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The Doodle Pro® Podcast: Positive Training Tips for a Calm & Well-Behaved DoodleLanguage: en-us Genres: Education, How To, Kids & Family, Pets & Animals Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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How to Choose a Dog Trainer and Get Your Dog to Listen Outside (Stop Jumping & Distraction Training)| Jean Donaldson Part Two
Episode 88
Thursday, 26 February, 2026
In Part Two of my conversation with Jean Donaldson, members of The Doodle Pro® Honor Society were live in the room asking real training questions about distraction, jumping, dog parks, and choosing the right trainer.How do you choose a dog trainer you can trust? Why does your dog listen inside but ignore you outside? And what does “balanced training” actually mean?We break it all down.How to Choose a Dog TrainerNot all trainers are created equal. We discuss why certification matters, what organizations to look for, and why transparency about motivation is essential. If a trainer avoids explaining how they reinforce behavior, that’s a red flag.We also unpack common phrases like “balanced training,” “it’s about energy,” or “I don’t use food,” and what those may signal. Positive reinforcement is not permissive. It is structured, evidence-based, and designed to change behavior without unwanted side effects.Why Your Dog Listens Inside But Not OutsideIf your Doodle knows “sit” in the kitchen but forgets it outside, they’re not being stubborn.They’re distracted.Training with distractions requires gradual steps. Instead of jumping from calm indoor practice straight to the sidewalk with other dogs, you build difficulty in layers. This is what trainers call proofing, but in everyday language, it simply means helping your dog succeed in progressively harder environments.We talk through how to train a distracted dog and why skipping steps leads to frustration.Stop Jumping Without Damaging the RelationshipJumping is common, especially with social, enthusiastic Doodles.Instead of focusing only on “don’t jump,” we discuss teaching an alternate behavior. If jumping is illegal, what’s legal? Sit? Down? Both can work for real-life greeting manners.Dogs must do something. Clear structure helps them choose the right behavior.Are Dog Parks Bad?Dog parks are often labeled dangerous, but are they always a bad idea?We explore when dog parks can be appropriate, what normal dog play actually looks like, and why growling and mouthing aren’t automatically aggression. Understanding canine body language helps reduce unnecessary fear.Dog parks aren’t one-size-fits-all. The right environment depends on your individual dog.Resource Guarding and Teaching FetchWe also answer Honor Society member questions about resource guarding and teaching fetch without creating conflict.Sometimes dogs are simply “running their software.” Not every behavior needs suppression. Clear structure, gradual shaping, and understanding motivation go much further than force.If you’re looking for science-based dog training that protects your relationship and builds real-world reliability, this episode is for you.Be sure to listen to Part One for the foundation on dominance myths and anthropomorphism.And if you’d like deeper implementation, live Q&A access, and structured monthly training focus, you can learn more about The Doodle Pro® Honor Society at thedoodlepro.com/society.Doodles are different. Wonderfully so. ❄️🐾 Winter paw care can make a big difference in your Doodle’s comfort during cold, wet, or icy weather. I’ve created a Winter Paw Protection Guide to help Doodle parents protect paws from ice, salt, and winter surfaces while keeping routines calm and realistic.You can grab it complimentary at https://thedoodlepro.com/winter.
