Are cockapoos easily house trained?

Question

It's my first dog, and I've finally narrowed it down to that breed. I'm taking all advice. Thanks in advace.

Answer 1

They are dogs and are housetrained much like any other dog. My off topic suggestion: If you get a cockapoo, remember this is a mutt. Do NOT pay "designer dog" prices. It is a mutt.

Here is the housetraining advice I hand out at our shelter:

House training is a major worry for most new dog owners. However, housetraining does not need to be difficult. With a little knowledge and a lot of consistency, your dog will be thoroughly house trained in record time.

What works:

Dogs have a natural need to keep their den (your house) clean. You don’t want to live in an unhealthy environment, and neither does your dog. To ensure that he does not claim a corner of your living room for his own personal toilet, put him in a crate while you are away from home during this initial phase. This crate becomes his own personal “den” where he can go to have some alone time, and where he always feels safe. Few dogs will willingly mess in their “den.”

Dogs respond best when they know what to expect. Set up a routine and stick to it. The following excerpt is by trainer Matthew Margolis from his website, www.unclematty.com

“Puppy Housetraining Schedule

7:00 AM walk the dog
7:30 AM feed, water and walk
11:30 AM feed, water and walk
4:30 PM feed, water and walk
8:30 PM water and walk (last water of the day)
11:30 PM walk the dog

“If you can't come home mid day and early afternoon, have a friend or neighbor help you out for a few days or hire a dog walker. House training can take as little as three or four days or perhaps a week or more. The more consistent you are, the quicker your puppy will catch on. Dogs really like to keep their dens clean and your house is the den.”

Develop your own routine. Let your dog out every time you return home. Bear in mind that this may mean you go outside after checking the mail. Teach your dog a signal that means we are going outside. For instance, hang a bell from the doorknob within the dogs reach. Ring the bell before opening the door to take the dog outside. Soon your dog will catch on and you’ll find yourself running to the door every time the bell rings.

Once outside, use a phrase like “Go Potty!” as your dog performs. Soon you will find that saying the word causes the desired effect. Remember to spend more time outdoors after successful elimination. If you go directly indoors once done you will teach your puppy that the only way to get to go for a nice long walk is to hold it as long as possible.


Biology plays a factor. Certain things will cause your dog to need to go outside. Use them to your advantage.
•A dog generally needs to eliminate 20-30 minutes after eating. Feed on a regular schedule, and be ready to go 20 minutes later.
•A young puppy will urinate after a period of play or heightened emotion. When the play slows down, be headed towards the door.
•What goes in, must come out. Limit water when the puppy will not be able to go outside for an extended period or overnight. Give plenty of water once you return to avoid dehydration.
•A puppy’s bladder is only so big, and he needs practice to be able to hold it. To determine how many hours he can go without a break, take his age in months plus one (i.e. a three month old puppy can hold it four hours.)

Watch for the signs. A dog will usually have behavioral signals he gives indicating that he is looking for a good place to eliminate. Watch for those signals. If you have a hunch that the erratic wandering and sniffing means puppy might need to go, chances are your right. If you wait to find out, you’re too late. You should keep your dog within easy reach until you feel comfortable that he will let you know when it is time. If necessary, leave him on a leash attached to you so that he stays within six feet at all times.

Scent marking will come back to haunt you. Dogs have a long lasting scent marker they leave when they eliminate. It is used in the wild to mark territory, sort of like a doggy signpost. Once he eliminates in your house, that spot holds the scent -- even if you cover it up with a perfumy cleanser -- for a long, long time. He will return to remark the same place repeatedly. After all, you have allowed him to do this by not covering his mark with your own urine! To eliminate the problem of remarking, you must eliminate the scent. Have your carpets professionally cleaned using professional odor eliminators. You can also try a bacteria or enzyme odor eliminator, such as Simple Solution or other products recommended by your pet store. Follow the directions carefully.

What doesn’t work:

Punishment. You come home from work and your puppy comes bounding over to greet you. Just then you see the wet spot that wasn’t there when you left. You take the puppy to the spot, shout and swat him on the butt. The puppy is unable to connect the dots between what he did earlier and what you are doing now. All he knows is when he came to you, you hurt him. Congratulations, you’ve just taught the puppy that you are unpredictable and mean. Punishing during the act will only serve to teach the dog not to eliminate in your presence, since you’ll hurt him when you see him do it. Instead, if you catch the puppy in the act, give a loud “No!” and immediately go outside. Give praise and/or playtime when the puppy successfully eliminates outdoors.

Rubbing his nose in it. Again, he has no idea why you are doing this. Dogs routinely smell feces and urine for markers left by others. What do you want him to read from his own markers? This serves only to confuse the dog and possibly to hurt his sensitive nose. It might also lead to coprophagia, eating his own excrement. Instead remove all scent from the spot as indicated above and redouble YOUR efforts to consistently follow a schedule. He wants to be clean; you need to help him know what to expect.

For further information:
Visit any library or bookstore for more information about house training or caring for your dog.

Answer 2

House training is not a breed issue, it is a dog/owner issue. Any breed can be easily house trained. Smaller ones (like these) will have a hard time holding it for long times, and will need to be walked more often. Most of house training actually falls on the owner, not the dog. You need to make sure you are training them right and then it should be fairly easy. Good

Answer 3

all dogs have different personilities, and the cockapoos are sweet puppies! You need to start as soon as the puppy comes Home and make this a roetine. the puppie will learn that this is want you want and should be trained fast. Dog treats and praise are always an insentive you just need a part of a treat for the dog to understand how to get a treat is to go outside.

Answer 4

yes, they are. when he or she goes to the bathroom in the house. take the dog over to it and put it nose down by it[so it can see it] then give the dog a light smack on the nose but don't hurt it. it worked with my cockapoo.

Answer 5

cockapoos are not proven to be harder or easier to housetrain. I do have some advice on house training them tho. walk your dog outside for a pretty long time (1-2 hours) and whenever it pees click a little button with a noticably noise and give it a little treat. dont be shy to talk to it saying things like "good dog! (insert name here) is such a good dog! doesnt (insert name here) love to pee outside? yes he/she does! yes he/she does!" i kno it sounds a little crazy but it worked for me!

Answer 6

My friend has a 2 month old cockapoo and she already knows her name and how to sit. So I would say its pretty easy. Good Luck !

Answer 7

Cocker spaniels are notoriously difficult to housetrain.

I think that a cockapoo might be relatively easy to housetrain as long as you develop a routine and stick to it. Remember that all dogs are different- just BE PATIENT! goodluck!! (and congratulations on your first dog) :)

Answer 8

they are just like any other breed of dog...
1. as a puppy s/he will need to go outside often...like every hour or so
2. when your not going to be around do not leave s/he on it's own s/he will pee or poop all over your house..put it in a kennel/cage
3. you could always buy those training pads or use newspaper..but your just teaching s/he to pee or poop in your house..better to take her out in yard or take the time to teach her to walk on a leash

Answer 9

Probably. I have a Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle) and he was pretty easily trained. They are really smart dogs. My dog never has an accident inside.