Are you tired of cleaning up after your German Shepherd puppy? Are you ready to say goodbye to accidents and hello to a well-trained pup? Potty training can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be a breeze.
Imagine waking up to a clean and fresh-smelling home, free of any unwanted surprises. Picture taking your pup on a walk without the fear of them leaving a gift for you to clean up.
Well, if you have a little dedication and patience, you can achieve this dream and successfully potty train your German Shepherd puppy.
In this article, we will provide you with the tips and tricks to set up successful potty breaks and speed up the house training process. Say goodbye to the mess and hello to a happy and well-trained pup.
Supplies You Will Need
Here is a small list of supplies that you should have when preparing to potty train your German shepherd puppy:
- Collar or harness
- Hands-free 3-4 foot non-retractable leash
- 15-foot non-retractable leash
- Two dog litter boxes
- Puppy pads
- Tasty small-sized treats
- Carpet cleaner for pet stains
- Mops and floor cleaner
- Love and patience!
How to Potty Train a German Shepherd Puppy
There are many different ways to potty train your German Shepherd. Here are a few of the most common:
Tethered
Tethering your furry friend may be the key to a well-behaved and clean home. When you tether your German Shepherd puppy, you’re keeping them close to you at all times. This will help you keep an eye on them and notice when they need to go potty.
You can use a leash or a long tether to give your furry friend some freedom to move around while still keeping them close. You can also use puppy pads while your German Shepherd puppy is tethered.
Place the puppy pads in a designated area and encourage your puppy to use them by giving them treats and praise when they do.
This will help your puppy understand where they should go potty and reduce the chances of accidents in your home.
Confined
As you confine your German Shepherd puppy to a designated area, you’re creating a safe and comfortable space for them to learn and grow.
This is an essential part of the potty training process because it helps your puppy understand where they should and should not go to the bathroom.
A confined area can also aid in the crate training process, which is another crucial part of raising a well-behaved pup.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you confine your furry friend:
- Choose an area that’s easily accessible and has a hard floor, such as a kitchen or laundry room.
- Use baby gates or a playpen to create a designated area for your puppy.
- Keep their bed, toys, and water bowl in the confined area.
- Make sure the space is not too big or too small for your puppy. They should have enough room to move around, but not so much space that they can use one corner as a bathroom.
- Be patient and consistent with your puppy during this process. It may take some time for them to get used to their new space, but with positive reinforcement and consistency, they’ll learn quickly.
By confining your German Shepherd puppy to a designated space, you’re setting them up for success in their potty training and crate training process.
This method helps your furry friend learn where to go to the bathroom and where they can go to relax and play.
Remember to have patience! Be consistent with your puppy during this process, and soon enough, they’ll be ready to spread their wings and explore the world beyond their designated area.
Crated
You’ve probably heard about crate training, and it’s a great way to teach your German Shepherd puppy to feel safe and content while being confined to a small space.
It’s important to remember that crate time should always be positive and never used as punishment.
The crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Start by placing a comfortable blanket or bed inside the crate to make it inviting.
When it comes to potty training your German Shepherd puppy, the crate can be an invaluable tool. Dogs instinctively avoid soiling their sleeping area, so use the crate to your advantage.
Take your puppy outside to go potty and then place them in the crate for a designated crate time, usually no longer than a few hours.
When you let them out, take them outside again to reinforce the potty training process.
See Also: How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy
Outdoors
Potty training a German Shepherd requires consistency, patience, and a designated potty spot. Follow these four steps to make potty training a success:
- Choose a specific spot in your yard where you want your puppy to go potty.
- Take your puppy outside to the designated potty spot after meals, naps, and playtime.
- Use a specific command, such as “go potty,” to signal to your puppy what you want them to do.
- Praise and reward your puppy with treats and positive reinforcement when they successfully go potty in the designated spot.
Remember, accidents will happen, so it’s important to remain patient and consistent with your potty training routine.
