Potty Training Made Easy!

Potty Training Made Easy

I have not met a person who was not concerned with how potty training a new puppy will go. Everyone is at some level concerned about this issue, and rightfully so. After all who wants to be cleaning up pee and poop in the house? 

Here at Ashford Manor Labradoodles, we work hard to get your puppy to their new home with a great beginning! We start potty training about 3 ½ weeks when they are just starting to wobble around on their feet. We introduce a potty area and it continues to change and evolve until they go home or into training. This is a key element in getting an Ashford Manor puppy.

Just like children, Ashford Manor Australian Labradoodles need a routine. We want you to take them out the same door, go to the same location, and then tell them to “go potty”. Once they go potty, praise them or give them a treat. This will go a long way toward your positive training experience. 

Most puppies do not get everything out on the first squat, generally two to three times they will potty with each outing. They get distracted very easily. If you are taking them in after the first time, chances are you will have an accident! 

There are a couple of key things to keep in mind when bringing home a new Australian Labradoodle puppy. 

Here are a couple things NOT to do.

1. Do not punish your puppy for an accident, yell at them, rub their nose in it. 
2. Never leave a puppy unsupervised that is learning to potty train.
3. Never leave food or water out for a puppy that is not potty trained.
4. Do not clean with bleach or vinegar.
5. Do not give your puppy food or water after 6 p.m. to help with the potty training. If it is very hot and you are outside a lot, just give a few licks of water or a small ice cube.

Here are some things to DO with your new Ashford Manor Labradoodle puppy.

1. Always supervise them. We all have things we need to do throughout the date so this can be in a crate, play yard, or tethered to you.
2. When you take them out to the bathroom, give a command, we use “Go Potty”.
3. Reward your puppy when they go potty in the correct place. This can be with treats or praise. Have a “potty party” in celebration each time!
4. Have a schedule, set a timer, be consistent in feeding, walking, and potty times.
5. Take them out the same door, to the same place, using a leash every time. Going to the same place also helps with clean up. 
6. Learn their cues (sniffing, circling). 
7. Use the same door every time.
8. Clean up elimination areas immediately with appropriate cleaner.
9. Be patient and remember they are puppies! 

Typical potty schedule for a puppy is to go to the bathroom after all of the following: eating, sleeping, and playing. Figure that however old a puppy is in months, this is how long they can hold it. (ex. 2 month old puppy can go about 2 hours during the daytime and then they need to go to the bathroom.) This does not mean they can play for 2 hours and then go, watch their cues. A puppy cannot play for very long before realizing they need to go to the bathroom, watch them about every 15 minutes to see if they are showing any signs.

If your puppy is going potty in the house or going outside and not going potty, then put them in their crate. Set a time for 10 – 15 minutes and do the potty routine again. Your puppy will not associate this with any negative behavior but they will learn very quickly they have a job to do when they are going outside and you give the command “go potty”.

The Australian Labradoodle is very smart. This means that they know that the house is not a place to potty. They want to please you, it is your job to learn what they are trying to tell you. Find a new way together if things aren’t working, such as potty bells or a door bell if they are big enough to press it.

Ashford Manor Labradoodles works diligently with all of our puppies on potty training as we know how important this is. We know how frustrating it is when your puppy does not do this. So we want to help you and your puppy succeed!

If you are having accidents review the do and don’t list. There are a few things to look into beyond the above lists if things continue. 

1. Collect a urine and stool sample and bring them to the vet, this could be a cause something else is going on. Pups are low to the ground and can get various things which will cause potty training issues.
2. Have you given them Metronidazole? This can cause UTI’s and incontinence issues.

Ashford Manor Labradoodles

Australian Labradoodle Breeder in Indiana, home of the allergy friendly dog

Cheryl Sabens

765-714-1436