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Very few people think of taking their Pugs for obedience training, which is quite a pity, because a Pug can be as good as any other breed. I'm not saying that one could reach Championship level, not many Toy Dogs ever have, but for enjoyment and pleasure a Pug can be quite successful.

Until I entered my black Pug, Satchmo, at South Eastern Counties Toy Dog Society in 1965, no Pug had even competed. My reason for training Satchmo was because I wanted to give him an interest.

From those early lessons Satchmo went on to higher classes. Nothing would have been achieved without lots of practice, encouragement and kindness. Both Satchmo and I enjoyed every moment of it. At class he would walk into the hall as if he owned it. He was very popular with everyone.

We never took the work too seriously, I didn't want to. It was just meant to be fun, and this is why Satchmo was so good when it came to competitive work. He did it to please me, such was the love and devotion we had for each other.

I firmly believe that this can only be achieved by love and kindness, with lots of patience from the owner. There is nothing cruel or demanding as is sometimes said. I never demanded anything of him, I simply taught him and then asked him to do it and he understood and enjoyed it. Satchmo was the most lovable and devoted Pug anyone could wish to own.

Training a dog in obedience brings out its intelligence and that certain link between owner and dog.

Extracts taken from the book The Complete Pug, by Ellen Brown (GOODCHANCE), first published in 1997