The Doodle Pro®: Positive Dog Training for Calm Doodles

This episode is being re-aired in celebration of its recognition as a two-time finalist in the 2025 Dog Writers Association of America Writing Competition, earning honors in both:
Spoken Word: Behavior, Training or Sports
Captain William Lewis Judy Award
If your Doodle has ever growled and left you feeling worried, confused, or embarrassed, this episode will change how you hear that sound forever.
Growling is not bad behavior. It is communication. And when we listen instead of punish, we keep dogs and people safer.
In this conversation, I’m joined by parenting and training expert Michelle Stern, founder of Pooch Parenting, to unpack what growling actually means and how Doodle parents can respond in ways that reduce stress rather than escalate it.
In this episode, we cover:
Why dogs growl and what they are trying to communicate
Whether growling always signals aggression
When correcting a growl makes behavior worse
How to respond if your dog growls at adults, kids, or guests
What growling during play really means
How emotional safety reduces the need for growling in the first place
Prevent growling by reducing daily stress
Many growling moments are not about “bad behavior” at all. They are about dogs being overtired, overstimulated, or pushed past their coping threshold.
My book, Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint, helps Doodle parents build predictable daily rhythms with built-in downtime so dogs are less reactive, less testy, and better able to cope with everyday life.
You can grab your copy here:
 👉 thedoodlepro.com/book
Free resource from Michelle Stern
Michelle is generously sharing her guide The ABCs of Growling, which helps you decode growling clearly and calmly so you know what your dog needs in the moment.
Download it here:
 👉 poochparenting.net/abcs-of-growling
Connect with Michelle
Website: poochparenting.net
Instagram: @poochparenting
Facebook: Pooch Parenting
Want help with socialization and body language?
Keeping track of all the sights, sounds, textures, places, and people your Doodle needs positive exposure to can feel overwhelming.
You can download my Doodle Puppy Socialization Checklist here:
👉 https://thedoodlepro.com/socialization

Test your Doodle body language knowledge with my Body Language Quiz:
👉 https://thedoodlepro.com/body

If this episode helped you hear your dog differently, subscribing and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts helps other Doodle parents find science-based, compassionate guidance when they need it most.
Do you want help keeping track of all the sights, sounds, textures, places, and people that your doodle needs positive, ongoing, and quality exposures to? Don't try to keep track of it all in your mind by using my free Doodle Puppy Socialization Checklist! Download it for free now at https://thedoodlepro.com/socialization.
Test your Doodle Body Language knowledge with our FREE quiz!
https://thedoodlepro.com/body

This listener-favorite episode is back because it answers the grooming questions every Doodle parent has but doesn’t always know how to ask. I’m joined by grooming industry expert River Lee, and together we shine a gentle light on what’s really happening behind the grooming table — the challenges, the pressure, the heart, and the deep desire groomers have to do right by your dog.
This conversation is all about teamwork, understanding, and helping your Doodle feel safe, confident, and cared for.
💡 You’ll learn:
• Why grooming costs are rising and why salons are booked solid
 • What’s behind the nationwide grooming shortage
 • How often your Doodle actually needs a full groom
 • Why groomers sometimes must shave a severely matted coat
• How to prepare your Doodle for calmer, easier grooming days
• The well-meaning habits that unintentionally make grooming harder
• The simple at-home routines that help your groomer say “yes!” instead of “I had to shave”
If you’ve ever left the groomer confused, frustrated, or unsure what happened… this episode will bring clarity, compassion, and real solutions.
✨ For brushing help before your next appointment
Catch Episode #6: How to Brush Your Doodle the Right Way for step-by-step guidance designed specifically for Doodle coats.
🎁 Complimentary Resources for Doodle Parents
• Doodle Coat Must-Haves Cheat Sheet
The go-to list of the exact brushing tools I recommend to all Doodle parents.
Download: https://thedoodlepro.com/musthaves/

• Brushing Guide: What Groomers Wish You Knew
Your inside scoop on avoiding painful matting and making grooming a kinder experience.
Download: https://thedoodlepro.com/brushing

🐾 Stay Connected
Behind-the-scenes tips, reels, and Doodle joy:
 Instagram.com/thedoodlepro
Facebook.com/thedoodlepro
Grooming expert River Lee:
 Instagram.com/thesavvygroomer
 YouTube.com/c/SavvyGroomer
Do you want help keeping track of all the sights, sounds, textures, places, and people that your doodle needs positive, ongoing, and quality exposures to? Don't try to keep track of it all in your mind by using my free Doodle Puppy Socialization Checklist! Download it for free now at https://thedoodlepro.com/socialization.
Test your Doodle Body Language knowledge with our FREE quiz!
https://thedoodlepro.com/body

