It has to be one of the most feared aspects of getting a new puppy – potty training. The horror stories (videos, and photos) of toilet training gone wrong are enough to fill a new dog owner with fear. Especially if it is the first time the owner has had a dog. If you are looking to get a new Cavapoo puppy – or perhaps you have just received your precious bundle – what can you do to get your puppy potty trained as quickly as possible to avoid, ahem, all those little ‘accidents’?
We will cover everything you need to know to have your Cavapoo potty trained in the fastest time possible.
Effective potty training of your Cavapoo relies on getting into a routine, starting early, applying the training consistently and above all, being patient.
We will cover all aspects of potty training you need to know, when you should apply it and how quickly you should expect results. We will also cover what to do when things do not work out as planned, what you should do if you live in an apartment, and much more. Let’s get down to it!
Cavapoo Potty Training is Good for Them as Much as it is Good for You
The first thing to know is your Cavapoo does not want to go to the bathroom where it sleeps or eat. Dogs are pre-programmed to want to find a ‘potty place’ where it is appropriate for them to ‘do their business’. From as early as just a few weeks old, Cavapoos will be seeking a place to relieve themselves. What you need to do as an owner is help them find the right place.
As owners we love having a dog as a member of our family. And all new members of a family require some adjustment. But most dog owners agree that having regular toilet mess to clean up is not something they want to contend with.
Unfortunately, it is a sad fact that one of the biggest reasons dogs are rehomed is because their owners cannot cope with potty training.
Cavapoos Are Fast Learners
Here is where genetics is a big help. As Cavapoos gain a lot of their intellect from their Poodle parentage, they are gifted as being one of the smarter dogs out there. This intelligence makes them easier candidates to train than many breeds, a fact which will help us when we are focused on getting them potty trained.
Where Should a Cavapoo’s ‘Toilet’ Be?
If you are to guide and instruct your Cavapoo to relieve themselves in a good spot, you first must decide what that spot is. Your choice will be influenced by the type of home you have – house or apartment – and how much you will be at home during the initial few months.
It likely goes without saying that having your Cavapoo trained to use the great outdoors as their potty place is the ideal situation. Organic waste from your dog will soon break down among plants and organic matter, and you even get free fertilizer! Finding a spot outside that you are happy with your Cavapoo using as ‘their spot’, is ideal.
For those who work long hours you will need to think carefully about how you manage the first few weeks and months of your Cavapoo’s time with you. Before they are fully vaccinated, they should not spend much time outside (as we cover in depth here). This means having a puppy who is not toilet trained spending long periods in your home without supervision. If you are out for hours on end you can expect that you’ll return to some ‘deposits’ from your new family addition.
A similar situation exists when you live in an apartment. If it is a small building, or even if you have access to a ground-floor yard, then you can operate much like a house-dweller would. But if you are in a skyrise apartment then it will be unlikely you can take the elevator downstairs every time your Cavapoo needs to ‘go’.
The alternatives for apartment dwellers are to get some indoors (or possibly on-balcony) medium that your Cavapoo can use for their toilet spot. There are some excellent options for this:
Newspaper or wee mats. These are great for catching little accidents. Newspaper is not very absorbent, so use lots if you are using it. Wee mats on the other hand operate like diapers and capture and retain the moisture. The big downside is most of these mats are not environmentally friendly, so you’ll be throwing a lot of waste in the trash.
There are some re-usable wee mats; in this case you will need to consider getting into a cycle of washing them regularly. You also need to check carefully to make sure the mats do not resemble the texture of carpet as this can confuse your Cavapoo.
Artificial Grass. Artificial grass mats are great alternatives to wee mats. They are made from materials that will not absorb odor and which can be washed when needed. They also simulate the natural texture of real grass. The grass is seated on a plastic tray which collected the urine and which can be easily washed.
Real Grass. Believe it or not, you can buy real grass to use inside. This can last several weeks, but will require some watering as it is a living thing. When it is time to replace you will only be discarding organic matter, rather than the wasteful wee mats which have plastic elements to them.
Bark Pads. Bark pads (no pun intended) are the latest breakthrough for dogs kept indoors. These are once again biodegradable and can last several weeks. The advantage here is texture-wise they are very different to carpet which will help your Cavapoo differentiate between the two.
How Long Can a Cavapoo Hold its Bladder?
When potty training a Cavapoo you will need to be thinking about ‘1s and 2s’. Like humans the ‘1s’ are much more common so knowing how often your Cavapoo will need to wee is key to knowing how to structure a routine to keep your home clean and avoid accidents.
A good rule of thumb is to assume your Cavapoo can hold its bladder for roughly 1 hour for every 1 month of life. For example, if you get your new Cavapoo puppy at 8 weeks, you should expect them to hold their bladder for about 2 hours.
Overnight your Cavapoo puppy should be able to hold their bladder for longer – up to 6 to 8 hours – although they may need to go more frequently when they are very young.
Once adult, your Cavapoo should be able to hold their bladder for between 6 to 12 hours, but like humans you should avoid putting this to the test too often! In most situations you should still give your Cavapoo plenty of opportunities to relieve themselves, rather than stress test their endurance every time.
