One of the most common questions that come to new Cavapoo owners’ minds is whether Cavapoos are easy to potty train. To that effect, we’re going to use this article to tell you all about Cavapoo potty training. We’ll let you know when to start, the most popular techniques, and warn you about the most common pitfalls.
After that, we’ll finish up with some frequently asked questions, and you should have all that you need to potty train your Cavapoo like a pro!
Without further ado, let’s begin Cavapoo Potty Training 101!
Table of Contents
Are Cavapoos Easy To Potty Train?
The answer is a qualified yes and no. These canines have distinct personalities, which is part of what makes them so unique. However, Cavapoos are intelligent, and with patience and consistency, they can frequently be taught successfully and fast.
At What Age Are Cavapoos Potty Trained?
Potty training your Cavapoo should begin between the ages of 6 and 8 months. Potty training children before that is challenging since they are tiny balls of energy that only want to play, play, play! However, the earlier they start, the better because kids don’t have time to acquire negative habits on their own.
How To Potty Train A Cavapoo – Crate Training So They Learn To Wait To Potty
Potty Crate training your Cavapoo is an excellent idea for two reasons. To begin, train your dog not to pee in the house and instead to wait for you to take them out. Second, if your Cavapoo likes to chew on items while you aren’t looking, you now have a secure place to leave them while you do errands.
It should be noted that if your Cavapoo is a puppy, you will need to take them outside frequently. Because Cavapoo puppies have a tiny bladder and little control, they can ‘hold it’ for around an hour for every month of age. As a result, a 3-month-old Cavapoo must go outside every 3 hours.
They must also go 15 to 20 minutes after each meal.
This is crucial to know because during the first few months of nightly crating, you will need to take them out of the crate, take them outside, and then put them back in.
That being stated, let’s go into everything you’ll need and how to crate train your cavapoo.
What You Are Going To Need For Crate Training
First and foremost, you will require a crate cage. You can buy ready-built crates that are constructed up of a wire structure with four walls and a gate in the front, or if you have children and some leftover ‘baby gates,’ you can zip-tie them together to make an enclosure. What’s crucial is that it has a front door.
You are also going to need the following:
A food and water bowl
A blanket for sleep
A pee-pad for emergencies or a faux-grass patch that is washable
Some toys that your dog likes to play with or chew on
A spare blanket or sheet to drape over the back half of the crate
Lots of doggy treats
Place everything into the box except the drape sheet, and then drape the sheet over the rear half. The rationale for this is that Doggy-moms like to have and maintain their puppies in a den, so your dog will be more at ease with the crate.
Getting Your Dog Comfortable With The Crate
We want to avoid any negative connections between your dog and the crate, so we’ll introduce it to your Cavapoo gradually. You should put the box somewhere where your dog can see you. The living room, for example, is ideal. You want to be in a position where your Cavapoo can see you so that he feels safe.
Leave the gate open, and after bringing the new toys to your dog’s attention, toss them inside casually, and for the next several days, simply leave it at that and allow your Cavapoo’s curiosity gets the best of them.
Feeding Your Dog In The Crate Makes Them More Comfortable With It
Cavapoos are intelligent dogs, and yours may have a decent notion of what you’re up to with this crate stuff, so they may not have stepped foot inside the entire time. We’ll have to boost our game by placing your dog’s food and water inside the crate.
Don’t close the door the first few times, but gradually begin closing it when they come in to feed. When your dog has finished eating, unlock the crate to let them out and give them some praise and a treat.
10-30 Minute Crate Sessions
It’s now time to train your dog to be without you. Call your dog over and entice them into the crate by providing a treat and rewarding them when they enter. Close the door and leave the room for a few minutes before returning.
Repeat many times each day, progressively increasing the time until you reach the 30-minute mark. Your Cavapoo is now ready for 1-2 hour errands and the ‘last exam.’
Final Exam: The Overnight Crate Experience
Your dog is prepared for the ‘overnight adventure,’ and this will be the most difficult. Remember that your dog has to go to the potty regularly, so depending on their age, you’ll need to let them out at inconvenient intervals but return them to their crate when you arrive home.
Your dog may whine, especially when you leave to sleep, but it is critical that you do not pamper them. If you go after them every time they moan, your dog will notice and take advantage, so be tough.
Leave a tiny bit of water in their dish for them, but not too much, since you don’t want them to require a bathroom trip in the middle of the night. If they do, the puppy pad or fake grass is available, but preferably not.
Your dog will become acclimated to the crate with some practice, and at this time, congratulations are in order. Your Cavapoo has been successfully crate-trained!
