What the 2026 Doodle Behavior Study Actually Found (And What the Headlines Got Wrong)

About this episode

This episode analyzes the findings of the 2026 Doodle Behavior Study and clarifies misconceptions presented in the media.

A major study from the Royal Veterinary College went viral this week, and headlines from the BBC to Smithsonian Magazine declared that Doodles "behave worse" than purebred dogs. Before you panic, read this. I read all 24 pages of the actual study. Plus the 2024 companion study from the same research team. And what I found is a story that is significantly more nuanced, more hopeful, and more useful than any headline captured. In this episode I break down what the study actually measured (owner...

People in this episode

Host: Corinne Gearhart

Topics covered

• Doodle behavior
• dog training
• pet research
• animal behavior
• study analysis

Keywords

• Doodles
• behavior study
• purebred dogs
• dog training
• Royal Veterinary College

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Royal Veterinary College, BBC, Smithsonian Magazine

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