In time and with practice, your furry companion will learn where to go potty, and you’ll both be able to enjoy the great outdoors together without any accidents.
Supervision
Make sure to keep a close eye on your furry friend at all times, especially during the early stages of their training, to ensure they stay out of trouble and learn the rules of their new environment.
As a German Shepherd puppy owner, you need to supervise your pup’s behavior and actions when they are indoors. This means keeping an eye on them when they are playing, eating or sleeping.
The more you supervise them, the easier it will be to recognize their signals when they need to go potty.
To help you keep track of your pup’s potty breaks, it is recommended that you keep a log of their routine. Record the times when they go potty and the amount of time between each break.
This will help you anticipate when they need to go and make sure you take them outside in time. You can also use puppy pads or a designated potty area outside to make the training process easier for both you and your furry friend.
Setting Up Successful Potty Breaks
It takes a while for your potty training efforts to pay off. But, here are some things that can really speed up the process:
Take Your Puppy Outside Every 30 Minutes
It’s important to be consistent with taking your German Shepherd puppy outside every half hour to help establish a routine and reinforce good habits. This is especially important during the initial stages of house training.
When you take your puppy outside, make sure to use a specific command such as ‘go potty’ or ‘do your business’ to let them know what’s expected of them.
To make frequent trips outside easier, consider keeping a leash and collar near the door and setting reminders on your phone.
Also, try to take your puppy outside after they’ve woken up from a nap, eaten, and played to establish a routine. By taking your puppy outside every 30 minutes, you’ll be setting them up for success and helping them learn where it’s appropriate to go potty.
Here are some tips for taking your puppy outside every 30 minutes:
- Use a specific command when you take your puppy outside to help them learn what’s expected of them.
- Keep a leash and collar near the door to make frequent trips outside easier.
- Set reminders on your phone to help you remember to take your puppy outside every 30 minutes.
- Take your puppy outside after they’ve woken up from a nap, eaten, and played to establish a routine.
Wait 5 Minutes While Watching Your Puppy
After you bring your German Shepherd puppy outside, it’s important to wait for five minutes while keeping an eye on them. This ensures that they don’t relieve themselves inside your home.
It’s important to note that puppies have small bladders and may need to relieve themselves frequently. Waiting for five minutes gives them enough time to understand that it’s time to go potty outside.
During the five-minute wait, keep your puppy on a leash and give them some space to explore. However, make sure to keep an eye on them and prevent them from getting distracted by their surroundings.
If your puppy does not relieve themselves after the five minutes, you can bring them back inside and continue to monitor them.
If you’re using puppy pads for house training, make sure to place them in an easily accessible area so that your puppy can use them if needed.
Praise or Offer a Treat If Your Puppy Uses the Bathroom
When your German shepherd puppy successfully uses the bathroom outside, it’s important to show them praise or offer them a treat as a way to positively reinforce their good behavior.
This will help them understand that going outside is the right place to go potty and will encourage them to continue doing so in the future.
Verbal praise is an effective way to show your puppy that you’re happy with their behavior, but offering them a tasty treat will make them feel even more rewarded and excited to go potty outside.
When giving your puppy a treat, make sure it’s something that they really enjoy, such as a small piece of chicken or cheese.
It’s important to only give them the treat immediately after they finish going potty and not while they’re still outside so that they understand that they’re being rewarded for their behavior and not just for being outside.
Reward With Off-Leash Time
Rewarding your furry friend with off-leash time is a great way to strengthen your bond and encourage good behavior during puppy potty training.
Here are some tips to help you incorporate this reward into your training routine:
- Start with short periods of off-leash time – begin with just a few minutes and gradually increase the duration as your puppy demonstrates positive behaviors.
- Use a specific command to signal off-leash time – this will help your puppy associate the reward with a specific behavior.
- Use a safe, enclosed space – make sure your puppy is in a secure area where they can run and play without any dangers.
- Always supervise your puppy – keep an eye on your furry friend during off-leash time to ensure they stay safe and continue to demonstrate positive behaviors.
