You may be planning on buying a pug and asking yourself a question: “Are pugs aggressive?”
The short answer to this is: Pugs can be aggressive like any other breed – although I would say rarely. In this article, we talk about what can cause pugs to become aggressive, and some of the tips to control their aggression.
Aggressive pets are nothing to joke about. No one wants their pet causing injuries to themselves or others. They may lunge and growl at people to scare them away. While not a fun topic, this subject matter is really important for those considering to buy a pug.
Pugs are lovely, happy friendly little dogs to have in your home as pets, however, like any other dog, they could become aggressive, for reasons such as not being adequately trained or socialized correctly. When people want to get pugs as family pets, one of the things to consider when thinking of buying a pug is whether this breed is aggressive.
Before you welcome a pug to join your family, it is important that you know about its temperament, genetics, lifestyle, and the overall personality of the breed. Just as humans have peculiar traits and habits, each dog breed has some characteristics that are distinct to it. Pugs are happy, even-tempered dogs. They are unique from other breeds in many ways.
Generally, pugs are not aggressive dogs. However, there are some exceptions depending on the given situation and the level of training they have received. Aggressive behavior in pugs can usually be tamed by the owners. This breed often shows their aggression by barking, nipping, or growling. This wouldn’t be considered to be all that aggressive in comparison to some other breeds.
Regardless of their tendency towards being aggressive, pugs can make great family pets. They can bring you joy and add new life to your family. Pugs are known to be loving and loyal pets. With a perfect blend of furry cuteness, they are the right choice of dog breed for many people. Before we delve into the causes of aggression in pugs, let’s take a look at some amazing characteristics of pugs.
Traits of Pugs
The following are the most common and generic traits of pugs:
- Pugs are intelligent pets with outstanding loyalty to their owners.
- Pugs are loving and kind pets and very friendly.
- Pugs were originally raised to be lap dogs, so they are small in stature.
- They are affectionate pets that love being close to their owners always.
- Pugs are low maintenance and require only a small amount of exercise.
What Causes Aggression in Pugs?
If you have ever had a pug as a pet, you probably know that pugs are thankfully not aggressive, however, pugs can be mischievous, and very hyperactive and leave their owners feeling unsettled.
Socializing and training pugs must be done regularly when they are at a young age. This is to ensure they grow into a calm and loving pet. Adequate training and socialization suppress the aggression of pugs, but it does not guarantee perfect behavior from your pet. There are certain things that can trigger aggression even in a well-trained pug. These include fear, illness, frustration, hunger, and being overly protective.
Another reason for potential aggression in pugs may be the result of a hostile environment, causing stress to your pug. Stress could trigger aggression in pugs just like any other breed, so it is vital to ensure that your pug has a stress free home by consciously creating a friendly and accommodating environment. A nurturing environment will help your pug exhibit the right characteristics.
How to Know If Your Pug Is Aggressive
- When your pug begins to act overly possessive or protective, it is a sign of aggression.
- Excessive barking, nipping, growling, and lunging are common signs of aggression.
- Aggression can also be expressed by showing dominance. This could be territorial dominance in which your pug dominates a particular space or marks it as a territory.
- Aggression can manifest as bossy behaviors such as scratching or snarling to gain attention.
- Being hostile towards other dogs is one of the most obvious signs of aggression.
Ways to Control Aggression in Pugs
The moment you observe any form of aggressive behavior in your pug, you should begin to pay attention to it and find ways to control it. Some people go as far as checking the parents of the pug to see if they have similar characteristics. This may give the owner insights to help them effectively control any aggressive behavior.
To stop any domineering, possessive nature in your pug, you need to train it to obey your commands and also those of other family members avoiding aggressive training techniques. For the best results, use patience and positive reinforcement to train your pug.
While training your pug, reward it with healthy snacks like dog jerky treats or playtime when it has behaved well. Gently but firmly reprimand it when it acts aggressively, trying not to draw too much attention to negative behavior and make a huge fuss over even the smallest bit of positive behavior.
Crate training is also recommended with pugs, it is considered to be a very effective way of helping to train your pug’s behavior in the long term.
