How to Potty Train a Poodle Puppy

Training any puppy to consistently potty outdoors and not in the house is a job that requires time, patience and tolerance. Some dogs, because of breed temperament or personality, are harder to house train than others. Poodle puppies, for all their fluffy cuteness, are intelligent dogs and should pick up the basics of toileting outdoors much quicker than a basset hound of the same age, for example. With a little consistent effort, your poodle puppy can be house trained.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Timer
  • Dog treats
  • Dog crate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Work with the puppy's schedule. Like any baby, your poodle puppy will most need to go outside to potty first thing in the morning, after she's napped, after she's eaten, and after every rigorous play session. Keep her leash handy so you can get her outside quickly. Delaying a trip outdoors because you can't find the leash is inviting a puddle in the dining room. As your poodle gets a little older, set a timer for every two hours during the day and take her out. You can't expect her to hold it for long periods of time when she's young.

    • 2

      Avoid punishing your puppy. The days of sticking your puppy's nose in his accident and screaming at him are over. Dogs cannot associate an action that happened longer than three seconds ago with your reaction. All it does is make your poodle afraid of you. Punishing your puppy hours after the accident does not work either. Clean up the mess and ignore your dog as you do so.

    • 3

      Praise her successes. When your poodle puppy does eliminate outside, praise her for her efforts and reward her. Your smart pup will soon figure out that pottying outside brings good things and pottying inside does not.

    • 4

      Crate train your dog. No matter how young they are, dogs will not eliminate in the same space in which they sleep. If you crate your poodle when you cannot watch her -- at night or while you are at work -- you will avoid a lot of accidents on your floors and furniture. Crates are not cruel; dogs are natural den-dwellers and are comfortable in the proper-sized crate. The crate needs to be small enough that your puppy cannot pee in one corner and sleep dry and comfortable in another part of the crate. Take your poodle outdoors immediately after releasing her from her crate.