Doodle Doggies

Doodle Doggies IMDT- certified dog trainer. Sara Perceval helps owners navigate everything from getting a puppy to adult years.

Using positive reinforcement, Doodle Doggies provides the tools for puppy survival and the advanced training needed for a confident adult dog. I'm Sara, a certified dog trainer and dog walker specialising in doodle breeds, serving Mill Hill and the surrounding areas. With a focus on Cockapoos, Cavapoos, Cavapoochons, Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and other doodle-type dogs, I help owners build stro

ng, positive relationships with their dogs through tailored, reward-based training methods. Qualifications & Certifications:

OCN Level 3 Certificate in Learning, Motivation, and Reinforcement (6 Months) with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) – Achieved an excellent overall mark of 80%.
4 Day Practical Instructor Course with IMDT – Hands-on experience and practical skills in dog training. Certified Recall Masterclass – Specialising in effective recall training techniques. Breed and Predatory Motor Patterns Certification with IMDT – In-depth understanding of breed-specific behaviours. Learning Theory Explained – Comprehensive knowledge of canine learning and behaviour modification. My advanced training and certifications ensure that your doodle receives the best care and instruction, whether it’s through personalised training sessions or regular walking routines. Services Offered:

Specific Training Programs
Puppy Training & Socialisation
Obedience Training
Behaviour Modification
Professional Dog Walking

Let’s work together to bring out the best in your dog! Contact me today to schedule a consultation or book a walk tailored to your dog's unique needs.

10/06/2026

Can a puppy’s temperament be wrong for a family?

It is a question many families feel uncomfortable asking, but it is an important one: can a puppy’s temperament be wrong for a family?

The honest answer is yes. Not because the puppy is “bad”, and not because the family has failed, but because every puppy is an individual. Some puppies are naturally more confident, sensitive, busy, vocal, cautious, intense, independent, or easily frustrated than others. When that temperament does not match the needs, lifestyle, experience level, or emotional capacity of the family, life can quickly feel much harder than expected.

This is especially true for first-time puppy owners and young families. A very sensitive puppy may struggle in a busy household with lots of noise, visitors, children’s friends, and unpredictable movement. A highly energetic, impulsive puppy may find it difficult to settle in a home where everyone expected a calm, cuddly companion. A puppy who is naturally more cautious may need much slower introductions to the world than a family had imagined.

None of this means the puppy cannot learn. Training absolutely helps. Good routines, sleep, enrichment, confidence-building, careful socialisation, and kind boundaries can make a huge difference. But training does not completely change who a puppy is. It helps them feel safe, understood, and supported within their own temperament.

A mismatch often shows up as stress on both sides. The puppy may become bitey, overwhelmed, clingy, reactive, unable to settle, or worried by normal family life. The family may feel guilty, frustrated, exhausted, or as though they are doing everything wrong.

This is why choosing a puppy should never be based on looks alone. Coat type, colour, size, and breed popularity are only part of the picture. Temperament, breeding, early experiences, and the home environment all matter enormously.

If you already have a puppy and things feel harder than expected, please do not panic. It does not mean you made the wrong choice or that your puppy is a problem. It means your puppy may need a different kind of support than you expected.

09/06/2026

Your recall is failing everytime because you’re teaching them it’s time to go home.

A dog will only come back if there is something in it for them! If you’re struggling with recall and would like some help on building the foundations. Comment PUPPY below and I will send you my free guide ⬇️

05/06/2026

This is why your puppy “hates” their crate… you might be accidentally rewarding the whining.

If your puppy cries in the crate and you immediately let them out, talk to them, cuddle them, or sit beside them until they settle, they may start to learn that whining is what makes the crate door open.

And because puppies are very clever, they repeat what works.

This does not mean you should ignore genuine distress, panic, toileting needs, or a puppy who has been left too long. But it does mean we need to be careful about what the puppy is learning in that moment.

Instead, focus on teaching your puppy that the crate is a safe, predictable, rewarding place to be before you need them to stay in it.

Start with short, calm sessions during the day. Feed treats or meals in the crate, leave the door open at first, and build up gradually. If your puppy is quiet and relaxed, that is the moment to calmly reward them. We want to show them that calm behaviour makes good things happen.

The goal is not to “cry it out.” The goal is to build confidence, independence, and positive associations so your puppy can genuinely relax.

If crate training feels stressful right now, I’ve created a free Crate Training Guide to help you understand what to do, what to avoid, and how to make the crate feel much less scary for your puppy. Just comment ‘crate’ below and I will send it directly to your inbox! 📥

03/06/2026

Most puppies don’t automatically know how to be calm outside.

And if your puppy pulls, barks, lunges, jumps at every person, or seems to forget you exist the second you step out the door… you are absolutely not alone.

Outside is a lot for a young puppy. New smells, people, dogs, traffic, birds, leaves blowing in the wind — it can all be incredibly exciting or overwhelming.

So rather than hoping they’ll eventually “tire out”, we need to teach calm as a skill.

That means starting somewhere easier, rewarding the moments your puppy chooses to pause, look around quietly, settle near you, or check back in — and then gradually building up to busier environments.

Calm doesn’t come from doing more and more. It comes from helping your puppy learn: “I can notice the world without reacting to everything in it.”

This is especially important for our doodles, who can be sociable, busy, clever little dogs with very big feelings about the outside world.

Start small. Reward calm. Build gradually.

Your puppy is not being difficult — they’re learning.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my free puppy training guide.

02/06/2026

The asked me about doodle behaviour, and here is what I wish more new owners knew. Your doodle is not being difficult on purpose.

Many doodles are clever, sensitive, easily overstimulated, and very quick to learn patterns. So if biting, jumping, barking, or zoomies are taking over your house, please hear this: you are not failing. You probably just need a plan built for the dog in front of you.

Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my free puppy training guide.

This is why ➡️A new study just confirmed what I’ve been saying for years.Doodles are not the easy, hypoallergenic, perfe...
02/06/2026

This is why ➡️

A new study just confirmed what I’ve been saying for years.

Doodles are not the easy, hypoallergenic, perfect family dog that breeders and social media promised you.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College studied thousands of Cockapoos, Labradoodles, and Cavapoos and compared them to their parent breeds.

What they found:

→ Cockapoos showed MORE undesirable behaviours than both Cocker Spaniels AND Poodles — including aggression, fear, separation anxiety, and excitability.

→ Cavapoos showed more fear, separation problems, and excitability than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

→ Crossbreeding does NOT guarantee a predictable middle ground between the parent breeds.

→ Doodle owners were more likely to be first-time dog owners with children — the exact people who need the MOST support.

This isn’t about doodles being “bad dogs.” They’re not.

But they are not a shortcut to an easy family pet.

A Cockapoo, Cavapoo, or Labradoodle still needs careful breeder choice, early socialisation, consistent training, and realistic expectations.

The problem isn’t the dogs. It’s the gap between what people are told before they get one and what actually happens when they bring that puppy home.

That’s exactly why I do what I do. That’s exactly what I talked about on the BBC this week.

If you’re a doodle owner feeling overwhelmed — you’re not failing. You just weren’t given the right information from the start.

I’m here to fix that. 🐾

To watch the full interview, check out the link in my bio and click the link 🔗

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