How to House Train a German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherds are considered to be one of the smartest breed of dogs. They are versatile, loyal and one of the most easily trained dogs. House training a German Shepherd puppy is relatively easy compared to other breeds, as it easily grasps the house training concept. With a little dedication and lots of consistency, your puppy will be house trained in minimal time. The key to house training a German Shepherd puppy is to minimize the number of mistakes and absolutely reward the positive behavior. It requires your full attention and commitment until the dog is fully house trained.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog crate
  • Treats
  • Towel
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a crate for your puppy prior to bringing your puppy home. Keep it in a quiet location in your home. This crate will serve as the dog's den as well as a means of keeping the dog safe and mistake-free in the house. Lay a clean towel in the crate for padding to keep the dog comfortable.

    • 2

      Establish a spot in the yard that is close to the house where your puppy is to eliminate. As soon as you bring the puppy home, take the puppy to this spot and say "potty." This cue word will soon be associated with the puppy knowing that it must relieve itself. Once the puppy eliminates, praise it profusely and bring it back inside immediately. Being allowed back into the house is part of the reward for good behavior.

    • 3

      Feed your puppy on a regular schedule. While adult dogs will only need one meal, puppies will need to be fed multiple times during the day. As a rule, puppies relieve themselves immediately after eating and drinking water; as soon as the puppy finishes eating, take the remaining food away and pick up the puppy to take it outside to the elimination area. Say "potty" and wait until the dog eliminates. All puppies will need to eliminate; take care not to bring the puppy back inside too quickly, as chances are the puppy will eliminate once indoors.

    • 4

      Play with the puppy throughout the day and take it outside once you are done playing, as the puppy will need to eliminate again. Once the puppy eliminates, praise it, bring it back inside and crate it to let it rest. It should soon nap, and once the puppy wakes up, take it outside again as soon as you let it out of the crate before you do anything else.

    • 5

      Place the puppy into the crate any time you will be unable to watch the dog. When the dog is not in the crate, your eyes must be on the puppy at all times. Puppies have body language (e.g., sniffing the ground) prior to eliminating, and it is crucial that you catch this language prior to the puppy making a mistake. As soon as you see this behavior, take the puppy outside. If you are otherwise engaged, place the puppy back into the crate after making sure the puppy doesn't need to eliminate.

    • 6

      Take the puppy outside first thing in the morning before you do anything else, and do it again as the last thing you do before going to bed. The puppy will not be able to hold it overnight for the first few months, and you will need to set your clock to wake up to take the puppy out. Do not skip this step, or the puppy will begin to think that eliminating in its crate is acceptable.

    • 7

      Repeat all of these steps consistently and on a schedule. Before long, your puppy will go to the door wanting to be let out, and you will be well on your way to having a perfectly housebroken dog.