Are you the proud owner of a new goldendoodle puppy? Congratulations! These furry little balls of energy are known for their friendly personalities and eagerness to please their owners.
However, as with any puppy, goldendoodles need to be properly potty trained in order to live harmoniously with their human family members.
Potty training a goldendoodle puppy can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach and consistency, it can be accomplished in a relatively short amount of time.
In this article, we will provide you with practical tips and strategies to help you successfully potty train your goldendoodle puppy. From setting up successful potty breaks to speeding up house training, we’ve got you covered!
So, grab some treats and let’s get started!
Supplies You Will Need
Here is a small list of supplies that you should have when preparing to potty train your golden retriever puppy:
- Collar or harness
- Hands-free 3-4 foot non-retractable leash
- 15-foot non-retractable leash
- Two dog litter boxes
- Puppy pads
- Tasty small-sized treats
- Carpet cleaner for pet stains
- Mops and floor cleaner
- Love and patience!
How to Potty Train a Goldendoodle Puppy
Potty training your goldendoodle puppy can be much easier, if you follow some common methods. Some of them include:
Tethered
Keep your furry friend close by using a tether to encourage good behavior and establish boundaries. Tethering your Goldendoodle puppy to you or a piece of furniture helps in monitoring their behavior and preventing accidents.
This method is particularly useful during the house training process when you need to keep a close eye on your puppy’s every move.
When tethering your puppy, make sure that they have access to water, food, and a comfortable resting area.
While they’re tethered, keep a close eye on your puppy’s body language and behavior. If they start to show signs that they need to go potty, take them outside immediately for a potty break.
Consistency is key in house training, so make sure to take your puppy outside after every meal, playtime, and nap. If you can’t keep a close eye on your puppy, crate training or using puppy pads can also help in preventing accidents.
Remember, patience and positive reinforcement are crucial in successfully potty training your Goldendoodle puppy.
Confined
You’ve got a little escape artist on your hands, so it’s time to confine them in a safe and secure space where they can’t get into any mischief. One option for confinement is crate training.
Purchase a crate that’s the appropriate size for your Goldendoodle puppy. The crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down in comfortably.
Once you have the crate, it’s time to start crate training. Here’s how to do it:
- Introduce your puppy to the crate slowly by leaving the door open and placing treats inside.
- Once your puppy is comfortable going in and out of the crate, start feeding them their meals inside the crate.
- Gradually increase the amount of time your puppy spends in the crate, starting with just a few minutes at a time.
- Use the crate for potty breaks, as well. Take your puppy outside to potty, and if they don’t go, put them back in the crate for a short period of time before trying again.
Remember, your puppy shouldn’t be in the crate for extended periods of time. Use the crate for short periods of time, and provide plenty of playtime and socialization when they’re out.
You can also use puppy pads in the confined space to help with potty training.
Crated
If your furry friend is feeling a little lonely or anxious, remember that being crated can provide a sense of comfort and security for them.
Crate training is an essential part of the potty training process for your goldendoodle puppy. It helps establish boundaries, teaches them to hold their bladder and bowels, and ensures they are safe and secure when you can’t supervise them.
When starting your crate training plan, make sure that the crate is big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Use positive reinforcement and treats to encourage them to enter the crate on their own, and gradually increase the time they spend inside it.
Make sure to take them out for potty breaks regularly, and never use the crate as punishment.
Related Post: Crate Training Basics
Outdoors
Going outdoors with your goldendoodle puppy is an essential part of potty training. It’s important to take your furry friend outside as soon as you wake up in the morning, after meals, and before bedtime.
Once outside, give your puppy a designated spot to use the bathroom, such as a specific area of the yard or a nearby park. Use a consistent command, like ‘go potty,’ to encourage your puppy to do their business.
While your puppy is getting used to their new bathroom habits, it’s important to supervise them while they’re outside. Keep your goldendoodle on a leash and give them time to explore, but also keep an eye on them in case they start sniffing around for a place to go potty.
If your puppy does go potty outside, be sure to give them plenty of praise and a treat to let them know they did a good job.
Supervision
It’s crucial to keep a watchful eye on your Goldendoodle puppy when they’re outside, as supervising them can prevent any unwanted accidents and ensure their safety.
Make sure that you’re always with your puppy when they’re outside, and keep a close eye on them as they roam around. Don’t let them wander off too far, and be ready to bring them back inside if they start to act like they need to go to the bathroom.
If you’re unable to supervise your puppy outside, it’s best to keep them inside with puppy pads or crate training until you can take them outside for potty breaks.
Make sure to give your puppy plenty of opportunities to go outside and use the bathroom, especially after meals or naps. Remember that puppies have small bladders and may need to go out more frequently than adult dogs.
When being vigilant and providing plenty of bathroom breaks, you can help your Goldendoodle puppy learn to go outside and avoid any accidents inside.
Setting Up Successful Potty Breaks
Here is a simple blueprint that you can follow to ensure that potty training your goldendoodle is a success:
Take Your Puppy Outside Every 30 Minutes
You’ll want to make sure your furry friend gets plenty of opportunities to relieve themselves, so be sure to head outside every half hour. This is especially important during the potty training process. Consistency is key when it comes to training your Goldendoodle puppy to go potty outside.
If you’re unable to take your puppy outside every 30 minutes, you can use puppy pads as an alternative. However, keep in mind that using puppy pads can prolong the potty training process.
Frequent trips outside will help your puppy understand that their designated potty spot is outside, not inside on the puppy pad. As your puppy becomes more reliable with potty breaks, you can gradually increase the time between trips outside.
Remember to always praise and reward your puppy when they successfully go potty outside to reinforce good behavior.
