Potty training your new Goldendoodle, Irishdoodle or Bernedoodle puppy can seem daunting. There is an overload of information online, and you may not know where to start. Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it seems! This blog post will go over the potty training tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years.

Consistency

The best thing you can do for yourself and for your new companion is to be consistent! Potty training a puppy is all about consistency. One of the questions we are asked is, “how long will potty training take?” My answer is always the same, the duration of potty training is determined by how consistent you are! Goldendoodles, Irishdoodles, and Bernedoodles are very smart, even as puppies, and they will follow your lead. How you lead them is up to you. Puppies need routines to help them navigate life, and this especially applies to potty training. Consistency in potty training looks different for every family, but here are some routines that we recommend:

Food and water 4x a day until they are 12 weeks old. This can be lowered to 3x a day between 3-6 months old and 2x a day when your puppy is over 6 months old. Water should also be given after times of exercise or after being outside when it’s warm. The time of each feeding is up to you, but we recommend the first feeding when you get up in the morning, and the last feeding 3-4 hours before you go to bed.
Crate them for 15-20 minutes after each feeding. Food and water works through their system fast when they are under 6 months old. Crating them after they’ve eaten will reduce the chance of them pottying inside the house. Check out our blog about crate training your puppy! If you do not plan to crate train your puppy, then taking them outside with supervision after a feeding will prompt them to go potty after a meal. Make sure they only have enough room in the crate to stand and comfortably turn around. Take them outside to potty after the crate time.
Pick a spot in your yard for them to go to every time they go outside. Having a designated potty area for your puppy will help them develop consistency and understanding that going outside doesn’t just mean playtime, but potty time as well.
Say the same thing every time you take them potty. This phrase can be whatever you want— my favorite is “Go potty!”. When you say your phrase, then your puppy knows you mean business, and that it’s time for them to take care of business!
Have a reward ready with you outside. We recommend a small treat and lots of pets and verbal praise. Be sure to reward your puppy the second they use the bathroom. This is so important in teaching your puppy good habits, not just in potty training, but with other training as well! They will not make the association if you do not reward immediately, so be prepared!
Puppies pee and poop a lot, just like human babies! During the day, take them out every 45 minutes to an hour for the opportunity to go potty. There are 3 exceptions: It should be 20 minutes or so if they have had food and/or water, immediately after waking from sleeping, and right after an active play session.

Learn Your Puppy’s Habits

Every puppy is different, and will need different routines and training. Paying close attention to your puppy’s habits will help your potty training journey go by faster. This can look like:

Paying attention to how many times they urinate or pass stool during potty time. Some puppies may poop once, others may poop up to 3 times each time they go out. Figuring out how long your puppy needs for potty time and how many times they use the bathroom in one session will indicate to you if they are empty or not. You may think your puppy is done, just to bring them inside and find out they may have needed more time outside.
When you take them outside, become a student of their behavior! Watch to see what they do just prior to peeing or pooping. They may start walking faster, walking in circles while sniffing the ground, etc. If you start to see them do this behavior inside the house, pick them up immediately, take them outside to their potty spot, and use your “go potty” phrase. Reward immediately when they go!
Some puppies can hold their bladder throughout the night, others cannot. If they need to go during the night, they will whine or cry for attention. Don’t ignore your puppy’s cries during the night, or you may have a mess to clean up in the morning!
If your puppy has an accident in the house, the chances of them going to that spot again are very high! Make sure to thoroughly clean the spot with a cleaner that neutralizes the enzymes in dog urine. We recommend Nature’s Miracle for your puppy messes. To take extra precautions, consider blocking off that area until your puppy has gotten back into the routine of using the bathroom outside.If you catch your puppy in the middle of having an accident, pick them up mid potty and give a firm “No!” Then take them outside to their potty spot to finish. If you get angry or tell your puppy “no” if you find pee or poo after the fact, they will not understand. Just clean it up and make sure to supervise and watch for signs in the future.
Every time your puppy wakes up from a nap, take them out! Puppies are used to using the bathroom after they’ve been sleeping, so be sure to ALWAYS be supervising your puppy if they are not in their crate! Too much freedom too soon is one of the biggest mistakes clients make.
If your puppy has had an active play session with lots of running, jumping, etc, they will likely need to potty soon after.

Be A Potty Training Pro

With these tips and tricks in mind, we hope to have put your mind at ease when it comes to potty training your goldendoodle (Irishdoodle/Bernedoodle) puppy. With so many helpful resources online, potty training your puppy has never been easier!

If you are struggling with potty training, don’t hesitate to reach out to us through email or phone, we’d love to help you.

As always feel free to explore our website at morningglorydoodles.com to see more blog posts, pictures of cute puppies, current litters looking for their forever homes and upcoming litters!