2nd leg trauma, and keeping Pug from jumping??

[DoodleBug]

I have quite a dilemma. Some of you may remember that my 5 year old boy Dixon had leg surgery for tearing a ligament last December. It healed really well, the surgeon and Vet were both very pleased.

Came home on Tuesday, and he's holding his leg up. :( We have been told Dix has a high threshold for pain, so he still runs around like the fun boy he is, and jumps up and down off the sofa, and bed. We were warned that this could cause the ligament to tear again. So, I tried in vain to keep him off the sofa and bed. The little bugger was too quick for me. After several months, both my husband and I thought we were fighting a losing battle, and gave up trying to enforce the no jump rule.

And see where that got us. That surgery was nearly $2000. My husband is now seeing red, and refuses to let the boy on any furniture now. I think it is too harsh, Pugs were bred to be with their people. However, I completely understand what Rob is saying. We just can't afford to have this happen again. It also must be said that he loves Dixon to death!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to transition Dixon to stay on the floor? We also have Zelda, our female to think of too. Once on the sofa, they cuddle up together. It just breaks my heart to think that they will associate us keeping them on the floor, with us being angry at them.

Thanks so much!

[ViralMD]

He might not be able to stay on the floor at this point, but you could get a ramp and teach him how to use that. Once Cyril learned about his ramp he didn't jump any more....The other thing you could try is restricting his food (you'll see why in a second) and while he's on the floor just give him the odd bit of food now and then. Which should stop immediately when he jumps up. All good things will need to happen on the floor.

[DoodleBug]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I thought about the ramp/steps, as we have one for our bed that he uses. The bed is up quite high, and both pugs can jump up, but prefer to use the steps. Problem is, he gets so worked up when we get up, he goes the other way and jumps off the bed.

I think with the steps for the sofa, if I give him bits of food, I just might have a shot at getting him to become the lazy sloth he should be. Thanks again for the advice.

[smoochieface]

Bruno had the ligament surgery last year. Ramps and stairs for the furniture. And what Alice said about training techniques.

[Emi-Lou]

Emi injured her leg last week and was holding it up. The vet feared that she too had torn a ligament, but the x-rays showed she just gave it a good yank and the area was inflamed. She's a jumper off furniture too when she's excited (even though she has steps) and she's only 18 months old. The vet told me to try to keep her low-key for the next two weeks, and gave me some anti-inflammatory meds and some tranquilizers (to use if necessary). So I know what you mean about it being hard to keep her from jumping off things. I cringe when I see her do it, but I'm trying to avoid further damage and surgery.

[DoodleBug]

It's such a feeling of helplessness, unless I tether him to me 24/7.

I pulled the steps down from my bedroom, and have them stacked next to the sofa. He was really game for walking up and down them to get his 'treat' (a piece of kibble). Being that I never trained the little darlings in the first place, I hope this takes. Zelda is particularly hard headed.

My newest point of attack today is to try to instill calm. We used to kind of get them riled up for 'walkies' and with 'Anyone HUNGRY???", so that has been cut from usage.

Now, anyone have any suggestions on how to train my husband to stick with this???

Poor Dixon is at the Vet right now getting x-rayed, pleeeeeease let it be nothing more than a sore leg. Vet mentioned that if it is the same ligamentin the same place as last years' tear, it would be damn near impossible to fix.

[ayleash]

praying here for you


some ideas:

(1) is he jumping up to be WITH you? (or to look out a window?)
either way: can you spend more time on the floor level? MOVE the chair/sofa couch (it's cheaper than moving the window! )

(2) Is he clicker trained? If yes, or any time he is lying quietly (chewing a toy or just watching the world), CLICK then get up and bring him the GOOD treat... at first he won't get it... but my guys know that just lying on their beds brings the occasional click and treat! They LOVE that.. it's like manna from heaven!

3) I LOVE THE IDEA OF TRAINING YOUR HUSBAND! But I have no hubby and no suggestions about that.. (if I see any encouraging ideas posted on this part, I might be willing to get me one!)


good luck!

[karlanee]

Speaking from experience - it's much easier to train a pug than it is to train a husband! LOL

[jwestoverpug]

You know, I've trained pugs to weave, jump, run through tunnels, sit, stay, come when called instantly 100% of the time......but I've never been able to train a pug to stay off of furniture. It's like you said, these guys have been bred for thousands of years to sit on sofas, I'm certainly not going to have an easy time changing that!

I will share a tip that a canine chiropracter gave me, put those thick yoga/exercise mats on the ground where they may land. You can even put them underneath area rugs, so if they do jump at least they're landing on a cushioned surface.

Jesse

[DoodleBug]

Thanks, Jesse, that is a good idea.

I briefly thought to myself today that I would try to transition them to sleeping on the floor, on a nice comfy dog bed. Then I realized I was dreaming, because Dixon *has* to be touching someone when he sleeps. Someone human. He is the wriggliest animal I have ever owned, and will keep going until he gets what he wants...unless you yell at him. Which makes me feel horrible. Good thing he is cute.