How Long Does it Take to Potty Train A Cavachon? [9 Top Tips]


How long does it take to potty train a cavachon

Cavachons are intelligent dogs that want to please us. They are quick learners but have small bladders and higher metabolisms, so they might need more frequent potty breaks outside.

How long does it take to potty train a Cavachon? It takes a minimum of two weeks to potty train a Cavachon puppy, but the average is four to eight weeks. Adult Cavachons are easier to potty train. This is because they will learn faster and can hold their bladders much better. 

Are Cavachons Easy Or Hard To Potty Train?

We got our Cavachon, Kirby, when he was a wee pup and crate-trained him right after coming home. He took about three weeks to get the hang of it, but we cleaned up a few accidents for several more weeks after. 

If it’s taking a little longer, don’t worry; stick to the plan and be consistent. Your puppy will get it in time. 

How To Potty Train Your Cavachon

Crate Training A Cavachon Puppy

When it comes to potty training, the crate will be your best friend and ally. Dogs are naturally denning animals that dislike soiling their beds. 

First, introduce them to the crate and treat them as they check out their new home. Keep old bedding and some toys in the crate to have familiar smells around them. 

If you have a puppy, you might want to save the expensive dog beds for when your Cavachon stops teething. Puppies love to chew and will destroy beds! 

Be careful with the toys you leave in the crate; they shouldn’t have any removable parts or buttons that your puppy can chew off and choke on. 

Give a command like “crate” or “in” to get them to enter the crate. Then, praise lavishly and treat as they enter their crates and keep the door open for the first few times. 

Use puppy treats if you have a pup. Young pups have different nutritional needs than adult dogs and will benefit from treats meant for the young. 

After that, start closing the door and keeping your pup in for a couple of minutes each time. 

Then, sit quietly near the crate for about 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

Keep extending the duration your pup stays in the crate and make sure he’s nice and calm. Then go out of the room for several minutes. Keep the period short for a start, about 2 to 5 minutes. 

Repeat this process as many times in a day as you can, slowly increasing the time your pup spends in the crate and the time you’re out of the room. 

When your dog can spend about half an hour in a crate with you mainly out of sight, they are ready to be crated for short periods while you are gone. In addition to that, they can start sleeping in their crates. 

Keep in mind a 2-month-old puppy will only be able to hold its bladder for 2 to 3 hours, while a 6-month-old puppy can hold it for about 7 to 8 hours.

That probably means if you have a young puppy, you’ll have to wake up several times during the night and take him out for a potty break. You can minimize the number of times you’ll have to wake up by restricting water two hours before bedtime. 

Keep the crate close during sleep. Some pups will wake up in the middle of the night and start whining, indicating that they need to be let out to potty. Older dogs can also be kept close to not view the crate as being isolated from you.

The Don’ts Of Crate Training

  1. Don’t use the crate as a punishment, ever. 

2. Don’t let your dog out of the crate if he whines or barks to be let out. Just ignore it, and he will likely stop in time. Use earplugs if you’re feeling bothered! 

3. If your dog shows signs of separation anxiety like constantly pawing at the crate, barking, or biting the crate, get professional help if you feel you can’t handle it on your own.

How to House Train A Cavachon Puppy?

While your pup is getting used to his new den, potty training is much easier. Dogs naturally dislike soiling their surroundings and will poop and pee far away from their living area. 

Dogs excrete several times during the day, particularly after waking up and after meals. So monitor your dog closely and take him out the moment he wakes up from a nap. Puppies sleep up to 20 hours a day, and you’ll have to be alert and close enough to watch for him waking.

Once outside, say “go pee” or something similar, then wait for him to do his stuff and praise and treat when he does. Ham it up and make him think he did the most fantastic thing ever when he pees in his spot! 

Puppies also need to be fed between 2 and 4 times a day. They have tiny bellies and cannot eat enough food for the day in a single meal until about 12 months. Take your pup outside immediately after having food for a potty break, and again, praise and reward lavishly when they go potty. 

Some Tips 

  1. Take your Cavachon to the same spot every time. Dogs love routine and learn best with consistency. His site has his scent and he’ll associate it with hit toilet area.

2. Head out the same door and take the same route each time. You’ll be creating a habit.

3. If you aren’t going to use a crate, think about gates or some kind of barrier to limit your Cavachon’s range. Not only will it make it easier to potty train him, but it will also keep him safe and out of trouble. Pups chew everything! 

4. Timing is key. The treat and praise have to come immediately after the desired behavior.

5. If your Cavachon is having accidents in the distance from the crate to outside, carry him out. He is not likely to pee on you. We carried Kirby out for weeks when he was a puppy!

6. Feed your puppy on a regular schedule. That will make his bathroom breaks easier to manage and lessen accidents.

7. Only correct your Cavachon when you catch him in the act of a poop or pee. Calmly and firmly say “no” when he is in mid-act, and carry him out to the correct spot. If you discover the accident after he’s done, clean it up and move on. Correcting him at this point will be useless as he won’t associate the correction with the act.  

8. Keep plenty of cleaning supplies and an odor eliminator on hand. Pups will pee over their scent, and if they have an accident indoors, they will continue to use the same spot. Use a pet-safe deodorizer that is non-toxic and certified safe for both dogs and people. We like the Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator that is safely derived from orange peels. 

9. Clean all accidents with an enzymatic cleaner. These products are a godsend for pet owners, containing enzymes that will break down biological waste like oil, starch, carbohydrates, and proteins. Nature’s Miracle Urine Destroyer will make short work of your Cavachon’s accidents.

Live In An Apartment?

Some of us might live in apartments and don’t have yards. Cavachons are medium-energy dogs that thrive in apartments. 

It might be hard to bring your Cavachon out every 90 minutes or so for a potty break. In which case, designate an area of your house to be his toilet and use puppy pee pads to absorb waste and neutralize odors. 

Training your Cavachon to use pee pads works the same way as going outside. Watch closely for signs your pup is about to go and carry (or lead) him to the pee pad and say “go pee.” Praise and reward liberally when he does. 

Amazon Basics have puppy pee pads that turn liquid into gel upon contact.

Potty Training Routine 

To help establish a routine, here is a rough idea of what a day in the life of a puppy parent can be.

0700 hrs: Wakey wakey! Take your Cavachon out immediately.

0715 hrs: Feeding time

0730 hrs: More time outside after food. If your Cavachon doesn’t go, try again in another 30 to 45 minutes. 

Rest of the morning:

  1. Take him out once every 90 minutes to 2 hours.
  2. Remember, a 2-month-old puppy can only hold his bladder for 2 to 3 hours.
  3. Add an hour for every month of growth.

For example, a 4-month-old would be able to hold his bladder for 4 to 5 hours. 

1200 hrs: Lunchtime! Then more time outside.

Throughout the afternoon: Similar to the morning, potty breaks every 90 minutes. Gradually increase the duration between breaks as your Cavachon grows older.

1800 hrs: Dinner time! And more time outside. 

Evenings: Breaks every 90 minutes or so, with the last one being just before bedtime. 

The chances of your pup getting up in the middle of the night and yowling to be let out to go potty are reasonably high if your Cavachon is below six months old. So be patient; this will pass and get easier. 

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