Potty training your Goldendoodle puppy

The core routine

• Take your puppy to the same spot every time, on leash, using the same door.
• Go out after waking up, eating, playing, and coming out of the crate. When in doubt, take them out.
• Stay with them on leash, even in a fenced yard. It helps you see when they go so you can reward right away.
• When they go, praise immediately. A treat and a calm "good potty" does more than any correction.

Preventing accidents

• Supervise or confine. There is no in-between. When they are out of the crate, keep them attached to you by holding the leash, or use a baby gate to keep them in the room with you.
• As a rough guide, puppies can hold their bladder about one hour for every month of age.
• Watch for the signals: a sudden pause in play, sniffing the floor, circling, scratching, wandering away, or heading toward the door. The pause in play is often the earliest cue and the easiest one to miss.

When accidents happen

• Clean thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. Dogs learn where to go by smell, and regular cleaners do not fully neutralize it.
• Never punish your puppy for an accident. It can make them afraid to go in front of you, which makes everything harder.
• If you catch them mid-accident, calmly interrupt and take them outside to finish. Reward there.

How long it takes

Potty training can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Small breeds often take longer. Be patient, stay consistent, and it will click. We are always happy to talk through what you are seeing.