Bringing home a new Poodle or even a Poodle mix is exciting. You want to play with your new little friend, make it comfortable, and get it all settled in its new home. While this is great, and you should spoil your little friend, it’s crucial not to forget to begin potty training your Poodle puppy immediately.

If you’re a first-time pet parent, establishing a consistent training routine can seem overwhelming, and Poodles have a stubborn streak. However, getting your Poodle potty trained as a puppy is essential, and it’s best to do it in the early days.

We’ll give you our favorite steps for training a Poodle in the guide below.

How to Potty Training a Poodle

When potty training a Poodle, it’s best to start when it is a puppy. You need to be firm but gentle and consistent yet patient when it comes to getting your Poodle pup on a routine potty schedule.

1. Create a Routine

Poodle puppies are known for responding well to established routines. Establishing a schedule now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to change it when the dog is older. However, a routine is vital if you want your pup to learn to use the bathroom outside your home.

During the Poodle’s first few weeks in your family, you need a strict schedule for the dog to adhere to.Here are a few things you should create a plan for as soon as you bring your puppy home.

Of course, potty breaks have priority on your list at this time, but routines and schedules for the other things will also help with that.

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2. Purchase a Leash

Before you begin training your Poodle friend, you should purchase a leash and harness that will fit your pet. Using a leash during your puppy training accomplishes two things at once.

Not only does the leash teach your pet where it’s okay to go potty in the yard, but it also allows you to conduct leash training, something you’ll need when the dog goes for walks. If all goes according to plan within about 3 weeks of taking your Poodle to their designated potty spots, you should no longer have a problem.

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3. Reward and Reinforce

No matter which part of the training you’re working on with your Poodle, it’s best to use a positive reinforcement reward system. Whether you’re a first-time pet owner or a seasoned pet parent, it’s crucial that following commands and good behavior is rewarded, and you need to give your Poodle lots of praise as well.

Praise, of course, is easy. A “good boy” or “very good,” is easy to say, and your dog will know from the words and your tone that they did a good job. Treats can be a bit trickier because you first have to figure out what your pet likes best. In most cases, however, your Poodle will be happy with a dog treat or even a dog toy to be given for good behavior.

Never yell at, hit, or otherwise demean your Poodle for having accidents in the house or even for not following commands. Remember, your dog is just a baby, and yelling at it is counterproductive and cruel.

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4. Test Away from Home

Once you begin to have accident-free days and at least a few accident-free nights, take your puppy to a friend to see how well it does.

Make sure you take poop bags, wipes, and paper towels with you to clean up after your puppy if it has an accident. This works for teaching your Poodle that their house isn’t the only place that they need to go outside to potty.

Once you’ve perfected these steps with your Poodle, you can start reducing their schedule to where it’s not as strict, but you still want to keep your dog on a routine for the best results.

What If Your Poodle Isn’t a Puppy?

Sometimes the Poodle you fall in love with and give a forever home isn’t a puppy, so you might wonder how you can train a full-grown dog. You’ll need to follow the same steps and establish a firm routine for your adult Poodle, just as you would a young puppy.

It’s essential not to free-feed your adult Poodle, as you won’t have any way of knowing when they eat and when they need to go to the potty. Crate training works well for older Poodles. When you take the dog outside, wait with it to see if it uses the bathroom. If it doesn’t, put the dog in its crate for 10 minutes, then take it outside to try again.

Remember to offer tons of praise and treats for a job well done.

Final Thoughts

Caring for a Poodle puppy is a fun time in your family’s life. However, in the excitement of getting the dog settled into its new home, it could be easy to forget to set a routine and start training your new friend to potty outside.

Following the steps above will ensure that your Poodle puppy is properly trained and will continue to use the bathroom outside after your strict routine is adjusted to something less rigid.

• See also: Why Do Dogs Like to Sleep Curled Up? Here’s the Answer!

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Featured Image Credit: ThamKC, Shutterstock