Wait 5 Minutes While Watching Your Puppy
After taking your Goldendoodle puppy outside, it’s important to wait for at least 5 minutes while keeping a close eye on them. This ensures that they have enough time to finish their business and also helps you to understand their potty habits.
Waiting for a few minutes also gives them enough time to explore the area and get comfortable with their surroundings.
Here are some tips to make the waiting period more effective:
- Stay close to your puppy and avoid getting distracted by your phone or other activities.
- Use a calm and cheerful tone to encourage your puppy to go potty.
- Avoid playing or engaging in any activities with your puppy during this time.
- If your puppy doesn’t go potty after 5 minutes, take them back inside and try again after a few minutes.
If you’re unable to take your puppy outside for potty breaks, you can also use puppy pads or a training crate.
Both options can be effective in potty training your Goldendoodle puppy, but it’s important to stay consistent with your training methods to avoid confusion.
Praise or Offer a Treat If Your Puppy Uses the Bathroom
When your Goldendoodle puppy successfully uses the bathroom, it’s important to praise them or offer them a treat. Positive reinforcement is key in potty training your furry friend.
Verbal praise such as ‘good job’ or ‘good boy/girl’ is a great way to let them know they did something right. You can also offer a small treat to show them that they did a good job. Make sure to keep the treat small and healthy so as not to overfeed your puppy.
It’s important to reinforce positive behaviors to help your puppy understand what is expected of them. Remember to take your puppy out for potty breaks frequently and be patient with them as they learn.
Reward With Off-Leash Time
Rewarding your furry friend with off-leash time is a great way to reinforce positive behavior during the potty training process. After your goldendoodle puppy successfully goes potty outside, take them for a short walk or let them play in a designated area off-leash.
This will help your puppy understand that going potty outside leads to positive experiences and will encourage them to continue doing so.
To make the most of off-leash time as a reward, follow these three tips:
- Make sure the area is safe and secure for your puppy to play in without their leash.
- Keep the off-leash time short and sweet, as it’s meant to be a reward, not a full play session.
- Always supervise your puppy during off-leash time to ensure they don’t have any accidents indoors or get into any dangerous situations.
Tips To Speed Up House Training Your Goldendoodle
Who doesn’t like to speed things up? Especially when it comes to house training!
Well, here are some tips:
Keep Track of Your Puppies Potty Habits
By monitoring your Goldendoodle puppy’s potty habits, you can establish a routine that works for both you and your furry friend. Take note of when they usually need to go and how long they can hold it in. This way, you can set up a potty training schedule that fits your puppy’s needs.
You can also use this information to adjust their meals and water intake accordingly. When doing so, accidents can be minimized, and your puppy will feel more comfortable and less stressed during the potty training process.
Take Them Potty During the Habitual Times As Well
Now that you’re keeping track of your Goldendoodle puppy’s potty habits, it’s time to take things up a notch. You should also take them potty during habitual times.
This helps them get used to a regular schedule and allows you to predict when they’ll need to go. Plus, it helps with bladder control and helps them avoid accidents.
Here are some tips to help you take your Goldendoodle puppy potty during habitual times:
- Stick to a feeding schedule: Goldendoodles tend to need to go potty right after they eat. So, make sure you’re feeding your puppy at the same time every day.
- Create a bathroom schedule: Figure out how often your puppy needs to go potty and create a schedule around that. For example, if your puppy needs to go potty every two hours, make sure you take them out on the hour every two hours.
- Pay attention to signals: If your puppy starts sniffing around or circling, it might be time to take them out.
- Take them out first thing in the morning and before bed: These are two habitual times that your puppy will likely need to go potty.
- Be patient: Potty training takes time and accidents will happen. Just be patient with your puppy and continue to stick to a regular schedule.
Get Your Puppy on a Feeding Schedule
When feeding your puppy at the same time every day, you’re creating a routine that’ll help with their bladder control and make the training process smoother.
A regular feeding schedule will also help you predict when your pup will need to go potty, making it easier for you to take them out at the right time. When creating a feeding time, make sure to choose a time that works for both you and your puppy.
Consider your daily schedule and choose feeding times that are convenient for you to stick to. It’s also important to measure out the appropriate amount of food and not overfeed your puppy, as this can lead to more frequent potty breaks and accidents.
By keeping your puppy on a regular feeding schedule, you’re setting them up for success in their potty training journey.
Clean Up Accidents Thoroughly
Make sure you clean up any potty accidents your furry friend has thoroughly, as the scent can linger and encourage them to go in the same spot again. This can lead to frustration and a longer training process.
To properly clean up after your goldendoodle, start by using paper towels to absorb as much of the urine as possible. Then, use an enzymatic cleaner to neutralize the smell of urine.
These cleaners break down the proteins in the urine that cause the odor, making it less likely that your puppy will return to the same spot.
It’s also important to clean your puppy’s water dish regularly. If they’re drinking water that has been contaminated by the smell of urine, it can make it harder for them to associate the smell with going potty outside.
When cleaning up accidents, be sure to use a cleaner specifically designed for pet messes, as regular household cleaners may not eliminate the smell of urine completely.
Conclusion
Congratulations on successfully potty training your Goldendoodle puppy! You’ve taught your furry friend an important life skill through patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement.
Did you know that it usually takes about 4-6 months to fully potty train a puppy? That’s a lot of dedication and hard work on your part, but the end result is worth it.
Remember, accidents may still happen, especially in new environments or when your Goldendoodle is feeling anxious or excited. But with continued reinforcement and clear communication, your pup will continue to improve.
Always celebrate successes and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Keep up the good work and enjoy your clean, accident-free home!