Owning an adorable German Shepherd puppy undoubtedly adds a touch of warmth and joy to our lives. However, the potty issues of puppies often cause headaches for their owners. In fact, as long as you master the correct methods and key points, potty training a German Shepherd puppy is not a difficult task, and this process can also deepen the emotional bond between you and your dog.
Physiologically, the urinary and digestive systems of German Shepherd puppies are not fully developed during the puppy stage. This means that they cannot control their excretion for as long a time as adult dogs. Generally speaking, puppies will have the need to excrete shortly after eating, drinking, waking up from a nap, or playing for a while. As the owner, you should be keen to capture these signals. When you notice that the puppy starts sniffing around the room or suddenly stops playing and circles in place, it is very likely a signal that it needs to excrete. At this moment, don't hesitate. Immediately take it to the designated potty area.
Choosing a suitable potty area for the puppy is of great importance. This area is preferably relatively fixed, quiet, and well-ventilated. It can be a corner of the balcony at home, a certain area in the yard, or a specialized pet toilet can be used. Once you have selected it, don't change it easily, otherwise, it will confuse the puppy. In the initial training stage, you can spread some old newspapers or pet pee pads at the selected potty area. German Shepherd puppies have a keen sense of smell. These newspapers or pee pads with the smell of their own excreta can guide them to know that this is the place where they should excrete.
When you sense that the puppy has the intention to excrete, use a gentle but firm tone to give a fixed command, such as "Go pee" or "Go to the toilet". This command should be simple, clear, and consistent every time. Then quickly take it to the designated potty area. During the process of its excretion, continue to repeat this command softly so that it gradually associates the command with the act of excretion. When the puppy successfully finishes excreting at the designated place, immediately give it a great deal of encouragement. You can gently stroke its head and back, praise it in an excited tone, and also reward it with a small, delicious treat. This immediate reward is very important for the puppy. It will understand that excreting in this place will earn the owner's love and rewards, and thus be more willing to repeat this correct behavior.
Patience is the key during the training process. German Shepherd puppies may not learn the correct potty behavior all at once, and they may occasionally make mistakes and excrete in the wrong place. When this happens, never punish it severely. Because the puppy may not understand why it is being punished, and excessive punishment will only make it feel frightened and confused, and may even affect the trust relationship between it and you. You can say "No" to it in a serious tone, and then quickly clean up the excreta and use a specialized cleaner to remove the smell. Because if the smell of excreta remains, the puppy may mistakenly think that this is also a place where it can excrete and thus make the mistake again.
A regular diet and daily routine also play an important role in the potty training of puppies. Try to feed the puppy and provide water regularly and in appropriate amounts. For example, feed it at fixed times in the morning, at noon, in the evening, and at night, and arrange the amount of each feeding reasonably according to the puppy's age and weight. Generally speaking, puppies need to eat 3 to 4 times a day. Within about 15 to 30 minutes after the puppy eats, it is very likely to have the need to excrete. Similarly, control the puppy's drinking time and amount, and avoid giving it a large amount of water just before it is about to rest, which can reduce the number of times it needs to excrete at night and help it develop a good habit of holding its urine at night. At the same time, create a regular daily routine schedule for the puppy, allowing it to play, rest, and excrete at fixed times every day.
In addition, increasing the puppy's outdoor activity time is also helpful for potty training. German Shepherds are an energetic dog breed that likes outdoor activities. Letting the puppy exercise appropriately outdoors can not only promote its physical health and development but also increase the frequency of its excretion. When you take the puppy out, it is very likely to look for a suitable place to excrete outdoors. At this time, you should also give the previously set excretion command so that it gradually gets used to excreting in the designated outdoor area. Moreover, after it excretes outdoors, clean it up in a timely manner to keep the environment clean.
The potty training of German Shepherd puppies is a process that requires the owner to invest time, patience, and love. Every progress of the puppy is worth cheering for, and every small mistake of it also requires your understanding and guidance.
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