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Bonding With Your Pug


 
Question: My pug, Taco, has some very... interesting personality quirks. She wasn't my first choice as a pet, I had originally wanted a Shih Tzu, but when my father's friend came by looking for a caring owner to love this misfit puppy... she looked at me with those adorable puppy eyes and gave me that puppy breath yawn.( I'm sure most Pug owners can relate)

PugI didn't have the heart to say no, but I couldn't convince my mother and father that I was responsible to care for this little gift. So I agreed to let my older sister have custody of the Pug and hold the responsibility of caring for her. I didn't like the idea of my little gift from above sleeping in her room, but whatever got her close to me every day was an acceptable situation. Soon Taco and I were inseparable.

She was even so attached to me that my parents agreed, against my sisters arguing, that she would sleep much better if she were allowed to cuddle next to me every night. She would steal my sisters stuffed bears and my parents shoes and bring them into my room and onto my bed like little presents. She never, as a puppy made any little... mistakes... in my room.

She always came to me for attention and food, or if she need to go outside to potty and couldn't quite lift the flap on the dog door just yet. Now, though, as she is growing out of a puppy, she is favoring my sister more than myself. She is really breaking my heart and I would love to know how to redirect her affection to me, or preferably, to the entire family and my fathers Boston terrier, Boon. ~ Lucy

Answer: Hi Lucy!  We can certainly understand why you would like to have a closer bond with Taco. He seems like quite a cute character!   While we are wonderful at giving advice for Pug dogs, we are not experts in personal family relationships...but it does seem that you will need your sister's help in this one.

All dogs consider their human family as their "pack".  As you know, long ago wild dogs ran in packs and there was always a leader.  Today, the domesticated dog still has in inner need to belong to a pack and most importantly to know who the pack leader is.  A dog knows this by who it is that teaches them commands, feeds them, etc.  Since it was your sister who was mainly responsible for Taco, it only makes sense that your Pug considers her to be the pack leader.

Even with a pack leader, a dog should still have a wonderful relationship with other household members.  Your Pug has no idea how you are feeling.  He does not know that you wish to spend more time with him and have a closer bond.  The way to communicate this to him is to spend more time with him.

This will work best if you have a nice talk with your sister and explain that you do not wish to "take" Taco away from her, but would like the enjoyment of having some alone time with him and enjoying a closer bond.  If that talk goes well, it may be best to spend scheduled time each day with Taco, so that he can get to know you better and feel closer to you.

A dog is usually very close with those who:
  • Feed them
  • Groom them
  • Take them for exercise
  • Play with them
  • Trains them commands to trains the dog to perform tricks
If you can work together with your sister to set up a schedule where you can do these things on certain days (preferably at least 1 task a day or all tasks every other day), this will give you and Taco bonding time.

Your sister may actually be relieved to get some help!

Do keep in mind that Taco will not do all of the things that he did as a puppy.  He can get through the dog door now and he is more independent. 

However, doing one or all of the 5 main tasks above and spending this one-on-one time with your Pug will allow your dog to feel secure with you, trust you and bond with you. Once a dog spends time with a person, they feel a connection.  This should apply to other family members as well, since you did mention your entire family.  Perhaps each person in the home could be responsible for 1 of the above tasks, thus offering your Pug an entire family whom he feels very close to.

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