1.Be Flexible. Pudge is one of the heroes where you have to adapt heavily to the situation. Starting level 4, Pudge has to level his skills and buy items depending on what your team needs.
2. Pudge can farm jungle well with level 3 of Rot and some armor.
3. Pudge is a one chubby mofo. Slab some armor in him and go in your face with enemies.
4.Suck at Meat Hook? Rather than seeing hook as a tool to displace enemies, see them as Nukes.
5.Value point in Flesh Heap at early levels makes him able to shrug off enemy harasses and farm like a swag with Stout Shield and Ring of Protection slapped in. That's 8.5 starting regen and 2 armor in lane with damage block to trade hits.
6.Still don't lane against enemy Lifestealer or Ursa (though he can disable them well in fights).
7. Linken's Sphere can counter Pudge hard if you don't buy an item to pop them (Hint: use Urn of Shadows to pop them).
8.Hardest counter to Pudge is empty mana. Buy Black King Bar to make sure your mana is not depleted by mana burns.