Many Doodle parents ask whether a board and train program for dogs is the best solution. Many Doodle parents eventually ask the same question:

“Should I send my dog to a board and train program?”

It’s a very understandable thought. When your dog is jumping, pulling on leash, barking, or struggling to settle, the idea of sending them away for a few weeks and getting back a perfectly trained dog can sound incredibly appealing.

In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story about sending my own Poodle to a board and train program years ago, long before I became a professional trainer.

At the time, I had young children and simply wanted to do the best thing for my dog. I had heard that positive reinforcement was the best approach, and I asked a lot of questions before enrolling her.

One of the answers I heard back then is something I now recognize as a major red flag:
 “We start with positive reinforcement and only use other tools if necessary.”

When I picked up my Poodle, she had a beautiful down-stay.

But the moment I stopped using the tool she had been trained with, the behavior disappeared. And the emotional fallout for my dog was real. She became more anxious and started submissive peeing.

That experience taught me something important about how dogs actually learn.

Years later, after becoming a professional trainer and working with Doodles every day, I revisited that exact skill. I wanted to know if we could teach an even stronger down stay without relying on tools like prong collars or pressure.

That work eventually became Relaxation Protocol for Distractable Doodles™, a training approach designed specifically for the high-energy, highly social nature of Doodles.

Today I regularly see Doodles learn to settle calmly even with real-life distractions like doorbells, visitors, or activity in the home — all through positive reinforcement training.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why behaviors built with pressure often disappear when the pressure is removed
 • The red flag phrase many dog owners hear when asking about positive reinforcement training
 • Why many board and train programs still rely on aversive tools like prong collars or e-collars
 • Why sending a dog away for training doesn’t automatically transfer skills back to the family
 • Why training together often creates stronger long-term results
 • How to teach a Doodle to settle and relax using positive reinforcement training

I also want to be clear about something important. Skilled, science-based trainers can be incredibly valuable. The best trainers don’t replace the relationship between you and your dog. They help guide you so you can build that relationship yourself.

Because in the end, the most important training happens in the everyday moments between you and your dog.

Many Doodle parents also find that having a predictable daily rhythm helps their dogs settle more easily. I walk through the exact structure that works well for Doodles in my bestselling book, Your Doodle’s Daily Schedule Blueprint™, which shows you how to create a daily routine that supports calmer behavior at home.

In a few weeks, I’ll also be hosting a live Doodle Parent Challenge where we’ll start building the training skills that help Doodles focus, listen, and settle. I’ll share more details about that soon.

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