How To Stop A Cavapoo From Peeing In The House?
If your Cavapoo is peeing in the house but has previously had some potty training, there are a few things you may do to stop it. The following are the most typical methods for coping with “unwanted surprises” from your Cavapoo:
Potty training, take 2 – If your Cavapoo is very young, then you might need to reinforce their potty training by giving it a second go. Potty training time varies from dog to dog, as each has its own unique personality and quirks, so give it a second run, and it might stick this time.
Check for ‘triggers’ – If your dog has gone potty inside, then you have to clean the area very thoroughly. If your dog catches even the slightest whiff of a previous bathroom break, then they will consider the area fair game for future potties. Clean the area well and see if this helps.
Consider spaying or neutering – Spaying or neutering makes your dog less aggressive and less territorial, so spaying or neutering might well help if this behavior is fairly sudden (especially if springtime is in the air).
Increase the frequency of potty breaks – Don’t forget, every 1 month is one hour of ‘holding it, so you might just need to increase the number of times that you go out in a day. Remember, they have weak bladders until they get older, so this is something that you will have to do.
A vet visit might be in order – In some cases, sudden urination issues could be a warning sign, rather than your dog acting out. If a formerly housetrained Cavapoo is suddenly going potty inside, then a quick checkup with the vet couldn’t hurt, and you might catch a problem early. It’s well worth a visit, just to be sure.
Consider a trainer – Not everyone has a schedule that supports a lot of training, so you always have the option of bringing in a professional. There is a lot to be said for it, as training dogs is definitely a skill that improves with practice, so a trainer might be a sound investment for your Cavapoo and for your peace of mind.
What Are Some Common Potty-Training Mistakes?
There are certain traps you may avoid while toilet training your Cavapoo. Let’s look at some of the most typical potty-training blunders we see. We’ll list them here and briefly discuss each one:
Leaving your puppy alone for too long – Your puppy needs to be supervised all of the time until they’ve learned to behave in the house. Unsupervised, cord they can develop bad chewing habits, and they are going to use the bathroom anywhere they want. Keep an eye on your pup because they need you to teach them the rules of the house.
Not teaching the ‘potty’ command – The potty command is extremely useful, so when your puppy goes on a puppy pad or outside, you want to make sure that they associate it with that command. Once your dog knows the word ‘potty,’ then they will know what you want, and life will be easier for everyone.
Not following the ‘Same door, same place’ rule – Consistency is key in potty training. Always use the same door going out and always take them to the same place. Using a different door or place is confusing for young pups until they’ve learned what you expect of them when you take them outside.
Assuming your dog knows not to pee in the house – While we like to humanize our dogs, they are still not human, and they don’t necessarily know that making a potty inside is a bad thing. Resist the urge to yell or to ‘rub their nose in it’, because all they will know is that you are mad; they won’t tie it to their bathroom break unless you catch them in the actual act.
Failing to adhere to your dog’s schedule – 1 month, 1 hour, you know the drill!
Trying to do everything yourself (when you don’t have to) – If you live alone, then you have to train the dog on your own but if this is not the case, get help in keeping with your puppy’s schedule. The required schedule is rough, and you’ll be very tired and cranky if you have to do it alone. So, if you have potential help, take advantage and split the workload.
We hope that we have addressed all of your questions and concerns, but just to be extra-thorough, we’re going to throw in a quick FAQ below just in case we missed one of your questions.
Want To Train Your Cavapoo With Peace Of Mind?
If you haven’t trained your Cavapoo properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your Cavapoo has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and, most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases, it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your Cavapoo completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
FAQ
How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Cavapoo?
Potty training a Cavapoo takes roughly 4 months on average. It will most likely be another four months before the house is fully accident-free. You may reduce this by adhering to your dog’s schedule.
Why Are Cavapoos So Hard To Potty Train?
Cavapoos can be tricky because of their tiny bladders. They need to go quite frequently, and so there is a bit of a learning curve before you’ve got their exact schedule. Get a notepad and mark every time that your dog ‘goes’ the first week and start taking them out on this schedule.
Can You Litter Box Train A Cavapoo?
You can, in fact, do so. Make a litter box and place a very small bit of their excrement inside. Take them there 15-20 minutes after eating, and they’ll start going there on their own after a time. If you have a cat, they will despise you for this. A word of caution!
Some Final Words On Potty Training Your Cavapoo
This concludes the main ‘meat’ of our article on Cavapoo potty training procedures. Until next time, we wish you and your sweet Cavapoo the very best!
