How do I teach my pup her name?

[Puppy Madness]

We just adopted Sky, an 11 month standard Australian labradoodle. We adopted her from a family at our church and we've learned she basically lived in a laundry room most of the time. An elderly grandpa is living with the family and a jumping doodle (and boy can she jump) was too much for him. He'd actually gotten hurt the last time she jumped on him which was why they finally sought a new home for Sky.
She doesn't seem to know her name. I wanted to change it but my husband and 4 year old son love it. So how the heck do we teach Sky her name?

She also seems to be afraid off OUR laundry room, which happens to be the only way to the backyard. I got her to willingly go out this morning with treats, is that okay?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

She must be very frightened.  She lost the only home she ever knew, even though it doesnt sound like it was the best home for her. She will come around with your love. It takes several weeks--at least.  If you suddenly were dropped off in China, did not know where you were and could not understand the language.. well a dog fells just like that!   Scary.  

Give her lots of time to learn new things.  

Establish routines and that will bring some comfort and understanding on her part.  Lots and lots of treats.  

She will know her name in time from your loving voice saying it over and over again  :) 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think Sky is trying to figure out a lot of things. Remember, it's all new to her at this point. She doesn't yet know what is expected of her. It sounds like she was not trained in any way and basically stuck in a laundry room. I would be scared, too, if I thought I was going to be left alone in another laundry room. Just keep saying her name to her. She will get it. I also think the treat idea is a great idea to get her to realize that your laundry room is a nice place. It will all happen with time and patience. Thank you for helping her. It sounds like you got yourself an 11 month old PUPPY :)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Exactly!  And such a beautiful girl!  She just needs to gain some confidence in that she is now in her forever home!  Repeating her name in every command will help.  Sit, Sky....Down, Sky, Stay, Sky, etc.  

  I see no harm in giving her a treat when exiting the laundry room to go out.  It all needs to be a positive experience for her and if a treat does it, so be it!  Time and Patience will go a long way!

[Gail and Bailey]

How wonderful that Sky has found her forever home with you and your family!  

As Laurie said,  Sky will come to learn that your laundry room is a nice place.... after all, it leads to the back yard and the area where I assume she will be playing with the family!   Give her time and lots of love.  Whisper her name in her ear as you love on her and tell her she is a good girl.  Before you know it she will relax into her new home!  

[Michele & Kallie]

She will learn her name as you keep calling her by it.Even if you change it or use Sky as a middle name.We call Kallie lots of names...Doodle, Wookie, Kallie wu, and Frankie among them. .We say it in a happy voice and usually with a command like lets go or encouragement.Sounds Like Sky will love her new family and treating her will help get her distracted to go thru the laundry room .If she is like most doodles she is very food motivated.Enjoy her!I

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Others have so well stated what Sky is going through.  Give her lots of love and petting.  I am not into treats and feel that is a personal choice.   I was picking up a medium size LD, named Karma, for play days and sleep overs with Hurley.  Her owner traveled a lot and worked long days so Karma was alone a lot.   It used to break my heart every time I would take her home and have to leave her until her owner came home for the day.  She and Hurley are so connected in a way I have never seen before.  

Eventually her owner felt it was best for Karma to have a new home.  She unselfishly gave Karma to Karma's trainer before I knew about it.  My hubby was going through some serious medical challenges and my mom had just passed away so she didn't want to ask me if I would like to take Karma.  

I did not work out with the trainer (not because of anything to do with Karma) so poor Karma was back with her initial owner and back to being alone a lot.  I found out and I was talking to my son and d-i-l about Karma and bringing her home for good to live with us but they wanted her.  They had just put down one of their labs which left their LD alone except when he has play days with Hurley.   The twins had played with Karma many times and loved her already.   So they took Karma and immediately made her feel welcome.   I get the best of both worlds as she has a great home with children and Oakley and I get to bring her and Oakley to our house for play days and sleep overs or take Hurley to their house.  

She had lost weight before they took her and was looking so sad and confused at first so I took Hurley to her new home every day for a couple of weeks.  With all their love and attention, with Hurley and Oakley as play mates, by the time those first few weeks were over she had started to gain weight and was looking so happy.  So after all that TMI my point is simply love her, show her you care, calmly talk to her and pet her while saying her name and teaching her the structure/discipline you want to instill.  

She sounds so sweet and special and now she has a loving special home! 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Diane ~ what a beautiful story to share.  I am so glad Karma has a new forever home and so does Sky.  With lots of love and patience, I bet SKY will come around very quickly.  BTW - Sky is so beautiful!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Aww. Poor Sky but also lucky Sky to get a second chance. I'm not at all surprised that she's spooked by the laundry room. A dear friend of mine adopted a leonberger who was supposed to be bred but didn't pass the health check. The poor dear lived in a kennel inside of a barn for 2 years. My friend who adopted her has horses and a barn. It took a full year before Izzy would follow Lynn into the barn willingly.

Because her old name is attached to a sad life, I'd talk to your son and husband about giving her a fresh start with a great new name. Call her to you often, using her name with the word 'come' and a nice treat. I'm happy she found you.

[Jen W]

In puppy training class, the trainer had us call out our dog's name in a bright, happy, sing-songy voice.  When the pup looked, you'd give them a treat.  I practiced this a lot at first - singing out her name and then treating her when she'd look.  Now it's just habit, she hears her name, she looks at me - no treats required.

[Melissa Bissell]

Our trainer taught us to say our pups name and every time he would look over at us, even a slight look initially, pop a treat in his mouth.  If you have started click training you can click as soon as she looks over and then treat.  We found that this method was very effective and easy for all members of the household to do.  Your 4 year old may be able to do it, but I would recommend supervision.  I hope that helps!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

I really like Zak George's way with dogs.  Here's his video on teaching a dog to come when called: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE

[Jen W]

Coming when called is a totally different thing than the pup knowing its name.  That's a whole different ball of wax!  (or a ball of anything as far as a dog is concerned!)