Potty Training A German Shepherd Puppy

Potty training a German Shepherd puppy doesn’t need to drive you crazy, but it does require a little bit of hard work and patience.

Often when you’re caught up in all of the excitement of bringing your puppy home for the very first time, it’s easy to forget that they’re not potty trained.

And through no fault of their own, this ends up with them simply go to the toilet as and when they need it.

Now, the first few months of having a puppy in your home, you might inadvertently find yourself sitting on pee-stained sofas and treading on poop in your bare feet in the middle of the night.

There’s no getting away from the fact that potty training a puppy is tough, but it’s still important to get to work with your puppy as soon as you can to get them off on the right foot.

Here’s the good news…

German Shepherds are intuitive, intelligent, and will generally pick things up quicker than most other breeds of dogs, which is great news if you’re inexperienced with puppies.

So in today’s blog post, I’m going to be unlocking the vault and sharing some of my best-kept secrets to help potty train your German Shepherd.

And who knows, in time, coming home from work to find little accidents all over your nice clean carpet will soon be a thing of the past.

Now, before we get into the ins and outs of potty training a German Shepherd puppy, I’d highly recommend taking a quick look at Potty Training Made Easy from Dan Abdelnoor over at The Online Dog Training (see video below)

Just to give you a little insight, Dan’s put together what most would consider a potty training masterclass when it comes to teaching your pup to avoid unwanted accidents.

Better still, it’s completely free, and I have no doubt that the benefits you’ll get from this unique potty training course will far surpass anything you’ve ever learned about potty training in the past.

Anyway, here’s the link to take a look: Potty Training Made Easy – The Quick & Easy Way To Potty Train ANY Pup

(video will open in a new window)

Potty Training A German Shepherd Puppy – What You Need To Know!

If you’ve just brought your German Shepherd puppy home for the first time, congratulations! You’re in for many years of great companionship.

Because not only do German Shepherds make for awesome pets thanks to their many admirable traits. They’re actually a lot easier to train than other breeds.

Here’s why…

They’re very intelligent

It’s no coincidence that police forces all over the world recruit German Shepherds into their ranks. They’re also widely trained as service dogs to support people living with disabilities; such is their versatility and perception.

Their high level of intelligence means that German Shepherds can easily pick up information from their owners and remember the importance of behaving accordingly.

They’re obedient

A German Shepherd’s obedience goes hand in hand with her intelligence. As puppies, they’re known to listen to their owners and follow orders about what they can and can’t do.

As well as picking up task training (paw, sit, etc.), German Shepherds also pick up potty a lot faster than most other breeds. Meaning you don’t run the risk of finding little accidents all over the house for months on end.

They’re highly adaptable

Now, although they’re big dogs, German Shepherds are highly adaptable and can settle into various homes. And while being outdoors is favorable, they can easily adjust to smaller living spaces and get their exercise by going on long walks with their owners.

As long as they’re loved, respected, fed, and exercised, your German Shepherd will thrive in your home and will make the perfect pet.

They’re curious and friendly

Anyone who’s ever owned a German Shepherd will tell you that they’re incredibly friendly dogs.

As puppies, they’re approachable and curious, and you can see just how willing they are to learn the rules about what they can and can’t do in your home.

Because of their outgoing and friendly nature as puppies, they’re very receptive to training and very responsive to any instructions their owners give them.

These core traits make them excellent companions, as they’ll pick up most of your commands with relative ease.

Best age start potty training a German Shepherd puppy?

As a general rule of thumb, you should start potty training your German Shepherd puppy when they’re between twelve and sixteen weeks old. By this point, they’ll have enough bladder control to hold their water for a longer duration.

That being said, puppies generally don’t gain full bladder control until they’re between five and six months old. That’s a lot of accidents to clean up if you’re not serious about investing in an effective potty-training regime!

Between 8-12 weeks, your GS should be able to hold their bladder for approximately around two hours. And this will usually double by the time they hit 16 weeks of age.

But here’s the thing…

In order for you to potty train your pup successfully, you need to learn the various stages of their early development when it comes to their toilet habits.

