Real talk: The Ins & Outs of Potty Training your Goldendoodle pup

A chewing, nippy puppy isn't likely the hardest part of bringing home a new puppy. Another common cause for puppy “buyer’s remorse” is house training. House training is something that must be practiced from day one and remain consistent and upbeat.

When starting, take your Goldendoodle or poodle pup out to potty on a leash, even if your yard is fenced. This will help to keep them on track and show them that outside means business first. When your puppy is relieving themselves, use an excited tone and label their action. We use “make a pee” or “make a poo”. You choose what you’re comfortable with. Then when they are done, treat them with more praise. As they age, you will be able to bring them out and use the label you chose as a command to get them to do their business.

You also need to be able to recognize your puppy’s potty cues. A little tip or hint I like to use for new puppy parents is “When their nose hits the floor, get the dog out the door”. A sniffing puppy is a peeing puppy. If they stop playing or get up from being relaxed and start sniffing, 9 times out of 10, they need to go out. Another cue to watch for is if they randomly start to whine. I also suggest using a crate to train and get puppy on a schedule. Crates are amazing tools, and we will cover crate training next. Their use for house training can be imperative as part of their routine.

For example, puppy…

1) wakes from sleeping in their crate

2) is let out of the crate and brought outside immediately to “do their business”

3) comes in to play and train (you can use their kibble to do this, as you don’t want to upset their new tummy)

4) eats/drinks

5) goes out to potty again

6) returns to crate for nap time, rinse and repeat!

This establishes routine and consistency for the puppy, which helps them to learn what will come next. It shows them what is expected of them. There are other potty training methods such as using paper or pee pads, moving them closer and closer to the door, but using a schedule is our family’s preferred method. There are also tricks to get your pup to tell you that they need to potty, such as bell training. You can find tons of videos on how to accomplish such training on YouTube.

Sometimes puppy parents believe that their dog is house trained and after a couple of weeks, or even months, their dog reverts to having accidents again. This can be a dog’s way of rebelling through adolescence. It is important to keep a cool head and go back to basics as needed. Also, pay attention to their habits to see if there may be an underlying issue, such as a possible UTI, requiring a trip to the vet. Things to watch for include more frequent urination or attempting to relieve themselves with nothing coming out.

Check back for tips on crate training.