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How to potty train a German Shepherd puppy? By being patient, encouraging and loving.
Teaching your beloved dogs the basics can be a bit frustrating at time. Last time I covered the broader topic of this, this time I will mostly only talk about how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy.
No one likes potty training. Not you, not your dog, not your neighbours’ front lawn.
However, it is important to make sure that you train your German Shepherd correctly. Otherwise, mistakes are going to be made all to common, furniture and carpets are going to have short lifespans and you might lose your mind a little.
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When to start potty training?
Your pup probably arrived at their forever home at around 6 to 8 weeks old. This is the perfect time to start potty training.
Even though you may want your GSD to get comfortable as fast as possible, you shouldn’t wait to start teaching them.
The little pooches know well enough that they can get away with a lot of things due to their cuteness.
However, it is up to you to put your foot down before bathroom mistakes start happening.
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At that young age, your dog will only be able to hold in their pee for about 2 hours at a time. When around 2-3 months old, they will be able to hold it in for about 4 hours.
A six-month-old German shepherd puppy will be able to hold their bladder for u to 8 hours. However, this can be extremely bad for their urinary system and kidneys (as well as your carpet), so don’t leave your dog alone for extended periods of time.
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How to potty train a German Shepherd puppy
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Please remember, your puppy can not hold his bladder or bowels
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Many times the frustration of waking up to a mess in your home can be overwhelming. But good things take time. Don’t let those negative emotions get to you, or to your puppy.
Start by taking them outside to a designated area. as they get older that area will grow larger as you will take them on walks and out to explore.
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Make sure that the designated area is not far from your home. It should be safe and relatively free of other dogs (other than any siblings of your pup of course).
Give them time. They will need to get accustomed to the new environment. So many smells and scents will most likely overwhelm your pup at first.
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Persistence is key
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….Persistence is kez
Stick to a routine
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If you take your German Shepherd for a potty walk every day at a specific place and time, it will help them. They are aware that at 3 pm it is potty time so, they will be waiting for you accordingly. Don’t keep them waiting.
Taking your pup to the bathroom is the first thing you should do in the morning and the last thing at night before going to sleep.
But what about in between?
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As mentioned above, in the first months of your pup staying with you, you probably have to get up two to three times a night to let them out. Remember it isn’t their fault that their bladder is the size of a strawberry.
If your workplace is close enough to home, go see them during lunch break. Not only will they be so happy to see you, but they will also learn to hold their bladder to a certain extent to wait for you.
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Furthermore, take them out about 20 minutes after:
- Playtime. Due to running around and generally a lot of exercises, your puppy will want to drink quite a bit. Naturally, this will lead to them wanting to go to the bathroom sometime soon after that.
- Food time. Like above, during food, your dog is likely to drink a lot, too. Both reasons to take your pup outside to go to the bathroom.
- Meeting new friends (humans and other pets). A puppy can easily get excited and may wet themselves if they get too into it. Don’t be mad at them for it, instead, maybe let them meet new friends close to the designated potty area?
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How to know when your dog….
How to know when your dog needs to go
They will be vocal. Pheeping, whining or even crying to get your attention.
If your dog is sitting near the door you usually take to go potty time, that is a definite indicator.
Looking out the window or pacing nervously up and down, can be other indicators.
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What not to do
If your puppy pees or poops inside the house, don’t punish it for that. This will bring you very different results than what you are trying to achieve.
Don’t hurry your pup. You wouldn’t like if someone kept pulling your arm while you are sitting on the toilet, so neither does your dog.
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What to always do
Clean up behind your puppy.
As simple as this may sound, many people leave their dogs to poo out in the wild. Not only is that rather yucky, but it can also be dangerous to little kids and other dogs health. This is due to the bacteria found within the excrement.
Obviously, you cant clean up pee too, just make sure they don’t go anywhere near playgrounds or other peoples property.
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Last but not least, make sure that to reward positive behaviour.
Even if your German Shepherd puppy still leaks from time to time, if they have been trying their best they definitely deserve a reward.
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Humans and animals alike learn best through positive reinforcement, instead of negative consequences.
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Play an extra game of fetch with them and give them some cuddles or a treat.
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Thoughts
I hope this simple guide on how to potty train your German Shepherd puppy has been useful to you. If you have any more tips on potty training let me know in the comments. Read you next time!