Do you have a cite for this? I’ve always crate trained my dogs, and they’re all wonderful and happy with no bad habits.
4 hours of snoozing on her own per day is nothing for a pug, even a teenager (with is what 15 months is in pug years). She sleeps away the time, safe in her little den. If she’s not wetting or soiling her crate, it’s not too long for her.
But yes, play with her lots when you’re home, indoors and out. If there’s no fence, she should be on a leash, even for playtime. While playing, you can allow her as much lead as is safe for your area, but when it’s time to walk, a simple, “Heel, Wrinkles,” should be enough to signal that play time is over and her spot is next to and slightly *behind *you. Never in front. It’s called “heel”, 'cause she should be walking by your heel. (Okay, maybe not, but it’s a good rule of placement anyway.) The more active exercise the better, but be aware of her breathing and let her rest when she needs to. I’ve almost never had more than one dog at once, but if you play with them, they’re fine with that.
Yes, please get her (and you!) trained. Some pugs are bright and some are…not so bright (in general, they score as one of the stupider dogs on intelligence tests) but they are all incredibly lovable and trainable, and any dog is much nicer to be around when well trained. Pet Smart offers decent classes, it doesn’t have to be an expensive private trainer. But both you and your boyfriend have to commit to it - maybe not both of you at every session, but both of you have to be consistent in using the same commands and same expectations. Dogs, like children, will play their “parents” against one another if given the chance!
What I find most useful for the barking at noises is praise, not punishment. The poor dog is just doing her job - she’s letting her pack know that there’s something unusual that needs to be checked out. When you yell, it sounds to her like barking, and so she takes that as encouragement - if you’re barking, that means she should be barking. Instead, try a calm, bright, happy, “Thank you, Wrinkles, that’s enough!” and a scritch near the tail with an enthusiastic “Good girl!”
Obligatory sweet pug story: My very first pug was a little guy named Butch. He was trained to stay off the furniture unless invited up. So if I was on the couch, he’d sit on the floor in front of the couch and look up with that cute little cocked head. “Come on up, Butch!” I’d say, patting the couch, and up he’d come.
One night, Mom and Dad had a party, and someone left a plate of cheese and sausage and crackers on the couch. I was sad because Butch hadn’t come to sleep with me that night. In the morning, we found him sitting in front of the couch, his little chin resting on the edge, staring at the still full plate of food.
Of course, he got a fantastic breakfast of cheese and sausage that morning, the little angel!