growling and barking.. HELP!

[Snifter]

I've merged the two threads so all answers appear in the same place.

[Hellas]

Yes, obedience class is the way to go. That will help you build a good connection and socialize your dog. The more used to other dogs and people and the more he trusts you to take care of any problem, the calmer he is likely to be.

In the meantime, you could try talking to your neighbours and asking them for help. You could arrange to meet them while you are walking your pug and let them feed him some delicious treats. Odds are, he will soon figure out that strange people equal treat. This approach may have its downsides, but can help him view strangers in a more positive way.

[Cheryl7777]

Wow I love the name Chunk. I agree with the obedience classes. Also Victoria Stillwell had some pretty good shows about dogs showing aggression on walks with other dogs. I bet the same techniques would work for showing bad behavior toward humans while out and about. I think she's great anyway because she believes in reward training as I do. Anyway, I would check for her show on Hulu.com or Netflix.com if you have that. Good luck with Chunk.

[CountryPug]

He may be barking more out of insecurity than anything. He does need guidance to get him through this phase so it won't become a habit. As others have said, an obedience class with a good trainer should help him a lot.