Remember, german shepherd puppies thrive on positive reinforcement and bonding with their owners.
When rewarding your puppy with off-leash time, you’re not only helping them learn good potty habits, but you’re also building a stronger relationship with them.
Keep up the good work!
Tips To Speed Up House Training Your German Shepherd
Though potty training does require time and effort, there are things you can do to speed up the process.
Here are a few suggestions:
Keep Track of Your Puppies Potty Habits
Keep track of your puppy’s bathroom habits. Are they going potty immediately after eating or drinking? Do they go frequently throughout the day or only a few times?
Once you have an idea of your puppy’s bathroom habits, you can adjust your training approach to fit their needs. For example, if your puppy goes frequently, you may need to take them out more often or use puppy pads inside the house.
By keeping track of your puppy’s bathroom habits, you’ll be able to create a successful potty training plan that works for both you and your furry friend.
Take Them Potty During the Habitual Times As Well
It’s crucial to take advantage of your German Shepherd puppy’s bathroom schedule by taking them out during their habitual times. This will reinforce good behavior and help them learn when it’s appropriate to go potty.
Most puppies will have a routine of going to the bathroom after meals, naps, and playtime. If you pay attention to these times, you’ll be able to anticipate when they need to go and help them form a consistent routine.
Make sure to always take your puppy to the same spot outside to go potty. This will help them associate that area with going to the bathroom. Use a consistent command such as ‘go potty’ to help them understand what you want them to do.
If you’re consistent with your routine, your German Shepherd puppy will quickly learn when it’s time to go outside and will begin to ask to go out on their own.
Get Your Puppy on a Feeding Schedule
To establish a routine for your furry friend, you should get them on a consistent feeding schedule that can help them build a sense of time and create a reliable system for their hunger and digestion, like a clock ticking away the minutes until mealtime.
This is especially important when it comes to potty training your German Shepherd puppy. When feeding them at the same time every day, you can predict when they will need to go potty and take them outside accordingly.
When creating a puppy potty training schedule, it’s important to consider your puppy’s age and size. Younger puppies will need to eat more frequently than older puppies, so you may need to feed them three to four times a day. (1)
As they get older, you can gradually reduce the number of feedings to two times a day.
Make sure to also take your puppy outside to go potty after each feeding, as this will help them establish a routine and prevent accidents inside the house.
Stick to a consistent feeding and potty schedule, and you can help your German Shepherd puppy become potty trained in no time.
Clean Up Accidents Thoroughly
Cleaning up accidents is an essential task for pet owners who want to maintain a clean and hygienic home environment when potty training their German Shepherd puppy.
Properly cleaning accidents is critical to avoiding future accidents in the same spot and to eliminate odors that may attract your puppy to the same spot.
Here are four steps to help you clean up accidents thoroughly:
- Use paper towels or a rag to blot up as much of the urine or feces as possible. Avoid rubbing or smearing the mess, as this will only make it harder to clean up.
- Once you’ve removed as much as you can, use a pet-safe enzymatic cleaner to break down any remaining odors and stains. Be sure to follow the instructions on the cleaner carefully and allow it to sit for the recommended amount of time.
- Rinse the area thoroughly with water and blot up any excess moisture with a clean cloth or paper towels.
- Consider using puppy pads in areas where your puppy frequently has accidents to make cleanup easier and protect your floors or carpets from damage.
Remember that accidents are a natural part of the potty training process, so don’t get discouraged if your puppy has a few accidents along the way.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you’ve done it! You’ve successfully potty trained your German Shepherd puppy.
You can now enjoy a clean and odor-free home, without constantly worrying about accidents. Imagine the feeling of relief you’ll have when you no longer have to clean up messy accidents or step in puddles of pee.
You’ll be able to relax and enjoy your time with your furry friend. Remember to continue rewarding your German Shepherd for good behavior, and to be patient if accidents still occur.
Keep up the good work, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a fully potty trained pup.
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