Blog – Embora Pets

I just adopted the most adorable Goldendoodle puppy I named Jack. Since bringing him home last week, we have been learning a great deal about each other! He has had a visit with is a veterinarian and seems to be growing fast. One area where I am curious is how long it will take Jack to be potty trained. I don’t know if there is an average time when Goldendoodles are typically potty trained. After some playtime and snuggle time with Jack, I decided it was perfect for researching this topic when he fell asleep. I hope what I found helps other new Goldendoodle owners that have never had a dog before. How long does it take to potty train a Goldendoodle? How long does it take to potty train a Goldendoodle? It can take a few weeks to months to train a Goldendoodle puppy. Many factors play a part in how quick or slow this process is for the Goldendoodle. Usually, potty training a Goldendoodle puppy starts after they are around 5-6 weeks old, but this can also vary depending on the dog. Training time varies from Goldendoodle puppy to puppy because each one is unique. Thankfully numerous methods and tips can help make this process smoother and quicker for those dog owners that struggle in this area. Patience, understanding, and a schedule are important for success with any dog breed. The personality of the Goldendoodle owner and companion must also be factored into the situation. Goldendoodle puppies have a great personality that makes it easy to train them because they are usually eager to please. Potty training still takes time no matter how much of a people pleaser they are. Potential Goldendoodle puppy owners must be prepared for setbacks, but once this hurdle is overcome, they can enjoy some smooth sailing until the next puppy lesson comes up! Potty training a Goldendoodle puppy takes time. Their human family needs to be prepared for this scenario. While their personality is that of a companion animal that is all too eager to please those they love, they are still a puppy that needs patience, understanding, and time to learn. Typically potty training any puppy begins after 5-6 weeks of age, and it can take anywhere from a few weeks to months-long process that has their owner wondering if they will ever be trained. The Goldendoodle puppies' personality and temperament only play a small part in how fast or slow this process takes. Other factors include their diet, food/water supply, the stress in their life, their family members' personality, and distractions in their immediate environment, to name a few. The personality and temperament of the individual Goldendoodle puppy play a part in how smooth potty training goes. Regardless of the breed, some puppies will resist training or struggle with learning until they are ready. This situation must be accepted before the puppy even comes home. We must love the Goldendoodle puppies as they are, allowing them to learn at their own pace. This acceptance naturally creates a harmonious household filled with love and happiness that make training in any area more readily accepted by the puppy. Having a healthy diet, the individual Goldendoodle puppy will help with potty training since an unhealthy diet can cause accidents even in dogs that are already trained. It is best to have the food bowl available when it is time for that adorable puppy to eat. When they eat, this control can aide in potty training your Goldendoodle while helping them eat a healthy amount instead of in excess. Water must never be restricted since dehydration can quickly happen to anyone and sometimes go unnoticed. Stressful environments cause doggie accidents regardless of training. From the very beginning, it is a good idea when the puppy comes home to have the house in order. Stress should be kept to a minimum for the health of everyone in the house, including the Goldendoodle puppy. The personality and behaviors of everyone in the household factor into potty training success. If the environment is one of agitation that the potty training isn’t successful yet or nervousness that it will never happen, the puppy can pick up on this feeling. Positive energy brings positive results. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be days of frustration and throwing hands up in failure, but this is where understanding the situation helps. Training of any sort is a process that is learned differently by every dog. No two dogs are exactly alike regardless of breed. Distractions during potty training can also delay Goldendoodles learning. Try to keep household distractions to a minimum during this time. How do I potty train a Goldendoodle? The first step to successful potty training is to have a specific area where they go potty. For those who have yards, a particular area of the yard should be devoted to this training. For those who live in an apartment, using pee pads are a good choice. Place the pee pad close to the door where they will go out when they are older and potty trained. Whichever method is used, bring the dog to that area periodically to do business and use praise and a reward for the good behavior. This positive reinforcement is favored over punishment for accidents. The scent in the area that they use will remain, and they will associate this with where they should go when combined with praise and reward. Very young pups should visit the bathroom hourly while older puppies can wait a little longer. As they get older and learn, their ability to "hold it" will increase. There are some specific times when it might be a good idea to take a puppy to the designated bathroom area to go. The first thing in the morning is a must, and before their bedtime is also a must. Before they are left alone, and immediately when their loved one returns. Right after they have had a meal or taken a nap and after a playtime or training session. There may be other times that seem appropriate for each family. The point is to make sure they have ample breaks to go to the bathroom before they have an accident. It is also helpful to schedule so many bathroom breaks to create healthy bathroom habits for the Goldendoodle. Eating and eliminating go together. When anyone eats, a Goldendoodle included, this eating will stimulate digestion to begin and cause elimination at some point. For most puppies, it will be within the hour after they have eaten. In many cases, sooner rather than later. Scheduling then works to the owner's advantage. Serving meals when it is convenient to let them use the bathroom right after and avoiding serving them a meal when they are about to be crated or confined can naturally aid in potty training. By managing their eating habit and potty training sessions and exercise, playtime, and rest time, the owner easily creates a schedule that the puppy will learn with time and patience. The trainer must always be in charge of the situation at all times to succeed. Confining them to a specific area where they can be supervised during this training time is best. This confinement can be accomplished with a play yard or baby gates and a crate. A puppy isn’t fully potty trained until they have gone a few weeks or longer without having an accident in the house. What about submissive urinating? Submissive urinating is a nervous condition that puppies and some adult dogs can suffer. When they greet someone, they are unable to contain themselves since they are very sensitive to the situation. They greet someone, and before long, they have a slight accident. This situation should never be punished, it will make the problem worse, but thankfully most puppies outgrow this problem. Owners and families can help them move beyond this issue by calmly, in a matter a fact tone, ask the puppy to "sit" and then reward them with a treat for the good behavior. What should be done if the Goldendoodle has an accident? If a Goldendoodle puppy has an accident, the best thing to do first is to ensure that the area is thoroughly cleaned. Any smell that they associate with this area will have them coming back again and again. The sooner the smell is completely gone, the less likely that they will do it again it the wrong spot. Positive reinforcement for correct behavior should overshadow the inappropriate moments. Editor's Advice: This is a great pet accident cleaner and odor eliminator! Final Thoughts Most pet owners often dread potty training. No matter how adorable and cute the puppy is, there is always the sigh that comes with the reality of how long this training can take before success is achieved. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. This short period can easily be managed and directed by the owner or family member with treats and positive reinforcement. If all else fails, schedule in plenty of snuggle breaks until sanity is restored!