I sometimes feel like I am a walking treat dispenser with regard to the training of my pup. She's a quick learner and very food motivated, but doesn't seem to be praise motivated at all. That being said, I don't feel like I have much of a bond with this pup yet. With most attempts to give her affection (including after she's performed a command correctly), she will immediately start mouthing me unless she's chewing on something like a bullystick. When she's in a very relaxed state I can gently pet her for a short time without her mouthing me.
Any suggestions on what should I be doing to build a bond with this pup? (she's about 20 weeks old now)
And for Geoff Empey, if you read this, you had posted a link for playing the 'eye game' (I think that's what it was called) but I couldn't seem to find the info on that site. Can you describe for me??

Lynne,

Are you the only one that handles her? Feeds her? Crates her? and so on?
Those things above AND being the funnest thing in the world are great ways to bond with your pup. If she has more than one person handling her, she will be less likely to bond with one person.....and if she is allowed a bunch of free time with any other pets (I cannot remember if you have any or not) she will also be less likely to bond to her human handler.

She is a pup and pups will mouth and that is okay as long as you are trading off your hand for a toy. What she is doing is completely normal.

Also by doing motivational upbeat training in short sessions throughout the day, and by having the dog with you as often as you can.

You can also try a massage when the dog is very tired (relaxed) and find what part of the body the dog likes to be scratched, patted, rubbed, etc.

I have one who doesn't care at all about being petted, EXCEPT for gentle scratching on his forehead.

I have another one who wants nothing but belly rubs.

No other pets (other than 2 fish, which she watches intently at times!)
I handle 90% of her care, but I don't spend as much time with her as I would like. With working and caring for a 5 year old and husband, sometimes my time is spread thin. I am going to see if I can bring her with me to work 1 day a week...will help with socialization too (btw she LOVES new people, but is overly enthusiastic when meeting someone new)

Having a dog that likes to be petted by you is not an indication of its bond with you.

I know a tonne of dogs that would just LOVE to be petted by/lean on any old stranger that will pet them. Are they well bonded to the strangers? No, they just find petting rewarding.

So your pup does not find petting rewarding at this time. This is common for pups that often have better things to do than sit still to be petted.

Think of the 6 yr old boy and his mom trying to kiss him, and him going "ewwwww", think he doesn't still need and love his mom?

Feeding, treating, working obedience, playing, praising, exersising, grooming are all bonding and trust building tools for your dog too. Exploit those things to the MAX.

I know this from experience. I have a dog for whom being petted (even by me) is an obedience command. He will happily greet people (pack and aquintences and some strangers), wiggle around and be touched all over. This lasts about 20 sec. After that if you want to pet him, he would likely step one inch to the side and look at you like "I want to DO something, and sitting to be petted is DOING NOTHING".

I taught a "pets" command in frustration! He will sit and be petted, but it is really just obedience.

I praise and pat my dog in obedience anyways. All the time. It is still a cue that he has done the right thing as it is paired with other reward he likes like play and food. Now when the food and play is not there, the praise remains and he knows he has done the correct thing and I am happy.

Mine will also accept being petted when tired and sleepy, but rarely solicits it himself. I pet him whenever I can because I need it, but my dog does not. It is a hard pill to swollow since I always envisioned myself having a snuggle bunny!

All this said, I get comments ALL THE TIME on how well bonded the dog is to me, and I know it.

A dog like mine is quite rare I think. Likely your dog is just a busy pup and will grow to enjoy being petted once it has slowed down a bit. Don't think she is not bonding to you. It may be you that is finding it hard to bond to her?

Lynne, I'd actually cut back on the treats and work on just more time w/her alone. Take her in the car when you run errands. Make her see you for more than a treat dispenser. 99% of people disagree w/me on this, and that's ok, but I don't give treats. Period. My dogs look to me for everything, and are quite bonded with me, with no "artificial" intervention. A dog who is merely tolerating your affection in hopes of a treat is not bonded to you. You are no different than the guy at the coffee shop who gives her a treat. Maybe I do things all wrong and just happen to get lucky, but I feel I have very, very strong bonds w/my dogs (a few stronger than others, of course), and I feel this is a result of what I do WITH them-not FOR them. JMO, and something you might try since she's not the cuddly type. I have one of those.

Since the training-with-food thing has been discussed here extensively, and since this thread is about bonding, let's let the suggestion about not training with food stand as part of an overall suggestion --- and NOT sidetrack this thread into the training-with-food thing.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Since the training-with-food thing has been discussed here extensively, and since this thread is about bonding, let's let the suggestion about not training with food stand as part of an overall suggestion --- and NOT sidetrack this thread into the training-with-food thing.

Um, I thought offering a suggestion as to possibly help Lynne bond w/her dog instead of being a "walking treat dispenser" was what she was looking for. The word "train" was not even in my post....

There is a difference in being a 'walking treat dispenser' (which by the way, is NOT advocated anywhere on this website) and using food to manipulate the dog in a non confrontational and pleasant way.

I think time spent with a dog is great, I think I am the luckiest person around because I spend 24/7 with my dogs here. Do I use food to my advantage, and when bonding with a new dog or interacting with my dogs I have raised since birth?

ABSOLUTELY!!

And I have had to make friends with a few rank adult dogs, just "spending time" would have made the process much slower and in some cases even dangerous.

My post was to others who might see that as an intro to a debate on training with food.

I assumed that the treat-dispenser thing was referring to training with food.

Either way.....

The post I made was pre-emptive, rather than directed to you.