Cavapoo Potty Training – All About Routine
If you are worried about potty training, or in the midst of regularly cleaning up mess after mess left by your angelic little Cavapoo, you may be asking yourself “how do I get to this nirvana of toilet-accident-free living?”. Let’s break it down with our step-by-step guide.
We break toilet training down into the Oodle Dog 7Rs System. This is based on leading veterinarian research, and research the team at Oodle Dog have conducted into the vital steps which will get your Cavapoo toilet trained quickly and effectively. We have also applied this research to our Cavapoo Daisy, and she approves!
The Oodle Dog 7Rs System for Potty Training:
- Regular Take your Cavapoo outside to their toilet place regularly
- Rising Include after they wake up
- Repeat Take your Cavapoo to the same place each time
- Remind Say a keyword when you take them to go (“Go Pee” for example)
- Restrain Use a leash to guide them to the right spot
- Reward immediately, but afterwards!
- Remove water from their feeding area 2 hours before bed
Regular. You should take your Cavapoo outside for toilet opportunities regularly. Do not wait until they have an accident, and when you are in the early stages of potty training do not rely on the ‘signs’ (we will cover these more below). Instead, get into the habit of regularly taking your Cavapoo to their toilet spot so you establish a routine. Taking your Cavapoo outside to use the toilet once every 2 hours should be your starting point. Even if they do not go when you take them, persist with the routine as this will soon lock in your Cavapoo’s mind as a pattern to be repeated.
Rising. As well as taking your Cavapoo to their toilet spot regularly, you should also do it immediately on rising. Do not greet your Cavapoo and show affection until after they have been taken to the toilet. They will quickly associate going to the toilet with them receiving your affection which is a great psychological link to build.
Repeat. You should take your Cavapoo to the same spot every time for their toilet opportunity. They will get used to the smell and sensation, as well as them recognizing the area. This will help them associate relieving themselves with this same spot each time.
Remind. When you take your Cavapoo to the toilet you should use a keyword every time. For example you might select “Go Pee”. Every time you take your Cavapoo to their toilet spot you should repeat Go Pee firmly so they associate your command with the action. Eventually you may only need to say the words and they will know what to do.
Restrain. When your Cavapoo is a puppy, they can get easily distracted. So make sure you restrain them on their leash when you take them to their toilet spot. Again, in the early days this will help them to find the spot each time, rather than walk off in the wrong direction. If they do try and move, gently pull them back so they know they need to stay in this spot.
Reward. Like all good training, make sure you reward your Cavapoo when they go to the toilet in the right place. Rewards can be small pieces of food, or heaping praise on them. Make sure you only reward when they go to the toilet, and wait until they have finished before rewarding them (you don’t want to stop them mid-flow and associate stopping with the reward! Also make sure you reward your Cavapoo immediately after they go to the toilet; they need that close association otherwise they may think you are rewarding them for something totally unrelated.
Remove. You should aim to remove water from their feeding area about 2 hours before bed. This will help avoid your Cavapoo drinking a lot before bed then needing to wake up early for the toilet. Puppies especially can only hold their bladders for a short period, so make sure you minimize the risk of overnight accidents.
How Long Does it Take to Potty Train a Cavapoo?
When you are a few days into having your puppy at home you can be forgiven for thinking toilet training will last forever. Once they have had their first major ‘accident’ in the home it’s easy to lose hope that things will improve. But they will!
The good news is that most Cavapoos take to potty training relatively quickly. You can expect your Cavapoo to be fully potty trained by the 6 month mark. There may be a few relapses or occasions where they break their new routine – we will cover these below – but generally they will be in a good routine by this age.
Signs your Cavapoo Need to Go
In the early days of having a puppy it is important as an owner that you spend time with them – this helps build a strong bond with your Cavapoo, as we cover here.
Another advantage of spending time with your Cavapoo is you will learn their ‘signs’ that they need a potty break. Each dog will display these signs in slightly different ways, but here are some of the ones to look out for:
- Squatting in the toilet position – possibly the most obvious sign, and also the last sign before they actually follow through. You will need to move quickly to avoid an accident in these situations.
- Pacing around or turning in circles – particularly if they are pacing near an exit that they normally use to go to the bathroom.
- Scratching at the door to leave your home – this is one of the more obvious signs they want to go outside.
- Looking at you – some Cavapoos try to telepathically communicate, or so it would appear, so if you see yours sat or standing near an exit and staring at you, they may be trying to tell you something!
- Whining or Whimpering – some Cavapoos will vocalise their desire to escape for a bathroom break, again when coupled with positioning themselves near an exit this is a likely sign they need to go.
Be Prepared for Mistakes
Even with the best preparation for potty training, your Cavapoo will inevitably make mistakes. It is better to be prepared and aware that this will happen than hope you will avoid it entirely.
You should also prepare yourself for the scenario that your fully grown adult Cavapoo may have occasional relapses back to their old ways. This could be prompted by getting very excited after holding their bladder for a long time, or it could be a territorial confusion, such as if you have another dog come and stay, or you get a second dog.
