Independent/Aloof Puppy

[itsmevonda]

Hi peeps - I'm new.
I have had my Goldendoodle Riley Jack for 6 days. He is a few days shy of 10 weeks old. He is a very independent puppy. Somewhat aloof. I have never in my life came across a puppy that can just straight up ignore me even when I call with a treat. Very rarely does he come to me. Sometimes he'll just look at me, sometimes he will shift and turn his back to me, or just walk away. He's not like that all the time - sometimes he can be spunky and play fetch with me.
Do you think I scare him because I'm crate training him and put him on the leash (which he absolutely freaks out on). And I tell him no when he has an accident in the house and when he chews stuff and bites to hard?
Does anybody have any experience with this kind of pup?
Is he just adjusting to his new life? How could I bond with him more?
He doesn't seem to be having any issues...he walks and explores the backyard...he wants to be outside all the time...or lays and chews the grass. He's just chill all the time.
Any tips that you could give me would be greatly appreciated! I just want to do the best buy him. But I have to admit it would be nice if he would get excited to see me.
Maybe I'm just being paranoid. He's just completely different than I thought he would be.

Thanks so much

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree-- they learn behaviors and it takes a while to bond--was this pup in a home as a baby? In other words was he home raised and had lots of interactions with people? I once got a pup from a pet sotre(I felt sorry for him) and he acted very aloof--it took a long time for him to bond with us, but he eventually did. Things were much more interesting to him than people. Lots of loving and positive reinforcement brought him around.
I just finished a beginner's training class with my 10 month old doodle ( a different dog) and there was a 12 week old puppy in the class. He learned so much during the 6 weeks (and doubled in size!!) --the sooner you can start training the better--my trainer knows GREAT tricks for getting a pup to do things you want them to. I will give you one example: Put a favorite treat--like cheez whiz or peanut butter on a wooden spoon. Let the puppy sniff it, then put on the leash, hold the spoon near your puppy's face and guide him to walk at your knee letting him lick the spoon as you walk. He will follow you anywhere and totally forget about the leash! Lots of repetitions of this will make him love going on the leash.

[itsmevonda]

I bought him from a breeder. But I think he was in an outside kennel mostly. But he seemed to have a bond with them because he was the last pup sold.

[Linda Karell]

Don't worry! But I agree--get into a good puppy training class as soon as your vet says it's ok. Most of the first level of "training" is puppy socialization and puppy-person bonding anyway. But to ease your mind, Chervil was very similar as a tiny puppy: sometimes giddy and playful, but often sort of walking around in her own world. I could be there or not, and she certainly wouldn't come to me, treat or not! One thing about GDs--they're very sociable and distractable. That can look like aloofness, but it's often just fascination with the last bit of dust to drift by. Or butterfly. Or smell on the breeze. Etc. Over the past several months (she's only five months now, and just finishing puppy 2), we've become quite the duo. But it's taken lots of training mini-sessions (find treats he loves--steak works well!) and start small--give him plenty of opportunities to succeed), walks, playing, etc., etc. to create that bond. It just takes time. But the first time I was walking up the walk and she spied me and got all "Oh-my-God-you're-back-how-I-love-you!!" made it all worth it. Plus, there are some real benefits to a chill puppy! Good luck, and don't worry.

[Adina P]

My 3 y.o. was a very independent pup when I got him. I also was sorta disappointed as he wasn't cuddly and preferred to do his own thing.

A year later and lots of training ... gradually turned him into an AMAZING dog I'm very bonded to. So don't give up, some dogs just take time and doing things together along with training will develop your bond most likely =)

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I agree, with some dogs, bonding can take awhile. Right now you can jump start this in three ways.

First hand feed him all his meals. By that I mean, sit down on the floor and feed him his food a bit at a time. If he is not very interested, cut his food to two thirds of what you are giving him now. You can also use a partner at this time to teach him that it is fun to come to you. Using his regular meal, one person holds the puppy and the one with the food is just out of reach with some delicious dinner. When your puppy is really eager to come to you the other person lets him go to you to get a handful of dinner. Repeat until dinner is gone. Once he gets the idea, you can gradually increase the distance he must come to you and you can "hide" from him.

