Total newbie struggling with the basics

[Stacie]

I am a first time goldendoodle owner. We have only had Bella since Wed night. She is 4 months old.  I am struggling.

 

First she won't pay attention to me. I call her and she is completly oblivous to her name. I have started  carying treets with me and when I call her name if she looks at me I give her a treat. If I'm not in the room and call her and she comes to find me I give her a treat.

Now I'm not looking for dedicated focus. I'm talking the basic I call your name you look at me. Once were training on sit/stay I don't mind if eye contact or attention is broken as long as the sit/stay is maintained.  

Is the treat method the best for this? Any other suggestions.

 

I'm ready for the challenge of this girl and the quarks that we will have since not having this girl from a little puppy. She is pretty head strong and I'm pretty certain that in her previous home she was never showed her place in the pack. (therfore telling her she was top dog) I have had to put her in a submissive pose several times when she was lunging at me barking because she didn't want to get off the couch.

 

I am not new to dog training but this girl has me feeling like I am.

 

Below picture is her with a sweatshirt on and kids socks before going outside to our mudd pit. All the snow melted and now we could hold a mud derby out back..

 

 

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

She is so cute! Along with the great advice about bonding I just want to add that 4 months is the beginning of challenging behavior anyway. Owen is 5 1/2 months and is testing us in new ways daily. Enjoy this new baby. 

[Kyoko]

She is such a pretty girl!!! I think you are doing the right thing by giving her the treat the second she looks at you. You can work on duration later, once she gets the concept. I use Charlie's breakfast and dinner for traning( Recomended by her trainer ) I take the amount of food I feed her, and train her with that kibble, twice a day.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

She is so cute.  Remember she is just a baby.  That she looks at you at all when you call her name shows that you are doing the right thing.  Take it slow and easy.  Don't worry too much about showing her who is boss - you control the food, so you win by default and she knows it or soon will. 

 

Start an obedience class when her shots are finished and in the meantime spend most of your time bonding her to you.  Here are some suggestions for fun bonding.  Hand feed her whole meal to her one kibble at a time, tie her to a long thin line that is tied around your waist for several sessions a day so she has to follow you around.  Always have a pocket full of treats to reward her when to follows you or lays quietly by you.  Play fetch with her by sitting on the ground and tossing a toy just a foot or so from you help her bring it back to you with lots of praise - no treats necessary.  Gradually increase the distance once she gets the idea.  Teach "belly rub"  - when she is laying quietly on her side reach down and start to tickle and rub her belly. Stop.  Start again.  When she rolls belly up keep rubbing and praise - no treats - the belly rub is the treat.  When she is consistent add the words "belly rub".   This is much more fool proof way of establishing trust than forcing a submissive position. 

 

Enjoy Bella - worry less about obedience until you start classes, simple name recognition like you already have is great.  Add sit by holding a treat slightly above and behing her head when she is standing.  That will be enough for awhile.  Puppyhood is a time for fun and games -enjoy!