Potty Training for Great Dane Puppies

Train your great Dane puppy as you would any other dog, with kindness and consistency. Potty training your great Dane puppy calls for confinement, patience, understanding and vigilance. The most effective training uses the dog's natural instincts to encourage good behavior. To do this you must learn to understand your dog as much as it must learn your commands.

  1. Confinement

    • Doggy crates give puppies their own space.

      Choose a space for your new puppy. Select a room that can be closed off and has a floor that is easy to clean. Pick a quiet corner for the puppy bed, food dish and water. Hang the leash where the puppy can see it so he can let you know when he needs a walk. Like everyone, dogs need their own space, and they will avoid getting their space dirty. This will be the first lesson in where not to go. If you are going to paper train your puppy first, do not place the papers too close to the food dish and bed.

    Patience

    • Set up a feeding routine. Wait about five or 10 minutes after she has eaten and walk her outside to the spot where you would like her to go. Use a training phrase like "potty" and praise her while she is eliminating. Reward your puppy afterward. This does not have to be with food; praise and a walk work just as well, if not better. It is important to wait until after your puppy has eliminated in the designated spot before going for an extended walk. Remember you are training your puppy for a lifetime. You do not want to being carting around adult great Dane-sized bags of dog droppings on your stroll through the neighborhood.

    Understanding

    • Learn the signs that your puppy is ready to eliminate. Great Danes are known as companion animals; they want to please their human friends. All dogs avoid soiling their homes. This is a powerful combination. Using this knowledge allows you and your puppy to work as a team to get him to the right place at the right time.

    Vigilance

    • Watch your puppy for signs that it is ready. Bring the puppy to the right space and wait until it has "done its business." Just like any other young creature, control does not come easily. Small changes in food or treats can upset their digestion. As your puppy grows his appetite can become prodigious, and all that food has to go somewhere. Once you have used confinement, patience, and understanding to train your puppy in a small space it is time to allow him to explore the rest of your world. Start a little bit at a time and watch. As soon as you see the signs that your puppy is looking for a potty spot, take it outside to the right spot. Praise your puppy when it has done right. If an accident occurs try to catch the puppy in the act. Then show it where to go. If the puppy cannot connect the act with the discipline it will not be effective.

    Consistency

    • Consistency is everything when training a dog, and all the more so when training one of the giant breeds. Never do anything with a great Dane puppy that you would not want to do with an adult. This includes being a lap dog, sleeping in your bed and especially sanitation. Set up a routine, feed, eliminate, praise and walk. Establish the spot where your great Dane is to go at home and a command for when you are away from home. Use them all the time. Dogs will forget commands if they are not used.