Yes any dog can be successfully trained. First, take your dog for a leash walk 3 times a day 15 minutes AT LEAST. This will help. Next call for a training class, most humane societies run them and they are frequently positive reinforcement classes. Next you have 2 issues. One this dog has not bonded with you and 2 this dog does not respect you. A few years ago my friend adopted a tibetan terrier, they are notorious for being aloof. She contacted the previous owners and found the same issue - the dog could care less. So I suggested she tie a leash to herself and click the other end to the dog and while you are working around the house on a day off or when you have a couple of hours at home, call the dog before you get up to leave - as soon as the dog starts coming with you, praise your dog and reward it (Natural Balance meat sticks diced are a good reward treat - not high in fat) then keep going. Keep doing this, my friend said it worked like a charm on the tibetan she rescued and she was able to let the previous owners know that the dog now followed her everywhere. For outside recall, the inside training will help, since you will be teaching the dog that calling it to you will associate you with treats and that is a good thing. When you go out for your leash walks, same thing, call the dog every now and then, and give it a treat for coming....soon the dog will associate you with a good time. Good luck, please keep posting and let us know what is working VS what is not working....

We had a pug for eleven years until he had to be put down due to heart problems. We got him when he was five months old from a family who didn't feel he was right for them. I don't think he received as much attention from them as he should have, but I don't believe he was ever abused. Although he was friendly and responsive to us, he was never a lap dog and didn't like to be held. He much more enjoyed running and playing with us than being cuddled.

Pugs can be trained and some even earn obedience titles. They are notoriously stubborn, though, and require more time than many other breeds and absolute consistency. Once ours learned something he never forgot it.

My son trained our pug through his 4-H club and showed him in obedience and junior showmanship. Eventually, my son got older and didn't want to participate anymore and the dog's training fell by the wayside. Still, he remembered what he had learned for the rest of his life, even though we didn't practice anymore.

Nine months is a good age to start working seriously on obedience. Classes for puppies under six months are usually pretty relaxed anyway.

One other thing you might want to make sure he can hear well. Ours had frequent ear infections and waxy build-up in his ears which affected his hearing at times.