The second way is called "umbilical" training. it is usually started with a puppy when he first comes home, but there is no reason you cannot start now. Put a long - 10 to 15 foot very lightweight line on your puppy all the time except when he is crated. You can use cheap thin nylon rope and inexpensive snaps from the hardware store to make several, because they will get dirty. Tie Jack to you when he isn't crated. Some people think this is an awful nuisance, I don't. It is easier than keeping them out of mischief and running after them all the time. After he is used to being tied to you for a week or so, you can just drop the line and pick it up when you change locations. All the while stop every few minutes ( except when he is asleep!) and play with him for a minute or two. Continue to play with him even if he seems uninterested. Be sure to stop the play when he is interested before he loses interest. I usually keep my dogs on a line from 6 months to a year.

Third - start puppy classes as soon as possible and practice at least twice a day for no more than 15 minutes at a time. You can use his breakfast in your pocket for the first lesson of the day and it will go more smoothly, because he will be hungry.

You will have a cuddle bug before you know it. Enjoy!

[Ann W]

I too starting Charlie as soon as I got him. The one thing that I did different, with him than anyother dog I have owned,
was to pick him up alot and cuddle with him. I would sit on the floor and spent time with him. Now if someone else
is sitting close to me , he will stand there and stare until they move over and he can get up next to me. I feel it's very
important the time you invest from the get go! They are all very different. Know two children are alot, and not two
dogs are alike. That is what makes them all special!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

When I first joined here with my new puppy I was thinking almost all of the same things you mentioned. Someone wrote this about her 5 month old puppy......................................'but now he actually WANTS to be with us, greet us, give purposeful kisses, and just generally hang out with us. I've actually never felt so appreciated by a dog before lol'.

We get our sense of self by how people ( dogs ) react towards us. A smile, a touch, a kind word--we bond with those actions. I can guarantee that when your pup is 3 months old and bites you continuously you will feel even worse. But this too, passes. A collective bond is already developing. Make those moments count.

Right now, your pup is so young. His sensory perception is just developing. Give him time to sleep, and when he is awake, he just needs to take all this new stuff ( life ) in.

You both will bond a moment at a time. The small things make a big relationship. In just a few months you too, will be appreciated like the 5 month old puppy does above. Actually, he won't leave you alone so get ready and enjoy this infant stage. Enjoy

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned does not always come when called even for a treat. We are working on that. The guideline is to only call them when you KNOW they will come - hard sometimes to know when they will come. Ned calmed down a lot at 12 months and has become cuddly. He has always gotten in our faces and demanded attention but there has been a change in that he actually cuddles with us. So don't lose hope. Each dog is different and what they display at one time, changes over time as you bond.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

Sounds like normal puppy stuff but he may be a bit submissive.

Make sure he wears his collar and leash in the house for at least the next 10 days, this will help you get him used to the leash plus you will be able to get him when he doesnt really want you to. After he gets used to the leash (a day or so) teather him to you with his leash, where ever you go he goes and he goes no where with out you.

Feed him from your hand for the next few days as well.

He will learn you are the provider of all things good and comforting.

Ignore the accidents in the house and if he bites you just firmly squeeze his muzzle, offer the item that he bit or chewed again, repeat the firm squeeze when he bites again... repeat this 3 times, by the 4th time he will or should look away when you offer him the item he bit before, praise him when he does!

[Adina P]

I agree with Kendra...IGNORE accidents for now. PREVENT accidents by keeping both eyes glued to him when you can and when you can't put him in his crate so he can't mess up. He's too young to understand the difference between NO meaning "how dare you pee in front of me" and "it's not good to pee in the house" -- so he may start to be afraid of peeing in front of you, which is not good since you DO want to catch him peeing outside so you can reward him =)

When you say he bites too hard...are you talking about biting your skin or biting objects?

Check out our Puppy Madness group in our Groups section and look through old discussions in there about potty training, etc.

[Leslie and Halas]

I agree with the others that trainingis key. Your pup is adjusting and getting used to his new surroundings. Halas wasn't super cuddley at first, but now he's a total cuddle-dood. The two of you will definitely bond with time.

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

I can relate to this very well, when we first brought Guinness home at 8wks I had already decided to shower him with lots of kisses & hugs. WELL, that did not happen he would except a cuddle or two after a nap or first thing in the morning but then he wanted down. He would also just go off to be on his own to chew a toy or lay. After a few days I decided he was not going to be the snuggle-bug or lap dog I wanted (: But it was apparent early on he was going to be very smart,we had him sitting on command at 9wks. And I too could not figure out why he had such a different personality I had never seen. I thought I had done my homework on LABRADOODLES, but I say now you can never read enough....stay in there and try to relax, he is still very young...Guinness is 7months old now and I know how far to go with the snuggles & the kisses before I have to let go.. SO HANG IN THERE!!!