How to Train an Irish Doodle: Step-by-Step Guide

Train your dog well, and you’ll never walk alone!

Looking into those bright Irish Doodle eyes and thinking, “You’re too cute to be this chaotic!” Have you ever done that? If yes, you’re in the right place. These curly-coated charmers may look like fluffy angels, but behind that teddy bear exterior is a smart, energetic and naughty pup. It is always ready for a little guidance, and maybe a treat or two!

So this guide is all about learning how to train an Irish Doodle step by step. It will provide advice on housebreaking, crate alternatives and basic obedience. You will learn to tackle those adorable (but sometimes mischievous) moments of pawing behavior.

Understanding the Irish Doodle Temperament

Irish Doodles are a cross between the Irish Setter and Poodle. Ultimately, they have inherited the best of both worlds. They’re:

• Friendly and outgoing: Lovers of people, pets, and attention.
• Intelligent: They learn fast, but they also get bored fast.
• Sensitive: They don’t respond well either to harsh tones or scolding.

That combination makes them wonderful dogs, but also ones that need thoughtful and patient training; once the doodle parent has successfully understood its personality, he can create the best training methods for them. But, it must be a training method that works with their nature, not against it.

Trainer Tip: you are training the dog in front of you, not the one you saw in a YouTube video. Every Irish Doodle is unique.

When to Start Training

The best time to begin training your Irish Doodle is as early as 8 weeks, puppies soak up information like sponges at this age, so start with:

• Housebreaking routines.
• Crate training alternatives like playpens.
• Basic obedience commands like sit and come.

But you’ve got an older Irish Doodle? Don’t worry about that either! With consistency and positive reinforcement to the older ones, it’s never too late to start with their training.

How to Train an Irish Doodle

A. Set Reasonable Expectations by Age

Let’s talk about potty schedules, it’s not glamorous, but it’s so important.

When your Irish Doodle is still a puppy, they don’t have full control over their bladder just yet; in fact, a good rule of thumb is that puppies can hold their bladder for about one hour for every month of age.

So if your puppy is 2 months old, they’ll probably need a bathroom break every 2 hours. At 3 months, every 3 hours, and so on.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Keep in mind, this is not an exact schedule; some puppies may need to go more frequently, especially after eating, playing, or waking up from a nap; consistency can be your secret weapon.

B. Create a Housebreaking Plan

1. Designate a potty spot; preferably quiet, away from heavy foot traffic.
2. Gear up with a leash, poop bags, and treats.
3. Stay calm and quiet during potty time; no distractions, no play.

C. Supervision & Confinement

When you’re home, keep your puppy close by using a leash attached to your belt or wrist; this way, you can watch them closely and notice signs they need to go potty. The signs may include sniffing around or walking in circles.

Why not crates?

Some Irish Doodles don’t do well with crates and they might start to feel scared or upset being inside one; instead, try to using a roomy indoor playpen. It gives them more space to move around while still keeping them in a safe spot and helping prevent potty accidents.

D. Choose Training Phrases

Pick a potty command like:

• “Go potty”
• “Get busy”
• “Do your business”

Use it every single time, and make sure everyone in the household does too.

E. Use of Treats and Praise

High-value treats like chicken bits or soft liver snacks are gold for their training.

Timing is the key: give your puppy a treat and say “Good job”, this should be done right after they go potty, not when you’re already back inside. That way, they’ll understand exactly what they’re being praised for.

F. Night-Time Potty Training

If your pup whines at night, don’t ignore it; but don’t throw a party either.

• Stay quiet
• Take them out quickly
• No play
• Straight back to bed

G. Cleaning Up Accidents

Accidents happen, therefore, don’t scold your puppy. You can clean thoroughly using enzyme-based cleaners. This breaks down the potty scent markers so they don’t think of the place being their potty spot.

Obedience Training Essentials

A. Basic Commands to Teach

Start with the basics:

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Down
• Heel

Keep training sessions short i.e, you can do it for 5 to 10 minutes maximum; but make sure that it is fun and not a hard chore for them.

B. Distraction Training

Irish Doodles are curious; If they see a squirrel, they can attack and get its game over right away, without giving them any initial signals.

What about your neighbor’s cat? It will do the same.

Therefore, in order to improve focus:

• Train in quiet areas first.
• Gradually introduce distractions.
• Use high-value rewards to draw attention back to you.

C. Use of Positive Reinforcement

Irish Doodles respond best to reward-based training.

Use:

• Treats
• Toys
• Verbal praise (“Good job!” works wonders)

Again, avoid yelling or punishment; it damages trust and slows progress.

Confidence Building for Nervous Doodles

Some Irish Doodles may struggle with noise sensitivity or new places.

Steps to build confidence:

• Identify triggers (e.g., vacuum cleaner, crowded park) and keep them away.
• Use desensitization, expose them to it in small doses, then reward their calm behavior.
• Add positive associations: treats, praise, even a favorite toy.

Fear is the mind-killer; especially in dogs. Replace it with fun.

Socialization and Public Behavior

Socialization should begin after vaccinations (usually around 12–16 weeks).

It is very important to expose your pup to:

• People of all ages
• Other dogs (friendly ones)
• Different environments (cafes, parks, car rides)

In public spaces, teach your Doodle to sit quietly at your feet and to engage it, use treats to reward calm behavior, especially when they ignore distractions.

Harness Training & Leash Manners

Choosing the Right Size Harness

Utilize this quick size chart (general guide; measure to be sure):

Choose a no-pull harness with adjustable straps for best fit.

Loose-Leash Walking Tips

• Practice indoors first.
• Reward for walking beside you.
• If they pull, stop walking. Don’t drag them. You must wait. Reward when they return.

Advanced Training and Mental Stimulation

Irish Doodles get bored. A bored Doodle = a mischievous Doodle.

Try:

• Puzzle toys (like KONG Wobbler)
• Scent games (hide a treat and let them find it)
• Agility training (great for brain and body)

Final Thoughts

Training an Irish Doodle takes patience, consistency, and a little creativity. These dogs are loving, loyal, and yes, a bit of a hard work in the beginning; but with positive reinforcement, smart planning, and lots of love, you can win it. Your pup will grow into well-mannered companions that make life sweeter.

Celebrate small wins. Put Progress Over perfection. And remember, every Doodle has its own personality; so train with heart, not with force. For more expert tips, visit ibelu.com.

A well-trained doodle isn’t just obedient; it’s confident, happy, and deeply bonded with you.