Puppy house training begins as soon as you
get home with
your new German Shepherd puppy. House breaking is a very important part
of puppy training.
Dogs are den animals. That is why when you crate
train a dog, it helps immensely with potty training. They see
their
crate as
their den and do not want to soil it. Teach your German Shepherd to see
your entire house as her den, and she will never soil in it again.
X Marks The Spot
Carefully pick a spot outside for
housebreaking your
puppy. This will be the same place you take her to every
time she has to go.
It may take your puppy some time to realize
what that
magic spot is for. Puppies are very easily distracted, so save play
time for after she has done her thing.
Good Potty
As soon as your puppy has relieved herself,
praise her
with the phrase you have chosen for this task. "Go Potty" or if you
prefer German, "gassi gehen" also works well. Just be consistent and
say it quickly and excitedly!
Keep Your Eye on Your GSD
Like a child, your German Shepherd puppy
should never be
left unattended. At least until after she is fully housebroken. Puppy
house training can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If you
must leave her, put her in her crate or gate her in an area where the
floor is easy to clean (like the kitchen).
An unattended puppy will relieve herself
wherever it is
convenient. It is important for you to go outside with her. Don't let
her into the backyard and wonder why she comes back in only to pee in
the house. Keep taking her to the proper place to potty and she will
put 2 and 2 together.
Go to the Spot
Your puppy should always be taken outside:
upon waking up (in the morning and after
each nap)
following every meal
before going to bed
Consistency and Patience are Key
Do not get frustrated with puppy house
training. But do
establish a strict housebreaking schedule. Puppies learn through
repetition.
Determine the best time for meals, and stick
to the
plan. Your puppy will soon adapt to the new schedule you have set and
will soon alert you when she has to go outside.
Accidents
When your puppy has an accident in the
house, do not
scold her. And especially do not rub her nose in it. Take her out
immediately to her spot. When you are sure she has finished, put her in
her crate (or
some other place where she cannot see you) and clean it up.
A great product to use is an enzymatic cleaner with a silly name called, "Anti-Icky Poo." It even kills the smell of cat
urine, so dog accidents are no match. From my experience, other enzymatic cleaners do not seem to do the trick.
It is important to use a cleaner that
obliterates the
stain, but especially the smell. Otherwise, your dog will assume that
is an appropriate place to go potty.
If you catch her in the act, do not tell
her, "No." She
will assume that going potty is a bad thing to do and may attempt to
hide it from you. Simply scoop her up and bring her to her spot so she
can finish.
Outdated puppy house training methods
encouraged
scolding and rubbing a dog's nose in their accidents. Please don't do
this.
The fact that she puts her head down and looks "guilty" is not a sign
that she knows she did something wrong. She is merely responding to the
stern tone of your voice.
Dogs communicate mainly through dog body language.
I Saw The Sign
Recognize the signals that mean your puppy
has to go
potty:
circling
going to the door
sniffing out a spot
whining
Remember to take your puppy out religiously.
And stay
patient. Your German Shepherd will soon alert you when she has to go
out.
Taking Too Long?
German Shepherd puppies normally learn
pretty quickly.
If you are being consistent and are quick to praise when she goes
outside, she will get the hang of it.
Try not to become frustrated. Easier said
than done?
Remember she is still a baby. And how long did it take you to become
toilet trained?
It may not occur overnight, but if you
exercise patience
and consistency, it will happen.
The information and
products recommended by german-shepherd-lore.com are not intended to
take the place of expert veterinarian care. Please consult with your
vet and ask about using a natural and alternative approach for the
healthcare and treatment of your pet. Find a holistic vet.
.
