Obedient at home, a little terror outside!

[Luna and Yen]

Hello,

My 16 week goldendoodle is mostly attentive and obedient in our home. But OMG, when we go out for a walk or play outside, it's like a totally different dog... she doesn't listen at all when I call her, she forgets all the commands and tricks I've taught her,  she keeps jumping on strangers, pulls on her leash, and everything is 3x worse when there are other dogs around!

We started puppy training classes yesterday, and even the trainer had a hard time getting her to focus, and finally gave up.

She has so much energy and I feel like she's constantly trying to defy me or be extra naughty just to get my attention. She is walked 2-3 times a day up to a total of 2 hours. I think she's getting enough exercise.

She can be a little angel inside the house, but outside it's like she's having a sensory overload and gets overly excited, and won't calm down.

I'm wondering if there are any tips or words of encouragement from the more experienced dog parents out there. I need all the help I can get!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I feel like 4 months is really rough time in puppyhood where they are extra crazy and difficult to control.  I think it's a combination of teething and starting to test boundaries.

Be really firm and consistent with training, don't repeat commands (say them once - don't do "sit, sit, sit") because then they expect you to always repeat yourself.  Reward good behavior as soon as it happens.  Eventually they will get the idea that being good is more beneficial than being a nuisance.

Riley started to really calm down once she lost all her baby teeth probably around 5 months.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree. 4 months is ridiculously young to expect much of anything in the way of obedience. Jasper had only been home 18 days on his 4 month birthday.

[Connie]

Oh you give me such hope! I have received 4 baby teeth this week! Beau will be 5 months the 28th. We start puppy level obedience classes on Sunday ;-)

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

There will always be ups and downs in attention.  Good, bad, worse and then just as you are about crazy, good again.  No magic formula, just patience, practice, lots physical and mental exercise and to me,,,, most priceless of all an excellent trainer and classmates going through the same things.  

If you have good attention inside at sixteen weeks - you are doing something right.  Keep it up!

[Connie]

Beau (almost 5 months) had his first puppy obedience class on Sunday. We've done lots of daily training (backyard, inside) and walks around our community and park. I've tried hard to expose him to different surfaces, textures, noises, kids, people. We arrived at class early, I parked towards the back of the parking lot so we'd have time to sniff and potty. Good thing!! It took us a good 15 minutes to get his terrified butt across the parking lot and another 5 to get through the store. Serious mistake on my part! He was terrified. Time for some Home Depot field trips ;-)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

They fool us every time.