Firstly, do not punish your Cavapoo for making a toileting mistake. Positive reinforcement always works a lot better than punishment, so be quick to praise the positive and slow to punish the negative.
Some owners will resort to rubbing their dog’s nose in their excrement or urine which is cruel and degrading for your poor dog. This type of punishment can make your Cavapoo fearful of you and unlikely to be a successful strategy for the long term.
If your Cavapoo does make a mistake and you catch them in the act, immediately move them outside so they can finish where they should be finishing. This is the best option to reinforce the correct location for their toilet breaks. Remember to praise them after they finish in these situations, again to positively reinforce their actions.
After a mistake you should thoroughly clean the affected area to avoid any lingering smell. As we have covered, smell is a key marker for dogs to know their territory and where they should relieve themselves; if you leave their odors intact they may mistakenly think they can repeat their toilet faux pas again.
If you see a sustained relapse in potty training then retrace your steps and start more again reinforcing the Oodle Dog 7Rs of Potty Training. It may be they were not quite as fully trained as they appeared.
If a fully grown dog starts to have more than the occasional accident, you may want to consider a visit to the vet to check for any underlying health issue. Again, knowing what is ‘normal’ for your Cavapoo by spending time with them will help you spot anything unusual.
Which are Easiest to Potty Train – Boy or Girl Cavapoos?
There are various differences between boy and girl dogs, and Cavapoos are no exception. When it comes to potty training you can expect similar outcomes from either sex over the same time period.
It is generally believed that female dogs form a more attentive connection with their primary caregiver that male dogs, which helps with training. This can make it easier to see results from female dogs in the early days, but overall, you can expect similar results between males and females when it comes to potty training.
Damage Limitation
If you are in the early stages of potty training, it is good to be prepared with some tactics to limit the damage from any toilet accidents.
Here are some additional tips that can work wonders in the early days:
Pen them in. Bathroom accidents are a near-certainty so you should think carefully about what parts of your home your Cavapoo will stay in during their early few months.
You might consider keeping your Cavapoo in a single room most of the time. This could be the laundry, or bathroom. Tiles floors help with the cleanups after an accident. Alternatively, you may wish to have your Cavapoo with you in the main living areas, so in those case you might consider constructing a simple pen using a baby fence or similar.
If you are having your Cavapoo spend extended periods in rooms with floors you do not want soiled, then puts lots of newspaper or wee pads down. The last thing you want is to have your Persian rug soiled by your junior Cavapoo!
Lastly, you may want to restrict your Cavapoo-in-toilet-training from wandering the whole home. Baby gates work wonders for restricting passage between parts of your home and they also work for Cavapoos! In a split level home, it may be that you want to restrict your Cavapoo from venturing upstairs, which baby gates are great for assisting with.
Crate training. There are many advantages of crate training a puppy, although it tends to be more popular for larger dogs. If you chose to crate train your Cavapoo they will likely spend long periods in their crate which by definition restricts their run of the home.
When crate training make sure the crate has plenty of newspaper or wee pads to avoid any accidents. You do not want to make the situation worse and end up with a dirty puppy because they did not have a facility to avoid the mess.
Nighttime routine. As we have discussed, in the early dates you can expect to rise several times over night to take your Cavapoo to the bathroom. Puppies especially may not be able to hold themselves for the full night.
When you rise to take your Cavapoo to the toilet, make sure you ignore them and focus on the job at hand. Inevitably your Cavapoo will take your stirring as a sign that it’s ‘game on!’ but the last thing you want is an excitable – bladder filled Cavapoo – jumping around at night!
Take your Cavapoo directly to the toilet spot and make sure you ignore them on the way there, during and on the way back to bed. Also avoid switching on lights as this is another indicator that your Cavapoo may be in for a playtime. You can indulge them a little praise if they successfully go to the toilet in the right spot, but keep this to a minimum as you want them to easily go back to sleep.
Doggy Door. The last tip is one for those with homes that allow it – a doggy door. Doggy doors are a great invention and perfect for teaching your Cavapoo a degree of self-management when it comes to using the bathroom.
You can install doggy doors on most external doors, including varieties that work with glass doors. They allow your Cavapoo to go outside at any point they like to use the bathroom and then return when they are ready.
In our experience doggy doors are an excellent companion to potty training. Your Cavapoo should pick up the routine very quickly and understand how to use the door (they may be a little timid at first but a few treats will help). Once mastered your Cavapoo can slip outside at any time of the day to use the bathroom. You can even connect the door with your “go wee” command and get them to use the door when you first see them in the morning or when you return home.
Final Words
Potty training a Cavapoo can be one of the hardest most stressful parts of having a new puppy. They disrupt your normal routines and dealing with the consequences of toilet accidents is not pleasant. But this time is usually relatively short, particularly when compared with the typical lifespan of a Cavapoo.
Once mastered you will hardly remember the time when you were potty training. Remember to use our 7Rs of Toilet Training and you will get a head start and your Cavapoo will hit another important developmental milestone in no time.