How to Potty Train a German Shepherd Puppy

Potty training a German Shepherd puppy can be quite a task in the beginning. Creating a routine, finding a potty spot and training the dog to go in the designated area can seem impossible. But German Shepherd puppies can be trained after days or weeks of practice. Once the puppy has been potty trained, owners will be able to focus on other training tasks to prevent puppy mischief.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate
  • Newspaper
  • Odor sanitizer
  • Dog leash
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a crate large enough for the German Shepherd puppy to stay in, and line it with newspapers while training. This method, known as crate training, teaches the puppy to hold it until taken outside to relieve himself. Puppies treat their crate much like a den or home and like it to be free of feces and urine. Because the puppies spend most of the day in the crate, they learn to hold in their poop and pee longer to avoid a dirty home.

    • 2

      Take German Shepherd puppies younger than 4 months out to poop or pee every 1 to 2 hours. Puppies older than 4 months can be taken out every 3 to 5 hours, depending on their needs. Owners should leave puppies in the care of someone else if they will be out longer than 5 hours, because it is difficult for pups to hold it beyond that time.

    • 3

      Select a designated potty area outside. Walk the dog to the spot and allow her to sniff around it. Point to the spot and say, "Poop" or "Pee." Wait a couple of minutes until the puppy has relieved herself. Once she has done so, reward her with a treat or say "Good job" so she knows she has done well.

    • 4

      In a contained area, unleash the puppy and allow him to run loose for a bit if he is having difficulty going. Watch for signs of wanting to pee or poop, such as sniffing or crouching down. Once the puppy begins to do this, place the leash back on and walk him over to the designated spot. Say the words "Poop here" or "Pee here" while pointing to the spot. Reward him for the good job once he has finished.

    • 5

      Clean the areas of the home where the puppy has had an accident. Pets are likely to return to the same spot where they have peed or pooped before because of the familiar smell. To prevent this, spray the accident area with a pet odor sanitizer. The smell will be eliminated and will keep the dog from returning to that area in the future.