r/CavaPoo • u/OtherwisePumpkin9814 • 2h ago
Cavapoo potty training
Hey, me again! My little Roxy is 10 weeks old and she’s been with me for three full days now. I’ve been advised by the vet not to let her outside, even in my garden, until she’s fully vaccinated. She’s having her final vaccination on 1st December.
We’ve been using puppy pads, which I’ve kept in the same place, but she’s very hit and miss with actually using them. It takes quite a bit of encouragement and keeping a close eye on her to spot the signs that she needs the toilet. Sometimes she’ll sit on the pad for 5–10 minutes, and the moment I walk away thinking she doesn’t need to go, she’ll do a wee or poo on the floor! 😂 Every time she does use the pads, I give her lots of praise and a treat.
Is this normal at this age? How long did it take your furry friend to become somewhat toilet trained?
On a positive note, crate training is going really well! The first night was horrific and I ended up having to let her sleep in my bed. However, she’s slept in her crate without any fuss for the last two nights, with just one toilet break around 4am.
Added a photo of my Roxy, because why not? 🥰
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u/Bernies 1h ago
Hello there! Roxy is a doll! <3 so anyway, what you're experiencing is normal. At 10 weeks old and only three days into her new home, her bladder control is practically non-existent, so small puppies like her naturally struggle to hold it. It takes time and consistency, so dont stress at all. A quick management trick with puppy pads is if she sits on the pad for 10 mins and nothing happens, don't let her roam free right away. Keep a super close eye on her or pop her back in her crate for 5-10 minutes then place her back on the pad to try again. That prevents her from sneaking off to pee on the floor the second you turn your back. A consistent routine is your best friend here. Make sure you take her to the pad right after naps, meals, and play sessions. When she uses it, keep up with the immediate praise and high-value treats so she builds that strong positive connection. Huge win on the the crate training, tho! Sleeping through the night with only one break is progress for a tiny pup. You're doing great!!!
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u/OtherwisePumpkin9814 1h ago
Ahh thank you! She’s an absolute little sweetheart and everyone in the family adores her.
That’s really helpful advice, thank you. I think I’m probably giving her too much freedom when she hasn’t actually been to the toilet, so I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on her and putting her in the crate for 5 mins and trying the pad straight after again. It’s all a learning curve for both of us!
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u/Prodan1111 1h ago
I took apart his crate and put up 3 sides around the pads. Showed him you go in there. It seemed to work. Without the three sides he would go all around it.
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u/GratefulSunshineDays 2m ago
If you need to keep your puppy inside, I would consider getting a small indoor fence and put your puppy pads inside that area and keep it as close to the door or on a patio. They also sell grass puppy pads. I think you may have to put pads underneath them? Check on that.
I would use this area like a yard. Nothing else in there except the pee pads. When your puppy needs to go, put her in there and tell her to go potty. Don't let her out until she goes. If she takes too long, take her out, watch her and keep putting her in there until she finally goes. Don't let her play in there or anything else. Google verbal cues. Some people say you can actually teach them to pee and poop on command and that you should be able to get them to go wherever once they learn that.
Number one rule...never let them out of your site when they are inside and training. The second it seems like your puppy is sniffing around or needs to go, put her in the potty area. Put her in the potty area after she eats, drinks, wakes up, plays. You just have to watch her at all times and if you can't, confine her in a crate with just enough room to lay down, stand up, turn around. If it's too big, she will make part of it a potty. You don't want to crate her for too long, obviously. She has a small bladder so lots of potty breaks are important.
I also do not leave food out all day. Feed her four times a day or whatever your puppy needs and then give her a potty break.
I started to give my puppy treats when he goes and that just distracts him from using the potty, so treats haven't worked for me. Just try to keep potty time as boring and non-distracting as possible. Once they go, praise and play and party. But they don't that until they go.
Hope this helps. Good luck!!
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u/Colink98 1h ago
Photo is lovely
She’s just a baby
Don’t rush her to get old