Part 2: The Smart Doodle’s 7-12-Week Brain Games Roadmap

Missed the foundations?

Read Part 1: The Smart Doodle’s 12-Week Brain Games Roadmap — Foundations

A confident problem-solver. That’s our goal for these next six weeks. If you worked through Part 1, you already started to build calm patterns and curiosity into your Doodle.

Now, we want to add layers. But a quick note: if you need a refresher on calm skills, hop to Part 1 first. It will make everything here feel easier and a lot more fun.

A recap and readiness check

Are you ready for Weeks 7–12?

You’re set for Part 2 if your dog can settle on a mat for 30–60 seconds with light distractions, rotate through two or three puzzles without getting frustrated, and understand a clear start cue for searches. If your Doodle offers behaviors confidently instead of freezing or guessing wildly, that’s your green light.

Quick self-test

Before moving on, ask yourself:

• Can your dog chill out? If you tell your dog to “settle”, can they stay there for about 30 seconds to a minute, even if something small happens, like you ‘accidentally’ drop a spoon?
• Are puzzle toys fun? When you give your dog a puzzle toy with treats inside, does he work on it happily?
• Can your doggy wait to sniff?

If you mostly said “yes!” to these questions, awesome! You and your Doodle are doing great, and you’re ready for the next steps.

But if you said “no” to a few, that’s totally okay! It just means we might need a little more practice on the basics. Go back to Part 1 and work on those “calm skills” for another week.

Weeks 7–8: Shaping and tiny steps.

Week 7 focus

In Week 7, we circle back to shaping. We’ve told you in Part 1 that shaping is like teaching your dog a dance move by showing them the small steps first. Eventually, you can link the steps to make short mini-routines. Always give lots of treats and praise for even the smallest try.

Try these fun moves:

• Perch swivels. Have your doggie put its front paws on a low stool and then reward it for moving its back feet around it, even if it is just a little bit.
• Step-ups. Get your Dood to step onto a low box or platform. Step off, step on. It is fun!
• Bow. Your dog gets a reward for a small head dip, then for bending its front legs, and eventually for a complete play bow.

Keep these games short and fun. Stop before your Doodle gets tired. This is where shaping sequences for Doodles and Doodle trick training really start to shine!

Week 8 focus

Now we’re going to make that “settle on mat” game super strong. Here’s how to make it harder, step-by-step:

• Longer times. Your dog must stay for 30 seconds, then 45 seconds, then a minute, and possibly even 90 seconds.
• Farther away. Start by standing right next to your dog. Then, take one step away, then two, and so on, up to 10 feet.
• More distractions. Try dropping a toy or gently knocking on a door.

It is vital only to change one thing at a time. So, if you’re making your dog stay longer, don’t also move farther away.

Weeks 9–10: Scent games and learning to wait.

Week 9 focus

This week, we’re introducing new smells. We are also teaching your dog how to search for them.

Start by hiding a new scent (such as a cotton swab with a tiny drop of essential oil) along the walls of a room. The air currents will help your dog find it. When he finds it, make a happy sound, give him a treat right where the smell is, and then take a quick break. Keep the hiding spots safe and straightforward. (We like to start with three boxes in a triangle.)

Important things to remember:

• Search along the edges of the room first, then the middle.
• Always give a clear “search!” signal, and don’t let them wander before you say it.
• Only hide one or two things per game so they stay excited.

This is also a good time to remember that puppy nose work is a great, gentle way for young dogs to use their noses without too much running around.

Week 10 focus

Now we’ll make the search games trickier by hiding things in the middle of the room. Sometimes, give the treat right where they found the smell. Other times, toss a treat a little bit away from the hiding spot. This helps them reset and get ready for the next search.

It’s also a good idea to write down how hard each search was. Note things like what you hid, exactly where it was, if there was a breeze, and how well your dog found it. This sounds like homework, but it stops you from accidentally making it too hard too fast.

Weeks 11–12: Being brave at the vet and calm on trips.

