German Shepherds are intelligent and trainable dogs, but potty training can still be a challenge. With patience and consistency, you can teach your German Shepherd to go potty outside in no time.
1. Set a schedule
One of the best ways to potty train a German Shepherd is to set a regular schedule. Take your puppy outside to go potty at the same times every day, even if they don’t seem to need to go. This will help them to learn that they need to go potty outside.
A good schedule for a German Shepherd puppy might look like this:
- Morning: Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, right after they wake up.
- After breakfast: Take your puppy outside 10-20 minutes after they eat breakfast.
- After playing: Take your puppy outside after they’ve been playing for a while.
- After dinner: Take your puppy outside 10-20 minutes after they eat dinner.
- Before bed: Take your puppy outside right before you go to bed.
2. Be consistent
The most important thing when potty training a German Shepherd is to be consistent. Take them outside at the same times every day, and praise them when they go potty outside. If they have an accident inside, don’t punish them. Just clean it up and take them outside right away.
3. Use a crate
A crate can be a helpful tool for potty training a German Shepherd. When your puppy is in the crate, they won’t be able to go potty inside. This will help them to learn that they need to go potty outside.
When you first start using a crate, your puppy may cry or whine. This is normal. Just ignore them and don’t let them out of the crate until they’ve been quiet for a few minutes.
Once your puppy is comfortable in the crate, you can start to leave them in the crate for longer periods of time. Start with short periods of time, and gradually increase the amount of time.
4. Praise and reward
When your puppy goes potty outside, be sure to praise them and give them a treat. This will help them to associate going potty outside with positive things.
You can also use a clicker to mark the behavior. When your puppy goes potty outside, click the clicker and then give them a treat. This will help them to learn even faster.
5. Be patient
Potty training a German Shepherd takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if your puppy has accidents. Just keep up with the training and they will eventually get it.
6. Common mistakes to avoid
- Not taking your puppy outside often enough. This is one of the most common mistakes people make when potty training a puppy. If you don’t take your puppy outside often enough, they will eventually have an accident inside.
- Punishing your puppy for accidents. Punishment will only make your puppy afraid of you and less likely to want to go potty in front of you.
- Not being consistent. As mentioned above, consistency is key when potty training a puppy. If you’re not consistent, your puppy will get confused and it will be harder to train them.
7. Tips for success
- Start training early. The earlier you start training your puppy, the easier it will be. Puppies are more absorbent and easier to train at a younger age.
- Make it fun. Potty training should be a fun experience for both you and your puppy. If your puppy is having fun, they’re more likely to want to cooperate.
- Be positive. When your puppy does something right, be sure to praise them. This will help them to learn what you want them to do.
- Don’t give up. Potty training can be frustrating, but it’s important to not give up. With patience and consistency, you can teach your German Shepherd to go potty outside.
Additional tips
- If your puppy is having trouble learning to go potty outside, you may want to consider hiring a professional dog trainer.
- There are also a number of books and websites that can provide you with additional tips on potty training a German Shepherd.
With patience and consistency, you can teach your German Shepherd to go potty outside. Just remember to be positive and have fun, and your puppy will be a pro in no time!
