It takes time and consistency to teach your dog how to potty train. So how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy is a crucial training that you need to teach your puppy.
German Shepherds ,like other dogs, face many problems such as eliminating when afraid, eliminating on furniture and in the house, health problems like incontinence.
By the age of 4 months, German Shepherds can learn how to potty train.
Here are top steps and tips on how to potty train a German Shepherd.
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What happens if you don’t potty train your German Shepherd?
A German Shepherd puppy doesn’t have control over their bladder. So if you see your dog feeling uneasy and arching their back, you got to teach them how to potty properly. Otherwise, they are going to potty all over the house and make a mess.
Another problem is that they German Shepherds become dominant and disobedient when they learn that they can get away with this type of behavior.
They learn that they can not be stopped so they grow with a dominant personality. Make sure that you teach them potty training so they learn that there are rules to follow.
Tips on how to train your German Shepherd
1.) Understand the signs
There are signs that dogs make to signal that they want to potty. Here are the signs that a German Shepherd wants to go potty
- Sniffing the floor: German Shepherds will sniff the place that they want to go potty in. They will usually want to the same area that they did relieved themselves in. So make sure that you take them out so they learn the right place.
- Turning in circles when sniffing: Circling while sniffing is a natural behavior that signals that your dog wants to potty.
- Scratching, standing, or barking at the door: All these are signs that your dog wants to eliminate.
- Whining: When whining is combined with the above behaviors, it means that your dog needs to go potty.
2.) Train them as a puppy
It is easier to teach German Shepherd puppys any behavior when they are younger. The reason is that they learn by doing and their mind ,when they are young, is like a sponge that contains everything they learn.
Things such as obedience training, socialization, and potty training has is better to be taught while they are young so they can develop into full grown well balanced dog.
3.) Create a Schedule
Keep your dog on a feeding schedule. Give them fixed times where the food is available so you know when they will have to relieve themselves after eating.
If however your German Shepherd is a puppy, you got to feed them freely but not not too much. An example would be a puppy that is 3 to 6 months should have about 3 meals per day.
While a German Shepherd dog should eat about 2 meals per day. German Shepherd dogs and puppies tend to eliminate from 10 to 30 minutes after they have eaten.
Also make sure that after you German Shepherd sleeps, exercises, eats that you take them out to potty.
4.) Provide a place for your puppy to potty in
Decide a place where your German Shepherd puppy is going to relieve themselves. You got to pick an area and then let your dog explore. It can be your yard or any area outside your home that is suitable.
If you catch your dog relieving themselves inside the house, don’t shout or punish them. Instead, Tell them in a firm voice the word “No” and let them see while you clean the mess.
Then, take them outside so they can continue relieving themselves outside.
5.) Keep a check on the treats
Remember that treats are a type of food. Just like food, your German Shepherd puppy will need to eliminate frequently if they eat treats.
6.) Crate training
Crate training is a very important tip. Dogs see their crates as a den or home that they don’t want to ruin or mess with. They tend to want to keep their place clean.
But there are certain rules to follow when getting the crate for the German Shepherd. Make sure that the crate isn’t big enough for the German Shepherd to sit and turn around.
Don’t make it any bigger than that or else your German Shepherd will potty in it. It works by making your dog hold it in until it is time to potty in the right place.
Crate training is one of the most effective techniques used when potty training a German Shepherd.
7.) Watch out for your dog when they are scared or excited
Because at a certain age of 3 weeks or younger, your puppy doesn’t have control over their bladder. They can eliminate when they are excited or scared.
8.) Check for distractions
Distractions distract your German Shepherd from relieving themselves. It does so by distracting your puppy from making signs that it needs to go. Always take your puppy out more when distractions are present.
9.) Teach your dog a command
Create a command that signals your German Shepherd puppy that it needs to go relieve themselves. This command can be something like “go potty”.
By doing so, you give your German Shepherd puppy a signal that they understand and they are more likely to go with you so they can relieve themselves.
10.) Reward your German Shepherd puppy
Reward your German Shepherd puppy when they successful potty in the right place and don’t make a mess in the house.
You can offer them treats or praise as a way that establishes a positive experience with the situation.
11.) Get your German Shepherd puppy regular vet checks
Bladder infections and problems could pose a huge problem to puppies and dogs. Some puppies may suffer from urinary incontinence where they lose control of their bladder.
Symptoms include leaky and bloody urine as well as irregularities in elimination which signals that there are problems with the digestive system.
Don’ts in how to potty train a German Shepherd puppy
- You got to not punish or scold your puppy when they make accidents because doing so will make your puppy afraid and not understand what they are supposed to do.
- Do not let your puppy out of the crate until they learn how to restrain themselves and potty in the right place.
- Don’t rush your German Shepherd puppy to learn how to potty. You’ve got to give them time and be patient.
Conclusion
How to potty train a German Shepherd puppy needs patience and consistency. Know that with proper training and following certain tips, you can successfully make your puppy learn how to eliminate properly.
