77: Do You Have a Trust Fund Puppy? (Spot the Pattern—No Shame, All Clarity)
JOIN THE CHALLENGE (complimentary): https://thedoodlepro.com/parentchallenge Take the 2-minute Trust Fund Puppy Quiz: https://thedoodlepro.com/trustfundpuppy
Do you secretly live with a “Trust Fund Puppy”—a super-social, super-smart Doodle who gets VIP access to people, places, and perks without offering even a tiny “please” first? In this episode, I explain what a Trust Fund Puppy is, why Doodles drift there, the real costs of letting it ride, and 10 red flags so you can spot the pattern fast. No fixes here—the how happens together inside the Doodle Parent Challenge — Motivation Edition (complimentary, starts Mon, Sept 30; birthday-week $500+ in prizes).
Join the Doodle Parent Challenge — Motivation Edition (complimentary)
• Kickoff: Mon, Sept 30
• Where: Private Facebook group (doors open now)
Optional: Take the 2-minute Trust Fund Puppy Quiz and bring your result to Day 1.
WHAT IS A “TRUST FUND PUPPY”? A friendly, much-loved dog who’s learned that access just… happens—doors open, guests pet, toys fly, walks proceed, couches include—without first offering a tiny bit of “please.” Benefits on tap; responsibilities, not so much. Zero-blame lens: your Doodle isn’t misbehaving—they’re following the pattern we accidentally taught.
THE 10 RED FLAGS (SELF-CHECK)
- Greets first; never checks in
- Threshold turbo at doors
- Walks = you’re the passenger
- Ball/tug resumes after jump-bark-spin
- Couch/bed is self-serve
- Food bowl lands while whining/pawing
- “He knows it”—but only when he feels like it
- Guests get love-bombed while you apologize
- Pushback (whine/paw) works—you cave
- Empty hands = low voice value
KEEP IN MIND • Feeling called out by #1 or #8 = good data, not shame • Friendly can still be unsafe (door dashing, automatic greetings) • You didn’t fail—you reinforced enthusiasm without guardrails
WHY DOODLES DRIFT HERE Bright + bouncy + people-loving = lightning-fast “access happens” learning; we reward charisma because it’s adorable; adolescence hardens patterns.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT There’s one simple, kind lever that flips “does what he wants” into “checks in first.” We’ll put it in your hand—and practice it—inside the Challenge.
JOIN THE CHALLENGE (complimentary): https://thedoodlepro.com/parentchallenge Take the 2-minute Quiz: https://thedoodlepro.com/trustfundpuppy Book mentioned: https://thedoodlepro.com/book
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