How To Potty Train A Labradoodle: 9 Expert Tips

Labradoodles are smart, loving, and active dogs. They’re incredibly friendly and typically get along quite well with kids, other dogs, and cats. Hybrid dogs end up with traits from both parents. Labrador Retrievers and Poodles are both incredibly smart breeds. Because they’re typically so friendly and eager to please, Labradoodles are generally quite easy to train. Here are nine expert tips to help you potty-train your Labradoodle.

The 9 Tips to Potty Train A Labradoodle

1. Take Your Time

Patience is a virtue when it comes to potty training Labradoodles. The entire process can take 4 to 6 months, so get ready to clean up a few accidents! But with good early training, many Labradoodles can be solidly potty trained by the time they’re 6 months old.

While most adult dogs can go for around 6-8 hours without a bathroom break, puppies require more frequent trips outside. Most 3-month-old dogs need to pee every 4 hours, and 4-month-old puppies are usually okay for around 5 hours without a bathroom break. Puppies often require bathroom breaks first thing in the morning, after naps and meals, and before bed.

2. Learn to Identify Your Dog’s Way of Saying It’s Potty Time

Positive reinforcement-based training partly involves catching your pet responding to stimuli and situations appropriately and rewarding them. Puppies often have physical tells that indicate they need to hit the bathroom.

Once you know what those indications are, take your pet outside, encourage them to pee, and give them a nice reward. Dogs eventually learn to associate peeing outside with getting a reward, which usually leads to increased motivation to pee outside. Sniffing, pacing, and whining are often signs that dogs need a bathroom break.

3. Stay on Schedule

Feed and take your Labradoodle for walks at the same time each day. Regular scheduling often reduces canine stress, as most pets do best with steady routines. Feeding your dog and taking it for walks at the same time every day allows your buddy’s body to develop a regular rhythm, so they’re more likely to need to go at a regular time, which conveniently coincides with walk time. They’ll also begin to understand that they’ll get a walk, a chance to pee, and a nice reward for going outside if they wait until after dinner.

4. Stick with Positive Reinforcement and Training

Labradoodles are sensitive dogs. This openness and vulnerability make them excellent companions, but they’re prone to stress and anxiety, which often leads to chewing and other destructive behavior.

Harsh training techniques, including punishment and even sharp reprimands, can increase canine anxiety, often making it difficult for dogs to learn. Catch your dog doing the things you want to see and provide lots of praise and treats for emphasis. And make sure to keep training, including potty training, fun to ensure your dog remains motivated, interested, and engaged.

5. Training and Bonding

Most dogs can start basic obedience training at 8 weeks old. Begin with the basics, such as sit, stay, and down. Keep things short and fun to keep your dog’s interest. Early obedience training and socialization exercises provide fantastic human-canine bonding opportunities.

Owners often find that training is a great way to spend quality time with their pets. Because Labradoodles are people-oriented, having a strong bond with your dog may make the potty training process more manageable.

6. Pick a Technique and Stick With It

There are a few ways to potty train puppies, but it’s crucial to pick a method and stick with it until your pet gets the hang of things. Dogs generally do best with consistency, as it allows them to learn what’s expected of them in specific situations.

Allow your pet to become comfortable with one way of communicating their need to take a potty break; you can always introduce alternative options after your dog has mastered the basics.

7. Walk Your Puppy Before You Head Out

Because puppies have small bladders, most need to use the bathroom more frequently than adult dogs. Walking your puppy at set times, like after breakfast and before bed, is often helpful.

Taking them outside before you head out for a few hours allows them to earn a reward by peeing outside, which may also reduce their need to use the bathroom indoors while you’re not at home. Set your Labradoodle up to succeed by allowing them to take appropriately spaced bathroom breaks.

8. Designate an Outdoor Pee Spot

Most dogs respond well to solid routines — they know what’s going to happen and what’s expected of them, so they can relax and use their cognitive powers for other purposes, like learning the ropes when it comes to where to pee. Take your dog to the same place every time you go for a walk, and wait until they go to the bathroom.

When your dog uses the bathroom outside in the designated spot, provide treats and praise. Eventually, most dogs learn that peeing in that spot instead of in the house earns goodies. Some puppies require multiple trips to their site before they decide to pee, so be prepared to take your buddy in and out, particularly in the early stages of potty training.

9. Ignore It When Your Dog Has an Accident

Dogs pee and poop inside for several reasons, including not being able to hold it long enough and not understanding how to communicate their needs. Promptly clean accidents with hot, soapy water and an enzymatic cleaner to ensure your dog isn’t drawn to pee in the same place again.

If you catch your dog getting ready to pee inside, tell them to wait and take them outside immediately. If your dog is mid-pee, a gentle gasp followed by a kind “oh no” will get your pet’s attention. Most dogs will naturally stop peeing or pooping in response. Next, take them outside to their pee spot, let them finish going to the bathroom, and then reward them for good behavior.

Conclusion

Labradoodles are sweet, friendly dogs that make fantastic, devoted companions. They bond deeply with their favorite people and enjoy spending time around loved ones. Labradoodles are incredibly smart, and they are known to be incredibly easy to train.

Potty training a Labradoodle requires patience, and you can expect the entire process to take anywhere from 4 to 6 months. Stick with positive reinforcement, reward what you want to see, and celebrate when your Labradoodle masters a new skill.

Featured Image Credit: Spiky and I, Shutterstock