtime. Last night Scooter pretended that she had to do "good girls" my husband took her out 3 times within an hour. All she wants to do is hang in the yard, eat grass and sit on the porch. Last night she was so hyped up, that she recruited Lulu. 2 restless pugs, 2 sleepy pug owners .....1 husband and 2 pugs on the couch....me all alone in my bed.........priceless.....

[Imon]

I usually get Otto back inside in the morning (when he'd rather check out the trees and bushes) by saying "Let's go get a biscuit" and he's loping up the driveway ahead of me!

The funniest thing is that I used to have food in his bowl before we left and he would NOT leave the house without gobbling down every bit of kibble in his bowl. I have learned to either not fill the bowl or, if I do, to lock it inside the crate when he is outside or I'll not be able to get him out in the morning for his walk!

[ruebella]

I think I am the only person who doesn't have dogs that freak out when I give them food.


Treats, they freak over, food.. they don't care. :-|

[Pugsleigh]

Kathleen, do you think that it works on "senior pugs". My girls don't even want to go tinkle in the morining now that it is nice outside. I am glad that I am the first to leave for work in my house. My husband has to sit in the yard talking to my girls. Debbie

[Imon]

See how nicely they've got him trained? My Otto has my husband perfectly trained to get up at 5 a.m. and walk him. Doesn't work with me, so if my husband is away, Otto sleeps in until 6:30! Funny, how does he know?

Must be a pug thing.

[Lemon]

Debbie, you'll have to try it and let me know if it works on the seniors. Lemon's my first and only pug, so I always post training advice here with more than a little hesitation. I have a sample size of exactly one!

[Almandine]

Kathleen, that's hilarious! I can mostly get round my gang with food too