Week 11 focus

“Cooperative care” refers to teaching your dog to be a partner when you need to perform tasks such as brushing or trimming their nails. You teach them “consent cues” – signals like “start,” “pause,” and “all done.” Practice tasks like nail care, brushing, ear care, and teeth cleaning in short bursts, with lots of treats.

Try this mini plan:

• Nails. Practice with the sound of a nail file, first at a distance and then closer. Eventually, touch your dog’s paws.
• Ears. Gently touch and take quick peeks inside.
• Teeth. Smear a tiny bit of dog toothpaste on your finger and touch their teeth for just one second at a time.

Week 12 focus

This week, we’re going on short, quiet “field trips” to practice being calm in new places. The trick is to make them super easy at first. Maybe just a calm walk into a quiet store lobby, a minute of settling, and then you leave right away. The goal is success, not staying for a long time.

If your dog gets too excited, go back to the car for a drink of water. If you have a vet visit coming up, practice walking in and out of the vet’s office when it’s not busy.

Scent work deep dive

Why nose games are super important

Games where your dog uses their nose are amazing! They help lower stress, make your dog feel more independent, and satisfy that natural urge to hunt for things. When dogs learn to find “legal” targets (like treats you hide), they feel more relaxed the rest of the day. Plus, it’s a calming activity.

Shaping smarter: from one trick to a whole routine.

Capturing, luring, shaping – what’s the difference?

“Capturing” is when you reward a behavior your dog does on its own, like sitting. “Luring” is a technique where you use a treat to guide an animal into a desired position, such as moving a treat over their head to encourage them to sit. “Shaping” is when you reward tiny steps towards a new trick, letting them figure it out.

Building short routines

Try to build neat little routines, like “pick up a toy, carry it, drop it in my hand.” You can even teach them to “tidy the toy bin” by linking three clear steps together and then giving a happy “all done!” signal. Keep these routines short and clear, and celebrate every time they do it right.

Doodle sizes and energy plans

Big Doodle brains, small Doodle brains

Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are often larger and have a lot of energy, so they do well with sturdy platforms for body awareness and challenging puzzle toys. Smaller Doodles, like Maltipoos, need shorter training times and softer places to play.

Here are some things to remember:

• Two short training times are better than one super long one.
• Start with easy warm-ups, such as hand targets and simple sniffs.
• End with calm-downs like settling on a mat and a gentle recall.

Planning your dog’s energy

Think about your dog’s day like a schedule. Plan days with lots of sniffing games after they’ve had a super playful run. And save puzzle games for before you want a quiet afternoon. Watch for signs that your dog is getting tired, such as sloppy sits or not responding as quickly. Always end on a win to keep them feeling confident and happy.

Seeing how far you’ve come and what to do if you get stuck.

What to keep track of

It’s fun to keep a simple scorecard. You can track how long your dog settles, how often they find things in search games, and how quickly they calm down after getting excited.

Some people find it helpful to take 30-second videos to see if they are accidentally making things too hard, for instance. If your dog seems to stop making progress for a week, that’s called a “plateau.” It just means you need to try something a little different.

Getting unstuck

If you hit a plateau, try one of these three things:

• Make the game simpler,
• Break it into even smaller steps, or
• Try it in a different place without making it harder.

For example, if indoor searches are tough, move to a quiet hallway with just one easy hiding spot.

The end and what to do next.

Keep the fun going

You’ve done a fantastic job helping your Doodle become a thoughtful, flexible, and calm friend. To keep them happy, keep changing up the games! One week, focus on sniffing games. The next, try shaping new tricks. Then, do a quick refresh on cooperative care. You can even decide to plan your dog’s “brain games” on Sunday night with a sticky note on the fridge. It can help you remember!

What’s next for you and your Doodle?

Save your favorite game ideas, take a few short videos each week, and share them with other dog-loving friends.

If you really loved the nose work games, go back to the “scent work deep dive” section and try hiding things higher up. And when life gets super busy, remember: even small, regular games make a huge difference. Keeping your Doodle happy and well-behaved can feel like play when you have a clear plan in place.