How To Potty Train A Goldendoodle Or Cavapoo Puppy

Always Use The Same Potty Spot

One of the easiest ways to speed up potty training is by taking your puppy to the exact same bathroom spot every time.

We recommend using a leash and walking your puppy directly to their potty area. Avoid playing or distracting them until they go. Once they successfully use the bathroom, immediately celebrate with:

• Praise
• Treats
• Affection
• Excitement

Puppies learn quickly when they connect going potty outside with positive attention and rewards.

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Avoid Puppy Pads Inside The House

Many families are surprised when we recommend skipping puppy pads completely.

Puppy pads can confuse young puppies because they often cannot tell the difference between a potty pad, carpet, bath mat, or rug. Instead of teaching them that outside is the correct place to go, it teaches them that soft surfaces inside the house are acceptable.

Instead, we recommend using a grass turf piece if you want an indoor potty option during the early stages. Our puppies are already familiar with going on turf, which helps make the transition easier. Your puppy has also been introduced to using a doggy door, and if you have one at home, it can make the potty training process much smoother.

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Nighttime Potty Training

Your puppy has already been introduced to crate training and nighttime potty routines. Many of our puppies are able to sleep through the night when following a consistent food, water, and potty schedule.

Limit Food And Water Before Bed

A simple routine adjustment can make nighttime potty training much easier.

• Stop food intake: Approximately 5 hours before bedtime.
• Limit water: A couple of hours before bedtime.

Example: If your puppy goes to sleep around 9:30 PM, try removing food around 4:30–5:00 PM.

This helps puppies sleep longer and reduces nighttime accidents.

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Never Punish Your Puppy For Accidents

Accidents are completely normal during potty training. If your puppy goes inside the house, avoid yelling, scolding, or getting upset. Puppies do not understand punishment the way people think they do. Often, it simply makes them nervous or fearful about going potty around you.

Instead, calmly and quickly take them outside to the correct potty spot. Consistency and positive reinforcement work far better than frustration.

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Keep Your Puppy In A Smaller Area

Freedom is earned during potty training. If puppies are allowed to roam an entire house too early, they will often sneak away and find hidden places to use the bathroom. Keeping them in a smaller, supervised area helps prevent accidents and builds good habits faster.

One method we love is “tethering” your puppy to you with a leash while you move around the house. This allows your puppy to stay close while helping you watch for signs they may need to go outside.

Common signs include:

• Sniffing the floor
• Walking in circles
• Suddenly wandering away
• Restlessness

The faster you recognize these signs, the easier potty training becomes.

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Patience And Consistency Matter Most

Every puppy learns at a slightly different pace. The key is staying patient, consistent, and encouraging throughout the process. With structure, routine, and positive reinforcement, most puppies learn surprisingly quickly and become confident using the bathroom in the correct place.

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