Training a mini golden doodle puppy
Training a Mini Goldendoodle can be a fun and rewarding experience thanks to their intelligence, loyalty, and eagerness to please. Here’s a complete guide to effectively training your Mini Goldendoodle, whether it’s a puppy or an adult.
🧠 Key Traits That Help With Training
- Highly intelligent (thanks to the Poodle)
- Eager to please and affectionate (thanks to the Golden Retriever)
- Sensitive to tone and attention — do best with positive reinforcement
🐾 1. Start Early – As Soon as You Bring Them Home
Begin training at 8 weeks old if possible. Puppies are most impressionable between 8 and 16 weeks.
🏡 2. Housebreaking (Potty Training)
- Take them out every 1–2 hours, plus after meals, naps, and play.
- Use a consistent command like “go potty.”
- Praise or reward immediately after they go outside.
- Consider crate training—dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.
🦴 3. Basic Obedience Commands
Teach these early with treats, praise, and repetition:
- Sit
- Stay
- Come
- Down
- Leave it
- Drop it
- Heel (for walking politely on a leash)
Use short sessions (5–10 minutes) multiple times per day to keep them engaged.
🐶 4. Socialization
Expose them early and positively to:
- New people
- Other dogs
- Different environments (cars, parks, stores)
- Sounds (vacuums, traffic, doorbells)
This helps prevent anxiety or reactivity later.
🦮 5. Leash Training
Start indoors or in a yard.
- Use a lightweight leash and harness.
- Reward walking beside you without pulling.
- Stop moving when they pull—reward when they return to your side.
🙅 6. Discourage Bad Habits Early
Mini Goldendoodles can become mouthy, jumpy, or barky if not guided early:
- Redirect biting to a toy and use a firm “no bite.”
- Ignore or gently correct jumping—reward all four paws on the ground.
- Don’t reward barking with attention.
🎓 7. Consider Puppy Classes
Professional obedience classes can speed up learning, reinforce social skills, and help you both build confidence.
🧹 8. Be Consistent & Patient
- Use the same commands and rules consistently.
- Be patient—some pups catch on quickly, others take a little longer.
- Avoid harsh discipline—it can backfire on sensitive dogs like doodles.
🏆 Summary: Your Training Checklist
✅ Crate training
✅ Housebreaking
✅ Basic commands
✅ Leash manners
✅ Socialization
✅ Preventing unwanted behaviors
✅ Daily structure and routines
Want a printable daily training schedule or custom training plan based on your pup’s age and behavior? Just let me know!