How to Potty Train a Labradoodle Puppy

Potty training is the thing new puppy owners worry about most. The good news: Australian Labradoodles are smart, eager to please and quick learners. With a consistent routine, most puppies catch on faster than people expect. Here's the approach I recommend to our families.

The basic idea

Potty training comes down to one principle: set your puppy up to go in the right place, and reward it every time it does. Prevent accidents where you can, reward success generously and stay patient with mistakes.

Young puppies have small bladders and not much control. A general guide is that a puppy can hold it about one hour per month of age, plus one. An 8-week-old can often manage 2 to 3 hours during the day, sometimes less when awake and active.

Choose a potty spot

Pick one spot in your yard and take your puppy to that same place every time. The smell tells your puppy "this is where we go." If you live in an apartment, pick a patch of grass near the building, or set up a pad or turf patch as a backup.

Use a crate

Dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep, so a crate is one of your best potty-training tools.

• The crate should be just big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down. A divider lets you adjust it as your puppy grows.
• Put your puppy in the crate for naps and when you can't supervise.
• Take your puppy straight outside every time it comes out.

The crate should always be a happy place, with treats, a chew toy and the littermate blanket. Never use it as punishment.

Take your puppy out often

This is where most success comes from. Take your puppy out:

• First thing in the morning
• Right after every meal
• After every nap
• After play sessions
• Before bed
• Once or twice during the night at first
• Anytime you see sniffing, circling or wandering off

In the early weeks, that can mean every hour or so while your puppy is awake. It feels like a lot, but it doesn't last.

A sample daily schedule

• 6:30 am: Out to potty
• 7:00 am: Breakfast, then out to potty
• 7:30 am: Play, then nap in the crate
• 9:30 am: Out to potty, play, nap
• 12:00 pm: Lunch, then out to potty
• Afternoon: Potty after every nap and play
• 5:30 pm: Dinner, then out to potty
• Evening: Potty every hour or so
• 10:00 pm: Last potty, then bed
• Overnight: One or two quick trips

Keep meals on a schedule. Regular meals mean regular potty times.

Reward immediately

When your puppy goes in the right spot, praise it warmly and give a small treat right away, within a second or two, while you're still outside. If you wait until you're back inside, your puppy won't connect the reward with going potty.

Many families add a cue word like "go potty" as the puppy starts to go. Over time your puppy learns to go on cue, which is very handy on rainy Houston mornings.

Handling accidents

Accidents will happen. How you respond matters.

• Catch it in the act? Calmly interrupt with a quick "oops," pick your puppy up, and take it outside to finish. Praise if it does.
• Find it later? Just clean it up. Your puppy won't understand being scolded for something it did earlier.
• Never rub your puppy's nose in it or yell. That only teaches your puppy to hide when it needs to go.
• Clean with an enzyme cleaner. Regular cleaners leave a scent that brings your puppy back to the same spot.

If accidents keep happening in one place, supervise more closely and take your puppy out more often.

Nighttime

Keep nighttime trips boring: lights low, no play, straight out and straight back to the crate. Most puppies begin sleeping longer through the night as they grow. Pick up the water bowl an hour or two before bed, unless your vet advises otherwise or it's very hot.

Watch for the signs

Puppies often tell you before they go. Watch for:

• Sniffing the floor
• Circling
• Suddenly leaving the room
• Whining or going to the door
• Stopping play abruptly

How long does it take?

Every puppy is different. Many start catching on within the first couple of weeks and are fairly reliable over the next few months, with occasional accidents. Consistency from everyone in the house speeds it up a lot.

When to call your vet

If your puppy suddenly has a lot of accidents after doing well, strains, or seems to go very often, check with your vet. A urinary tract infection or upset stomach can cause setbacks.

Need help?

Every Doodle's Kennel family has lifetime breeder support. If potty training isn't going the way you hoped, call or text me at 281-923-9266. For more on the early days, see Your Labradoodle puppy's first week home or our FAQ. Ready to bring one home? Start with our puppy application.