We are reader supported. This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links, at no cost to you.
This post has been fact checked to ensure that the information shown is as accurate and up to date as possible and to ensure you're best informed to look after your pet to the best of our ability.
Cavachons are the perfect cross between Cavalier King Charles and a Bichon Frise. Since they’re crossed with two smaller dogs, Cavachons are rather smaller and generally only weigh up to 20 pounds. Bringing home a Cavachon puppy is sure to bring plenty of joy and excitement into your home.
They’re some of the most playful, adorable, and all-around friendly dog breeds. That means you shouldn’t have to worry about whether your new Cavachon puppy will get along with your children or other dogs in the house.
One of the biggest challenges when bringing home a new Cavachon, or any puppy, is the matter of potty training. No one wants a grown dog going potty in their home or on their furniture. Luckily, Cavachons are fairly intelligent dogs, so it is possible to prevent accidents as they age as long as you put in the work to potty train them.
Are Cavachons Hard to Potty Train?
Technically, no dog is hard to potty train. Now, it can be challenging to train a Cavachon puppy because they’re a puppy, and they’re still learning how to exist in the world. As long as you have patience, can keep them on a regular schedule, and have a positive attitude, you shouldn’t find potty training your Cavachon difficult.
When Should You Begin Potty Training a Cavachon?
If you ask most dog owners, potty training needs to begin before you bring home your Cavachon puppy. Before you even bring your puppy home, you’ll need to designate a potty area for them. This can be a pee pad in the corner of a certain room or, if you plan on making sure they potty outside, deciding that ahead of time.
Many people don’t like the idea of a potty pad or faux grass area inside the home, but during the potty training process, this can help eliminate as many accidents as our Cavachon puppy has.
How Do You Potty Train a Cavachon?
So, how do you potty train your Cavachon? Before you even bring your puppy home, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the task at hand mentally. Going in, knowing that it will be challenging at times and that remembering to stay positive and patient will make things run much more smoothly.
Now that you know what kind of headspace you need to be in during the process, here are some of the main steps you’ll need to take when potty training your furry friend.
Prepare an Area for Their Potty
As mentioned earlier, you’ll want to prepare an area for your new Cavachon puppy to potty inside your home. Even if you plan on having your dog use the bathroom outside, ensuring they have a designated area to use the bathroom in the event you can’t get them outside in time, or they don’t signal to you that they need to go can lead to fewer accidents in your home.
It’s important to figure out a designated potty area prior to your furry friend coming home so that you can focus all your time and energy on making them feel at home rather than setting up a potty spot. The vast majority of people use puppy pads for potty spots. These work great! These are especially fantastic if you live in an apartment building and can’t get your puppy outside fast enough for their tiny bladder.
However, something to keep in mind is that puppies often find it weird walking in the grass and going to the bathroom in the grass. A great option to get your puppy used to the sensation of the grass on their paws is to purchase a faux grass or turf square that mimics the look and feel of real grass to use in your home.
Take Them to Their Potty Area
Before bringing your puppy home, make sure you have the potty area set up. Once you arrive back at your home, you’ll want to let your puppy sniff around and get acquainted with their new surroundings. This includes their potty area. You’ll want to take them to this spot immediately when you enter the room. When you place them onto the puppy pad or turf, you’ll want to use whatever word you’ve decided to use to encourage them to go to the bathroom. Most people opt for “potty.”
Don’t be surprised if the first couple of days or even weeks are spent cleaning up accidents away from the potty area. You’ll need to observe your puppy for the signs they need to go to the bathroom, and then immediately take them to their potty spot, or if you can make it, outside. As you spend more time with your puppy, you’ll be able to recognize the signs that they need to potty sooner and sooner, allowing you to get them to their potty spot and letting them learn faster.
READ: Do Cavachons Shed?
Crate Training a Cavachon
Even though your new Cavachon is a little puppy, they still have normal dog instincts. Dogs are known to avoid soiling in their safe space or the place they sleep. Making sure that your Cavachon knows their crate is their little home within your home and that it’s their bed can help prevent accidents while they sleep or while you’re at work or running errands. Some people are against crate training, but using a crate to help housebreak your puppy and into adulthood can prove invaluable.
Most people aren’t going to leave a puppy that’s only a few months old out in the house right away. Not only does this run the risk of accidents happening, but they may start chewing things because they don’t know any better. The best part is that since most puppies refuse to go potty where they sleep, you may not have to be cleaning up any messes in the crate while you’re sleeping or away.
Some people love setting up a small play pin where they can keep their puppy overnight or while they’re out. While these pins seem like a good idea because it gives them an area to play, a place to sleep, and a place to potty, they’re not. Having their potty area so close to where they sleep may confuse your puppy. They’ll begin to learn that they can potty next to or in their sleeping area, which you don’t want them to learn. Especially if you plan on letting them on furniture as they get older.
READ: Are Cavachons Hypoallergenic?
Set Up a Schedule
The best thing you can do for your new Cavachon puppy is to set up a schedule. Puppies and dogs are animals of habit, so having a schedule they can stick to will help them learn quicker. Having a strict schedule will allow your puppy to learn that they go to the bathroom at certain times of the day or if you later train them when they ask to go outside. Something to keep in mind about scheduling potty time for your puppy is that when you first bring them home, you’ll need to take them every few hours as long as you can.
One of the best schedules to follow when it comes to potty training your new puppy is your work schedule. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you’ll want to do is take them to their potty spot or outside. If you have to leave at a specific time for work, you’ll definitely want to take your puppy potty before you leave before putting them back in their crate. Many people take their puppy potty shortly after feeding to ensure they can get them outside or to their potty spot before an accident happens.
Whenever you leave and then come back home, you’ll want to take your puppy potty immediately. Since they will most likely refuse to go in their crate, they’ll probably need to relieve themself once you get home. Whatever schedule you come up with for your new Cavachon puppy, you’ll need to remember that not only are they a puppy, but their bladder is very small. They’ll need to go out a little more than a larger dog.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of potty training a puppy, you know that it can be a challenge. While not overly complex as long as you follow the proper steps, it does take consistency, a positive attitude, and more than a bit of patience. Since Cavachons are relatively intelligent dogs, as long as you stick to a schedule, potty training should be as easy as it can be.
Welcoming a Cavachon puppy into your home is an exciting time. Giving them and yourself grace through the potty training process will make it a positive experience for both parties. Don’t forget to check out the best shampoo for Cavachon’s, best dog clippers and best brush for a Cavachon. Showing your new puppy grace during potty training and getting them all the supplies they need to live a happy and healthy life will set your Cavachon up for a wonderful new home.
About the Author
Hey there! I'm Jeremy and I’m the brains behind Pet Care Project, a website chock-full of pet-care know-how. I've got the experience and knowledge to help you keep your furry friends happy and healthy. And let's not forget about my own little fluffball, Lunar, my Ragdoll cat who keeps me on my toes.
Leave a Reply