[marepalmer]

Guys, how long did it take your poodle to become pottytrained? I live on a third floor condo and would like it to use a litter box when I'm not home or early in the mornings and late at night when it's inconvenient to go out.

When I take him/her for walks, they can go outside.


So, how many of you have trained your toy or miniature to use a litter box?

Can I expect peeing accidents on my carpet (most of my condo is carpeted) Or can I expect the poodle to learn quickly without any accidents on my carpet?

 

[ChickyChat]

I got my standard when she was 6 weeks and she was potty trained at 8 weeks. Now all three of my poodles lounge around in the mornings and usually go out between 10 and 12. They are so lazy but will hold their business for 15 hours at night. They only go out three times a day unless they ask other times, or just go out to play.

When I was house breaking my dogs I did as my vet suggested, and tied a long leash to them, and hooked it to my leg. They couldn't get out of my site if I wasnt paying attention unless they got me up to let them out. It worked in no time!

 

[Gigit]

The first day I brought him home (age, 10 weeks, already fully paper trained)

He only ever goes outside.

 

[marepalmer]

Chicky, thanks for your reply.

Gigit, that is amazing! You have a miniature, right? If I get a toy can I expect the same? I was just wondering if toy poodles are harder to train than the other sizes. I would think they shouldn't be just because the breed itself is so smart.

 

[Gigit]

Yes, toys are harder to house train, not because of brains, because of physical limitations. My aunt had a toy and a mini, and several of my friends had toys, HOWEVER, it's still much MUCH easier than other small breeds. They just have tiny systems, tiny bladders and all, and it makes things harder on them physically.

Also, being in an apartment, barking is a serious consideration. Toys are usually yappers and toy females are more vocal than males. Not saying there aren't toy females that are quiet, but I've yet to see it. Several on this forum with toys also have stated, they sure do yip a lot compared to their mini's or standards.

If you want very small, you can get a small 10 pound miniature. They can be as short as 10 or 11 inches (they can be much larger as well.) If your heart is set on a toy (they sure are very very precious) make sure you work with it at an early age on barking.

Male vs Female
http://jopoodles.googlepages.com/malevsfemalewhichisthebest
http://arpeggiopoodles.tripod.com/malevsfemale.html
Males are more affectionate (as a rule, though I knew a Standard lady that loved me to the point of me wanting to steal her :sinister: ) and more lazy. They bark less as well and don't get the mood swings females do.

Just trying to cover all bases, so you make sure you get a buddy that suits your lifestyle and living accommodations.

Fantastic write up (book PDF) on poodles
http://books.google.ca/books?id=Rz4vyZy6yhAC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=miniature+poodle+sizes&source=web&ots=xogaJBnC2y&sig=RwqOYi7U72E8NOE8TA8EfID-acU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result

 

[Sam I Am]

I got Sam at 10 weeks and he was already housetrained, but he is a standard. I litter trained a yorkie once by putting him in a large wire dog crate on one side I put the litter box and on the other I put his bed, so he had nowhere to go but the litter box to potty. I never let him out of the crate unless one of us was completely engaged with him or he was outside. After I was certain he knew what he was suppose to do then I took the crate away but left the litter box in the same spot. I still either put him in his little crate or leashed him to me when one of us wasn't playing with him. He was completely trained to use either the litter box or outside in about 3 weeks, I think the biggest trick to housebreaking quickly is to never allow an accident in the first place, it takes alot of time and commitment, but it pays off in the end. If they only ever potty in one spot, it doesn't cross their mind to potty anyplace else unless they have no choice. Our biggest problem with the litter box was after the litter box was out of the crate he tended to play in it, I don't know why since he never played in it when he was crated with it. We eventually phased it out kinda like you would train off of paper by moving it closer and closer to the door and eventually outside before taking it away altogether. I would assume a poodle could do all this alot quicker, nothing against yorkies altogether but as sweet and loving as ours was he was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. LOL!

 

[ChickyChat]

I once heard that it was best to housebreak a dog with a rolled up newspaper in hand.... If the dog had an accident in the house, roll up the newspaper and beat yourself on the head three times for allowing it to happen. :whoo:

 

[marepalmer]

Gigit, thanks for the info and the links. Chickychat, that is hilarious!

 

[Cardi2008]

Hi there,

My boy Cardi is a Miniature Poodle....and he was housebroken between 4.5 - 5 months old. He is 1 week away from 6 months old and he is fully housebroken and now letting us know when he needs to go out by whineing and running to the back door. I'm thinking that a toy might take a little longer than this....maybe around 6-9 months before it is fully housebroken. Good luck with everything.