Activities For Cocker Pugs
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Introduction
The Cocker Pug is a delightful designer dog made up of two purebred dogs, the Cocker Spaniel and the Pug. Although the parent breeds could not be more different, the resulting crossbreed is a small-to-medium sized dog with somewhat long hair. Although they prove to be a tad stubborn at times, the Cocker Pug is generally highly intelligent. You'll want to plan activities that encourage their mental muscle while also giving them ample physical exercise as well. The Cocker Pug is a quick learner, and you might enjoy working on both obedience and fun tricks as a part of your daily activities.
Basic Training
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Any Day
Cheap
Normal
15 - 30 min
Items needed
treats as a reward
Activity description
The Cocker Pug is a designer breed noted for their intelligence. This makes the hybrid dog a quick learner; however, you'll want to keep in mind that the Cocker Pug just might be a tad stubborn. To combat this trait, begin training the Cocker Pug shortly after you bring them home. Begin with teaching them the routine of your home. Housebreaking, at first, may seem a little daunting as very young dogs take time to learn. As you complete your pup's vaccinations and are able to take them outdoors, begin leash training and teaching commands such as "sit," "come," and "stay." Once the initial routine training is completed, you can introduce more difficult commands. Your clever companion will enjoy practicing regularly.
Step
1
Welcome home
The adorable Cocker Pug is like a small child in many ways; you may be tempted to give in and spoil them a bit. However, beginning training the Cocker Pug to your routine will help them grow into a well-behaved pooch. Instruct them as to sleeping arrangements, where to eat and how to behave around people and other pets.
Step
2
Leash training and necessary commands
For the first four months of your Cocker Pug's life, you will need to keep them in your own yard. A deadly virus known as Parvo or Parvovirus lives on the ground and can seriously sicken an otherwise healthy pup. You can do some leash training indoors and eventually move the training outside. Place the leash on their collar or harness and walk with them just as you would if they were outdoors. Do this for just a few minutes at a time two or three times a week, and they will be used to the leash when they are able to go outside with you.
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Nose Work
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Any Day
Cheap
Normal
15 min
Items needed
scented treats
soft cloth (about the size of a hand towel)
essential oils - lavender or Valerian root
Activity description
The Cocker Pug is, at least on the Cocker Spaniel side, a natural hunter with a keen nose. The Pug parent breed is considered a brachycephalic dog, and the Cocker Pug may inherit a bit of the shortened nose of the Pug parent. However, this does not take away from the talented nose of the Cocker Pug. In fact, they love to do nose work just as much as any other dog developed for hunting. Plus the Cocker Pug s so small that you can do many nose work exercises indoors regardless of the weather outside.
Step
1
Initiate the activity
Begin your training indoors. Start with "smelly" treats; often, these are treats containing cheese as an ingredient. To begin, place a few of these around the kitchen and encourage Fido to "find it." Next, place these treats in slightly hidden places while Fido is out of the room. Invite them in and say "find it." They'll have to depend on their nose to do so, and they will understand that they must use their nose to find "treasure."
Step
2
Practice outdoors
Once your dog has gotten the gist of your expectations, you may take the game outdoors. You'll start with hidden "smelly" treats just as you did indoors. However, if you wish to train them for nose work competitions, you will want to change up the target item. Use small hand towels sprinkled with one of the following essential oils - lavender or Valerian root. Either of these oils is safe for dogs. Do not use peppermint or tea tree oil, as these are very harmful to dogs. Mark the cloth, and allow Fido to smell the cloth so they know what they are seeking. Then, out of their sight, hide the cloth; encourage them to "find it" once you are ready.
Step
3
Participate in trials
There are dozens of nose work competitive events around the country in which you can participate. Some experts advise attending an event alone to determine your own interest, then bringing Fido to gauge theirs. Should you decide this is something you'd like to do, then you can sign up to participate.
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Power Walking
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Normal
20 min
Items needed
leash and harness
doggy waste bags
Activity description
Experts will agree that the best exercise for any dog of any breed is a daily walk. However, the daily walk can become monotonous if you visit the same locations at the same time. Furthermore, depending upon the type of snout your Cocker Pug inherits, you must be careful in how you go about a daily walk. Should the Cocker Pug inherit the short snout of the Pug parent, you may need to relegate your walk to early morning and late evening. However, you can still enjoy "power" walking with your dog. Simply treat your walk with Fido as you would your own workout - a warm-up, intense activity, and a cool down.
Step
1
Location, location
A great way to spice up your daily exploration of the neighborhood with Fido is to change up the location at which the two of you walk. Walk a few times a week at the dog park and spend the other days of the week walking at the local city park, or perhaps the beach, if nearby. Your Cocker Pug will love the change of scenery and the ability to "smell" a new place.
Step
2
Power-Walking
A few years ago, fitness experts were praising the idea of incorporating a warm-up and a cool down into one's daily walk. If such an idea is good for one's muscles, how beneficial can this be to Fido? Spend about five minutes at a leisurely pace to warm up, then increase your speed for about three minutes. Be cautious, though. The Cocker Pug with a brachycephalic nose cannot tolerate overexertion. If you see that your dog is panting heavily, go ahead and slow down.
Step
3
Special considerations
Again, one pet parent of the Cocker Pug is known as a brachycephalic dog. This means their snout is short and can create breathing problems that dogs with a "normal" snout don't usually experience. Start out by going at the fastest pace of your walk for three minutes or less to gauge how well your pup tolerates the increased activity. If they can take three minutes, increase to four. If this is tolerable, you can increase to five minutes; however, it is not recommended to go much longer than this time period.
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More Fun Ideas...
Swimming
Because of the Cocker Pug's small size, you can invest in a kiddie pool and allow them to swim during the warmer months. As the Cocker Pug ages, this is soothing to their joints.
Fetch
Because the Cocker Pug's parent breed (Cocker Spaniel) was a hunting dog in their early history, retrieving is an innate skill that they love to practice. Play fetch with a tennis ball, or grab a doughnut-shaped fetch toy and spend some time letting them work off any excess energy.
Conclusion
The Cocker Pug is a fun-loving canine who enjoys spending the bulk of their time either sitting in your lap or engaging in some type of play. This sweet companion will enjoy joining you on a walk, but they will be keen scent hounds should you decide to participate in nose work competitions as well.