The first 90 days with your Cavoodle puppy shape their behaviour for years to come. Here's a practical, realistic training timeline.

Weeks 1-2: Settling In

Focus on routine, not obedience. Establish consistent feeding, sleeping and toileting times, introduce your puppy to their crate as a positive space, and keep new experiences calm and short.

Weeks 3-6: Toilet Training and Basic Cues

Take your puppy outside on a consistent schedule - after waking, after eating, and every 1-2 hours during the day - and reward successes immediately. Begin introducing "sit" and "come" using food rewards; Cavoodles typically pick these up quickly thanks to their Poodle heritage.

Weeks 7-10: Socialisation Window

This is the single most important developmental window for your puppy's confidence as an adult. Aim for positive, low-stress exposure to new people, surfaces, sounds and (once vaccinated appropriately, per your vet's advice) safe environments outside the home.

Weeks 11-13: Building Consistency

Reinforce "sit," "stay," "come" and loose-lead walking with short, frequent training sessions (5-10 minutes, several times a day works better than one long session). Begin gentle handling exercises - paws, ears, mouth - to prepare for grooming and vet visits.

Training Tips Specific to Cavoodles

  • Use positive reinforcement - food and praise - rather than punishment; Cavoodles are sensitive and respond best to encouragement.
  • Keep sessions short; puppies have limited attention spans in the first few months.
  • Watch for separation anxiety early - Cavoodles bond intensely and can struggle with being left alone if it isn't introduced gradually.

For more detail, see our dedicated guides on crate training and toilet training.