Helping Your Doodle Through Daylight Saving Time — Without the Chaos
🎁 Grab your complimentary Doodle Morning Flow™ Blueprint:
👉 thedoodlepro.com/morningflow
I created this free guide to help you gently reset your Doodle’s morning routine after daylight saving time. Inside, you’ll find a printable plan and the same 3-day, step-by-step schedule I walk through in today’s episode.
When the clocks change, our Doodles don’t get the memo. Suddenly breakfast feels late, bedtime feels early, and those peaceful mornings can turn into mayhem.
In this episode, I’m sharing science-based, real-world strategies for helping your Doodle smoothly adjust to daylight saving time—and other routine shakeups like travel, back-to-school transitions, or holiday chaos.
These tips come straight from my bestselling book, Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint™, especially the section on Adapting to Life and Seasonal Changes. You’ll learn how to shift your Doodle’s routine without stress, why anchor cues matter more than the clock, and how to bring calm back lickity-split.
🎧 You’ll learn:
Why Doodles struggle with daylight saving and time changes
How to use a 3-day, 15-minute shift plan to realign routines
The role of calm enrichment vs. overexercising
Why consistency and predictability reduce stress
📘 Mentioned in this episode:
Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint™ — available now on Amazon
Doodle Morning Flow™ Blueprint — Download it here

Do you want help keeping track of all the sights, sounds, textures, places, and people that your doodle needs positive, ongoing, and quality exposures to? Don't try to keep track of it all in your mind by using my free Doodle Puppy Socialization Checklist! Download it for free now at https://thedoodlepro.com/socialization.

Is life with your Doodle more chaotic than calm—and you’ve started wondering if adding another might help?
Before you double the fluff, let’s talk timing, introductions, and what to do if things don’t go quite as planned.
In this episode of The Doodle Pro® Podcast, I’m joined by Lisa Lyle Waggoner, author of Rocket Recall™, and her husband and co-trainer Brad Waggoner, both faculty at the Victoria Stilwell Academy. Between them, they’ve introduced puppies to dogs at every life stage—from busy adolescents to sweet seniors—and they’re sharing what really works (and what to avoid).
Here’s what you’ll learn:
🐾 The best (and worst) timing for adding a second dog
 🚪 The exact first-day protocol—from outdoor greetings to inside management
 💬 How to read body language and prevent scuffles before they start
 🎯 Why “let them work it out” is risky—and what to do instead
 ❤️ What to do if your current dog just isn’t warming up to the new puppy
 🌟 When rehoming can be a loving choice—not a failure
Whether you’re planning for puppy number two or trying to bring peace back to your home, this episode gives you the calm, clear path every Doodle parent deserves.
Links Mentioned:
Lisa Lyle Waggoner’s Rocket Recall™
Cold Nose College
The Doodle Pro® Blog: Should You Add a Second Dog?
The Doodle Pro® Academy

🎙 Want to teach your Doodle to actually settle and listen—even with a new puppy in the mix?
Try my Relaxation Protocol for Distractable Doodles™—just 5–15 minutes a day to bring more calm to your pack.
👉 Get Instant Access

Do you want help keeping track of all the sights, sounds, textures, places, and people that your doodle needs positive, ongoing, and quality exposures to? Don't try to keep track of it all in your mind by using my free Doodle Puppy Socialization Checklist! Download it for free now at https://thedoodlepro.com/socialization.
Test your Doodle Body Language knowledge with our FREE quiz!
https://thedoodlepro.com/body

I missed you last week — but for the best reason! I was busy loving on more than 150 Doodle parents inside my Doodle Parent Challenge: Motivation Edition. 
We spent the week talking about how to break the “Trust Fund Puppy” cycle and what really motivates our Doodles to listen. And wow… the breakthroughs were incredible! 
In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my signature program, Zoomies to Zen™ — the only Doodle-specific training course designed to transform chaos into calm without fear, frustration, or force. 
You’ll hear exactly what we do inside the six-week experience — from teaching Doodles to stop jumping and calm down on cue, to building focus, impulse control, and connection that lasts a lifetime. 
I’m also sharing real success stories from Doodle parents like Rebecca, Nancy, and Anna who turned their wild, overstimulated doodles into calm, confident companions. 
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried everything and nothing works for my Doodle,” this episode is for you. 
✨ Doors to Zoomies to Zen™ close at midnight EST on October 16th, and won’t open again for another 6 months!
Join me now at thedoodlepro.com/zoomiestozen
— I’d love to personally guide you and your Doodle from zoomies… to zen. 🐾