Welcome to another blog. In this article, we’re going to talk about the one most important principle for house training your labradoodle puppy and the three easy steps to get there.
The most important principle is consistency when it comes to house training your Labradoodle puppy. Whatever you do and however you do it, you want to make sure that you keep doing it the same way all the time with your new puppy. That way, your puppy will get the message more quickly, and things will go much more smoothly for you.
House Training A Labradoodle Puppy
Step 1
The how is the logistics of setting things up for success for you and your puppy. So, first of all, you will need to go outside and decide where you want your puppy to go to the bathroom. That is the first most important thing to ascertain. You want to pick one area in your yard, and it needs to be somewhere that’s easy for you and your puppy to access. You also want to have a door that is easy for you to see when your puppy goes to it and one that’s easy for you to let the puppy out that door.
The other thing you need to do is to figure out a Cue word. If you have kids, make sure you have a cue word that is easy for them to say, and you want to make sure it’s just two words preferably, so it’s easy for your little puppy to remember. Cue words such as Go potty, Hurry up, Let’s go, etc. Whatever cue words you choose, make sure you always use that word every single time your puppy goes outside to go to the potty.
Finally, you need to decide if you are going to use Poochie bells? Those are series of bells that you hang on the door that the dog goes out of, and your puppy will learn how to paw at those bells so you can hear that he’s ringing the bells, meaning he needs to go outside.
If you don’t do any of those, you can also train your Labradoodle puppy to knock on the door. Once trained, he will put his paw up against the door to let you know when he wants to go out.
Step 2
You will need some equipment to house train your Labradoodle puppy successfully.
First of all, you will need a crate. You will also need an x-pen (exercise pen) and a hands-free leash. With these, you will have full control of your puppy, and the puppy will always be in your sight. So the puppy will not go and run into a corner in your house and have an accident.
Labradoodles are smart dogs, and they catch on to things very quickly. So as long as you keep their environment contained and within your sight and that you’re diligent and watching them, they’ll have house training down pat in no time at all.
So the crate is where you want to put your puppy when they’re sleeping. If you are busy and need to keep your puppy contained, put the puppy in the crate and close the door. That way, you know there’s not going to be any accidents happening. Give your puppy a treat or a bone, anything to keep him occupied.
The x-pen is to block off areas in your house. So if you’re making dinner in the kitchen or working at your desk, set up an x-pen so your puppy can’t leave your site.
A hands-free leash goes around your waist. It usually has about an eight-8 foot leash, and you can shorten it and lengthen it. That way, your puppy stays attached to you, and your hands are free when you are busy with something else.
It is critical to contain your puppy and have your puppy visible at all times during house training.
Step 3
Timing is critical when you have a new puppy. Either it is a Labradoodle puppy or any puppy, you need to be careful on timing and consistency.
Regardless of whether your little Labradoodle is asking you to go outside or not, make sure you take him out as soon as he wakes up, finishes playing or eating, and before you go to bed or he has a nap. These are the critical times that you need to take your puppy outside to go to the bathroom.
So you’re going to take your puppy, go out, use your cue word, using the right door, ring the bell if you’re using the bells, and then you wait outside while your puppy goes to the bathroom.
It is not that complicated, but it is probably one thing that most families fear the most when they bring home a new puppy.
You can also set the alarm on your phone every 45 minutes to take your puppy outside. You may bring your puppy outside and wait, use all your cue words all at the right time, and your puppy still doesn’t go to the bathroom. And then you bring him back into the house, and immediately he goes to the bathroom. Don’t get angry at your puppy if that happens because that will teach him to make sure that you cannot see him when he goes to the bathroom inside.
Sometimes the puppy may go to the bathroom in the house. If an accident happens, pick your puppy up, go to the door, use your cues, go outside, and say good.
When your puppy goes outside, make sure he knows that’s a good thing by giving him a little reward.
Summary
That’s your easy, simplified version of how to house train your new Labradoodle puppy. I hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions, please post them in the comments section below, and I’m more than happy to answer them for you and thank you so much for reading.
My labradoodle is 9 months old and if I let him downstairs in the basement, he likes to poop on my couch down there – same spot every time. I spray with Nature’s Miracle but he goes back to that spot. I’ll even have taken him out right before and he doesn’t go (after 20 minutes) but will in the basement. Any suggestions? He’s usually excellent in his housebreaking.