So if you’re hell-bent on getting the best out of your GS and you want a tried and tested solution to get the potty trained in the quickest time possible. I’d highly recommend taking a few minutes to check out the Potty Training Made Easy Course from Dan Abdelnoor.

In a nutshell, it’s going to give you insider knowledge that will help guide you in the early stages of potty training and puppy life in general.

How do I potty train my German Shepherd puppy?

Pick a location

Now, the first step to successfully potty training your German Shepherd puppy is to recognize your dog’s nature. Because dogs are den animals, it’s not in their nature to soil where they sleep.

So when initially starting potty training, you should make a considerable effort to find a place for your puppy to do their business away from their sleeping area.

This can be a specific location outdoors, on the grass, or wherever you feel is most suitable.

But whatever you decide, you want your pup to instinctively know where to go.

This is where treats come in handy. Because by rewarding your pup when they go in the correct location, they’ll eventually start to develop positive associations with that area.

So make sure your pup knows the exact location and reward them with treats, praise, and attention when they get it right.

Get familiar

At the beginning of your potty training endeavor, it makes sense if you walk your pup in and around the designated area whenever they feel the call of nature.

In addition to this, it’s good practice to keep your pup leash when taking them out so they can’t stray too far.

Ideally, you’ll want to keep your pup on a loose leash to allow them to sniff around and get familiar with the place where you expect them to go.

Bear in mind that this isn’t something that your pup is going to pick up overnight (or at all). Instead, they might just spend some time sniffing around.

But in time, they’ll eventually put 2+2 together and realize what needs to be done.

Create a routine

When you’re potty training your German Shepherd puppy, it’s essential to get them into a solid routine ASAP.

There’s nothing too complicated about your puppy’s likely routine, and it’s quite common for German Shepherds to ‘go potty’ at the following times:

First thing in the morning.
As soon as they’ve finished eating.
When they wake up after a nap.
After playing either inside or outside.

As these activities tend to form the crux of a puppy’s daily schedule, it’s a good idea to build their potty-training routine around them.

You should also take your puppy out for the toilet during periods of high excitement, particularly if you’ve just got home from work or are seeing them for the first time that day!

Develop a positive attitude

You know the saying – ‘it takes two to tango’ – well, this is also true when it comes to potty training your German Shepherd puppy.

Being a smarter breed, German Shepherds take tend to take a lot of cues from the tone of your voice and overall body language.

If you’re continually yelling and giving off negative vibes whenever they have an accident. It’s going to be a recipe for disaster, which will ultimately end up with your GS retreating back into their shell and not learn the basics.

As an owner, it’s always in your best interest to stay relaxed and try not to react negatively to any little mishaps that occur. Don’t forget that it’s all part of the learning curve, and occasional accidents are going to happen.

Don’t forget about diet

This is something that’s often overlooked, as most new pup owners generally tend whatever dog food happens to be available at the store.

But it’s essential (especially in the early days) to ensure your GS is fed a complimentary diet to help them maintain regular bowel movements.

So do your best to avoid feeding your puppy high-fat treats too often, as this can occasionally cause stomach upsets and make the process of potty training an uphill battle.

Ideally, you should choose an optimum diet formulated for puppies that’s higher in protein, calcium, and good fatty acids. As this will help your puppy mature and grow into a healthy dog.

The Easy Way To Potty Train Your Pup

Now, if you’ve still reading this and you’re still feeling a little lost on the do’s and don’t of potty training your beloved GS pup. Then make sure you take a few minutes to check out the Potty Training Made Easy Course in the video link below.

In this free video series, Dan walks you through real-life examples of how to potty train ANY puppy. And combined with the tips and tricks outlined in this post, it will prove invaluable when it comes to potty training your German Shepherd puppy with ease.

(video will open in a new window)

Wrapping Things Up

All in all, the early days of welcoming a puppy into your home are filled with love and laughter. But you will also do your fair share of cleaning and tidying up after your new pup.

But as they get familiar with their surroundings, they’ll eventually become more accustomed to the rules of the house.

Remember that potty training success isn’t a straight line, so you’ll have to be patient and accept the fact that mishaps will happen and that it’s all part of the journey.

But if you keep calm and consistently encourage your pup with positive reinforcement, in time, all your hard work will pay off.