Potty Training

[Michelle Ashby]

How long does it take the average doodle to "get It".  I have been taking him out every 2 hours and keeping him in my sight ALL day. What have others done and what time frame to you use before you felt like you were effective?

Michelle

[Adina P]

How old is he again?  I took my pup Rosco out every 15 minutes for a few weeks after he came home as a 8 week old pup.  Gradually it became less and less often.  But for some reason I was always paranoid and rarely did I ever let him go 2 whole hours without a chance to go out.  Have you taught him a way to let you know if he has to go potty?  Rosco took F O R E V E R to potty train.  It wasn't that he couldn't let us know...it's like he'd just fill up so much that if he wasn't let out and he was FULL, he'd go.  He'd try to let us know but if we didn't hear his attempts, he'd let loose. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I have two doodles.  Charlie got it by 4 mos old, but about a month later, he had several accidents, and then boom - no more.  Beau was also about 4 mos old when I thought he was totally reliable and then we traveled to AZ for two month and that was a set back for him for about a week.  By the time we came home, he was six months, and he had full run of the house and was totally reliable. 

These little puppies are like babies in a way and some of them have harder times than others in the potty training area.  I did what Adina did initially when they first came home and we were running outside 4 or 5 times an hour if the puppy was awake!.  Potty training is all part of getting a new puppy - be sure to praise, praise, praise your little one when he does go.  It is party time!  They soon catch on!  I only used positive reinforcement, never scolding when they had an accident, just picked it up and went outside to finish and praise.  In six months, you will look back on all this and wonder how you managed it all! LOL

We use poochie bells at the sliding glass door and they learned to ring them within two days of being in our home.  That being said Beau when through a stage where he was ringing them to go potty, go play, etc. etc. LOL  But that too passes, and as they mature they use them the way they are supposed to be used.  

Good luck!

[Darcy & Millie]

Millie is 5 months old, and doing very well.  She lets out a single bark when she has to go out.   We were doing great and hadn't had an accident in WEEKS, then all of a sudden she went yesterday...grrr..  I didn't see her do it, and could have been downstairs when it happened.  Either way, it didn't make me very happy, especially since it was on my new(er) carpet.  She has only had like two poop accidents ever in the house (knock on wood).

In the beginning I was taking her out constantly and still having accidents, it just slowly changed, thank goodness!  I think it's more about US being trained than them in the beginning.  Good luck!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm not sure if you are asking this because you are having problems, or if you are just curious.  From what I can tell he has only been home since the week-end, which really isn't a lot of time.  If you are having problems I would ask if you are using a natures miracle product or something similar to clean up in the house?  If you don't remove the odor from the spots where he has gone inside, he will continue to do so.  If they are on carpeting you really need to saturate the area really well to ensure you get it from the padding as well.  Other suggestion would be to make sure you are giving him plenty of time when he is outside.  Sometimes they will pee 2 or 3 times while they are outside so don't rush.  We used an ex-pen outside for AnnaBelle.  I know it really isn't possible at this age to take them out on leash, but if they aren't in a confined space, sometimes they are so busy exploring to remember they are out there to potty.  Make potty trips and play trips separate events.  You can also limit his indoor space with an ex-pen or baby gates.  When ever you are playing with him always stop the play and take him outside.  Those would be my tips.  That and just be patient, watch for signs around the door you are using for potty time (make sure it is always the same door as well).  He might just sort of head in that direction, or just go there an sit.  Might not make any noise just yet.  Or go and sniff.  We have a rug at the back door and I noticed a few times I missed AnnaBelle's signal that she went on the rug.  That let me know that she knew that is where she was supposed to be and I just missed her signal.  She is now 5.5 months and she is starting to give a little Woof at the door and to come and get me if I don't hear it.  We were pretty much potty trained at probably 4 months but then she got a UTI with her spay and we had a couple bad weeks again.  Now she is doing fine again since the meds have kicked in.

[Bonnie & Bodhi]

Bodhi is now 5 months old and really doesn't seem to have a clue to let me know when he has to go for the possible exception when he is doing a few turns around the room and I happen to have him in my vision. I have been taking him out to pee and go potty but am I making a mistake to walk him after he goes? In other words, should I take him out and as soon as he goes should I take him back into the apartment? Sometimes he needs to pee or potty more than once. Has anyone tried using the Gotta Go Button? Thanks for any input.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Meg was pretty well trained when we rescued her, Polly had to be taught.  Meg never gives a clue other than to sit in front of you and stare, if that does not work she will lay her head on your lap and nudge forward.  Polly didn't have a cue for us we taught her to speak to go out.  About the time she turned six months she quit speaking to go out and is copying Meg.  When they come to stare we know we have time, if they come skidding into the room and sit real quick we know to go RIGHT NOW!  I find it really funny that they both ended up with the same way to tell us.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I also took mine out every 15-30 min or after every time they woke up, played, ate, drank or chewed on something for a while. Soooooo, pretty often and for at least the first month home. From 8-12 weeks. Then gradually lightened up but watched them like a hawk! It was at least 5 months before I felt they could go at least 3 - 4 hours during the daytime without accidents and it gradually increased. They both slept through the night by 10-12 weeks without having to go out too. Mine both just learned to stand by the door and wait. I never really did anything to train them to do that. I bought and used Natures Miracle a lot!

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

George got taken out every 20 minutes and always after drinking, playing, sleeping, etc. when she was a little under 10 weeks old we bought poochie bells. The first day she was scared of them, 2 days later she had it down. We still took her out extra just to reinforce, and always used the same phrase over and over again. She has had maybe 2-3 accidents total since she learned the poochie bells and she has been accident free for the last 15 days at least (she is 14 weeks). We still watch her, but she always uses the bells. Sometimes we're in another room with her and she can't get to the kitchen (where the bells are), and she will whine and paw the door. As soon as we open the door she sprints to the bells and rings them vigorously, so now we know just to follow her. :)

[Sophie]

Our doodle was 8 weeks old when we got him and the breeder had already started crate training him. When he came home crate training was not working very well for us and (with a new hardwood floor) I was not very patient. I hung a bell on the doorknob and used his paw to ring it every single time we went out and then when he did his business outside I'd give him a treat. He learned to ring the bell himself when he wanted out, in less than 2 days! He's never had an accident in the house since (he's 1 years old now). It's funny he has different rings too. He rings it once if he just has to go and rings in non-stop and hard if he has to go badly. And if you still ignore him (we sometimes do for fun) he takes the bells off the door and brings them to your feet and rings them there. Hahaha :)

Some people worry that with the bell he won't know what to do if he's somewhere without the bell. But for us that hasn't been a problem. I think the bell made him realize he just has to let us know what he wants. If he's in a room without the bell, he scratches at the door and whines. If his bowl is empty and he wants water, he picks it up and taps it on the floor repeatedly -- both things we never taught him but he started doing right after he understood the bell.