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June 8, 2022

Are Cavapoos easy to potty train?

When you first pick up your new Cavapoo puppy it’s an absolute delight, and the fun and love they’ll give you is immense.

However, if they’re not house trained in a timely manner it can start to be a problem.

Potty training a Cavapoo puppy can be challenging, but because they are one of the smarter breeds out there, house training them may be a quicker process than you imagine. They are also affectionate and eager to please their owners, so are likely to work hard.

Still have no idea where to start? Well, you’re in luck. Here you’ll discover whether you can litter train your pup, learn what age you should begin house training your Cavapoo, and whether it’s wise to use the puppy pad training method.

Are Cavapoos easy to potty train

First though, we’ll find out how often your dog will need to poop!

Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

How often do Cavapoo puppies poop?

Cavapoo puppies poop around five to six times each day. Their digestive tract is still developing so food is processed quickly. The younger and smaller the dog is, the faster food will move through their system. As he grows up, your cavapoo will not need to go so often.

When a puppy is 12 weeks old, he may only poop four times a day. Typically, your dog will settle into their toileting habits by the time they are a year old. Adult dogs poop from one to three times a day.

When house training your pup, take note of the colour, texture, and consistency of your Cavapoo’s stool, as it can be a good indicator of health. You can also spot anything that doesn’t belong there.

At what age should a Cavapoo be potty trained?

There are differing opinions on this point. Some experts say that when puppies are separated from their mothers at about 8 weeks old, you can start to house train them if you just begin to encourage them to do their business outside.

Real potty training of a Cavapoo should start when they are between 12-16 weeks old because by then they have enough control over their bladders to wait for a while. The process of house training your pup usually takes 4-6 months, but in some cases, it may take a year.

The size of your dog may affect how long it takes to house train them. Smaller dogs have a higher metabolic rate and smaller bladders so will need to go more frequently.

If your Cavapoo puppy has picked up bad habits before they comes to you, it may take longer to teach him what he should do. Remember that Cavapoos will not have full control of their bladder until they’re 20 weeks old.

Here are some tips to help you, on your puppy potty training journey.

  • Keep your Cavapoo on a consistent feeding schedule. Puppies need feeding three or four times a day.
  • Make sure you give them their final meal of the day about four hours before their bedtime.
  • Keep your pup well hydrated throughout the day, but don’t give them any water in the two and a half hours before bedtime when your Cavapoo is over 12 weeks old.
  • Take him out to do his business every hour or so when you first start training him.
  • Always take them to the same spot so that they pick up the habit faster.
  • Don’t distract your pup by praising him while he’s peeing or pooping, save your praise till after he’s finished.
  • Never blame your pup for having an accident and always remember to heap praise on him when he does go in the right place.
  • Don’t forget to take your Cavapoo out at night too.
  • You can come up with a command to encourage them to go. It could be something like “Do your business.”

It’s time to find out if litter training your pup, is a viable option.

Can you litter train a Cavapoo?

Litter training a Cavapoo is more than possible. Toilet training small dogs can be challenging, and more people are choosing to try the litter box method. You can eliminate some accidents because your Cavapoo is free to do his business without waiting for you to let him out.

It can also be a more convenient option for some, as you will not even have to deal with having to go outside multiple times a day whatever the weather. Owners will just have to clean out the litter box once or twice a day.

Here are some tips to follow if you want to try this with your own puppy.

  • Buy a litter box that was made specifically for small dogs and some bags of litter. If you can’t find one, you can use a low open plastic container or even a big cat letter box.
  • Take your pup to the litter box when he wakes up in the morning or after a nap, as well as after he’s eaten.
  • Take him to the litter tray every so often throughout the day and keep an eagle eye out for signs your Cavapoo needs to go. Common signs include sniffing, circling, and whining. Bear in mind that all dogs are different and there may be signs that are peculiar to your puppy.
  • If he does its business in the litter box, praise your dog at once.

As with all forms of potty training, be prepared for accidents to happen and keep cleaning supplies on hand. The key to successfully potty training your Cavapoo is lots of patience and copious amounts of praise.

It’s also worth noting that while many people have success with litter box training, some dogs continue to have occasional accidents throughout their lives.

For that reason, if you can, combine the litter training with some outdoor potty training too, so you can avoid problems down the road.

Are puppy pads a good idea?

Using puppy pads to potty train your Cavapoo may seem a convenient option. However, most experts feel that puppy pads are a bad idea that will only undermine your training. By putting puppy pads down, you are telling your puppy that you want them to pee in the house.

Are puppy pads a good idea

You can use this method if you wish, though. Let’s go through the pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros

  • It may be more convenient for your lifestyle.
  • It’s easy to clean up after them.
  • It means there is a dedicated spot in the house your Cavapoo will go to relieve himself.

Cons

  • Anything could become a pee pad, your pup may mistake a newspaper, a rug, or a mat in your house as a place they can do their business.
  • It may be tricky to teach them to go outdoors if you only use the puppy pad method.
  • Puppy pads are expensive.
  • It’s not the best thing to do if you want to ensure your Cavapoo is well socialised.
  • Puppies use their mouths to explore the world, so they may chew the pads.
  • It’s not the cleanest way to train them.

I did use puppy pads initially when I brought beam home, but I was able to stop using them fairly quickly.

Next, let’s find out how long you should use these pads for.

How long should you use puppy pads?

There is no set period you should use puppy pads for. It will depend on your dog. Potty training will take some dogs longer than others, even if they are the same breed.

They all learn at their own pace, but you should never take away the puppy pads before you think they are ready, because you may damage their confidence and sabotage positive reinforcement.

Most puppies will be trained in around six months, but smaller dogs like Cavapoos may take a little longer because they have smaller bladders.

A good sign that your pup is ready to graduate from puppy pads is when they can last through the entire night without using one. The same is true if your dog waits for you to put a pad down before they do their business. Both indicate your Cavapoo has enough control to wait until they go outside.

Wrapping up

So, there you have it. We’ve covered everything from if you should use puppy pads to train your Cavapoo to if you can litter train them and the best age to begin this kind of training.

All that’s left for you to do now is to take some of the tips shared here and use them to help train your dog. Hopefully, you’ve now gained the confidence you needed to get started. Good luck potty training your adorable Cavapoo puppy!

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