Case Study: Ronnie & Ivy - Effective Doodle Training in Norfolk

Gentle, Positive Crate Training for Two Doodle Puppies

At Mel Newton Dog Training, we often meet owners who have chosen a doodle for all the right reasons - affectionate, intelligent, playful and wonderfully family-oriented. In this case study, we look at two very different puppies, Ronnie the cockerpoo and Ivy the jackapoo, and how early crate training support helped prevent future separation struggles.

Background

Doodles - crosses between poodles and other breeds such as cocker spaniels, Labradors, golden retrievers or Jack Russells - are increasingly popular family companions.

What many owners don’t initially realise (and this is no fault of their own) is that these adorable, teddy-bear-like puppies are often a blend of two highly intelligent, historically working breeds. Poodles were originally bred as water retrievers, and many of the breeds they are crossed with were also developed for stamina, problem-solving and close human partnership.

This intelligence and sociability can make them wonderful pets, but it can also mean they thrive on engagement and can struggle if independence skills aren’t gently taught from the beginning.

Ronnie and Ivy’s owners contacted me because they were beginning to notice mild signs of daytime distress around crate use and short periods of separation. Both puppies were sleeping well in their crates overnight, but during the day, they were unsettled.

Importantly, their owners were proactive. They weren’t in crisis - they simply wanted to get things right early.

Ronnie - The Social Butterfly (Cockerpoo)

Ronnie was highly food-motivated and deeply attached to his family. During the day, he preferred settling directly next to his owner and viewed the crate as a separation from the action - classic “fear of missing out”.

He didn’t dislike the crate itself. He simply preferred people.

Ivy - The Independent Thinker (Jackapoo)

Ivy was temperamentally different. She could settle calmly on a rug in the kitchen, but hesitated to relax inside her crate. Unlike Ronnie, she wasn’t particularly food-driven. She valued attention and praise more than treats.


Both puppies were confident, well-loved and secure. They simply needed help understanding that the crate was a safe, neutral space - not exclusion from family life.

The Challenge

The goal was not to “fix” distress. It was to:

• Prevent separation anxiety from developing
• Build positive crate associations
• Teach calm independence
• Avoid ever needing to let the puppies “cry it out”

Both owners were already clear that the crate would never be used as punishment. It would be a management tool when supervision wasn’t possible - for example:

• School runs
• Quick trips to the shops
• Showering
• Working from home

Methods Used

Ronnie’s Plan (Food Motivated Approach)

Because Ronnie loved food, we:

• Taught him to enter the crate willingly
• Closed the door briefly while he remained calm
• Rewarded settled behaviour
• Reopened the door before any escalation
• Repeated in short, controlled sessions

The key was releasing him while calm, teaching him that quiet behaviour made the door open.

Over multiple short sessions, Ronnie’s tolerance increased steadily. The crate began predicting good things rather than missing out.

Ivy’s Plan (Attention-Based Approach)

Ivy would accept some food, but it wasn’t her primary motivator. Instead, we focused on:

• Calm placement in the crate
• Brief, quiet step-aways
• Returning while she was settled
• Gentle praise and soft verbal reinforcement

Because she was more driven by connection than treats, praise and calm acknowledgement were far more powerful rewards.

Welfare First Approach

Before every crate session, Mel advised both owners to mentally check:

• Has the puppy toileted recently?
• Are they hungry or thirsty? (Water should always be available.)
• Are they too hot or too cold?

Meeting welfare needs first prevents unnecessary frustration and ensures training remains fair.

Understanding Doodles (Without Blame)

One of the patterns we see - particularly in highly social breeds like doodles - is that their loving, magnetic nature draws constant interaction during critical socialisation periods.
People are naturally attracted to them. They receive a lot of attention, and understandably so.

But without structured independence training alongside that affection, some doodles can become very reliant on constant company. This is where early crate training and calm-alone practice become so important.


This isn’t a breed flaw. It’s simply the flip side of having an intelligent, affectionate dog bred to work closely with humans.

Early Signs vs Extreme Distress


Both Ronnie and Ivy were showing mild, manageable signs of daytime unease.
It’s important to distinguish this from true panic behaviours such as:


• Toileting in the crate
• Attempting to escape
• Destructive chewing
• High-level prolonged distress


Some low-level vocalisation is entirely normal in young puppies who have:


• Left their litter
• Moved to a new environment
• Been placed in a confined space alone


The goal is to teach coping skills, not suppress communication.

Results So Far

With short, repetitive, positive sessions:


• Ronnie learned that the crate did not mean social exclusion
• Ivy learned that calm behaviour brought praise and reassurance
• Both puppies extended their comfortable crate time
• Owners felt confident and empowered rather than anxious


Most importantly, both pups are now developing healthy independence alongside their loving temperaments.

Why It Works

Successful crate training is built on:

• Patience
• Consistency
• Short, structured sessions
• Positive reinforcement
• Clear understanding of puppy welfare

When started early, it prevents needing to leave a puppy to cry in distress while you rush to work.


The crate becomes part of everyday life, not something introduced only when necessary.

Thinking About Crate Training for Your Puppy in Norfolk?

Whether you have a doodle, spaniel, retriever or mixed breed, early independence skills are just as important as recall or lead walking.

If you’re worried about separation, crate resistance, or simply want to start your puppy off in the best possible way, Mel offers tailored in-home puppy crate training across Swaffham, Downham Market and South and West Norfolk.

Every puppy is different - and training should reflect that.


Call Mel on 07442 974421, or get in touch here to begin building calm, confident independence for your puppy.

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