Now that the crate training is becoming easier - I'm baffeled about housebreaking. I have read and re-read several times the articles suggested on house breaking a pup. They're straight forward and easy to understand as well as put into effect. How ever - I'm finding myself getting frusterated. Very frusterated with 4 paws here... =0) I make it a MUST to take him out every 2 hours, more if need be. I praise him immensly when he does he duties outside - sometimes it takes forever because he throughly enjoys prancing around and eatting rocks (? Another question I have) - except the problems I'm facing are. In the AM as soon as I awake - the 1st thing I do is make sure he goes outside to do his thing - I praise him, bring him inside and within 1/2 hour (note I haven't fed him yet) he'll just squat and go - without prior warning. If he's running through the house he'll just stop, go and run off. I've caught him in the act EVERYTIME and say NO very loudly, than immediatly take him outside to finish his business. In hopes he would associate door- outside - potty. But it's not registering. I realize he is young.. but GSD's are smart - he's smart I know he is even though he hears only what he so chooses. What am I doing wrong?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I am really tired of doing it by the book only to find a puddle of pee or poop in my kitchen. =0(

Is it wrong - if he doesn't go to bathroom while outside to bring him back in, put him in his crate, wait than do it over? I don't mean it as a form of punishment but rather it's trying to get him to associate outside - with his duties.
DO any of you actually use commands while potty training?

Hi Amanda,

When he's home and not in a crate,I would keep a leash on him, and keep him by your side at all times. As soon as he starts to go potty in the house, give him a correction, a no, and take him outside, then assuming he'll go there, praise him immensley. Don't give him a sliver of an opportunity to make a wrong decision, simple as that.

And yes, I tell my dog "go potty" when outside. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Above all just be consistent, and stay hopeful and positive. He'll get it. It some times gets frustrating, but every body goes through that.

That's all I needed to hear, thank you Marta. It's been SO long since I've had a pup. My childhood GSD was put to rest last August due to cancer.. so she was 14 years old.. it's been that long since I've had a pup, plus the year in between her passing and now. I just want to do everything right - my childhood GSD was a WONDERFUL girl all around. She was smart, kind, protective if need be and loving. I have two small children and want the same for them as they grow up. Hopefully this guy will come around soon enough. =)

 Quote:

Hi Amanda, ... When he's home and not in a crate,I would keep a leash on him, and keep him by your side at all times. As soon as he starts to go potty in the house, give him a correction, a no, and take him outside, then assuming he'll go there, praise him immensley. Don't give him a sliver of an opportunity to make a wrong decision, simple as that.

And yes, I tell my dog "go potty" when outside. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Above all just be consistent, and stay hopeful and positive. He'll get it. It some times gets frustrating, but every body goes through that.

I agree about tethering him to you when he's not in the crate. No chance to make a mistake without you catching him and swooping him out, then praising like heck outside.

Definitely use a word. Use the word whenever he does it ("Good potty!") so he eventually understands the word when you take him outside and ask him to do it.

Soon you can say it with a question in your voice and he'll run to the door when you ask him "Potty?"

Great suggestions. Generally I do "Startle" him just as soon as he starts that gets him to hold off long enough to get outside, ect. I always - always praise him about being such a "Smart Boy", ect after he's done outside. I think the leash to my belt loop will probably be the most effective idea, in a matter it will teach him to stay next to me as well. I'm so glad I found this forum. =0)

Connie,

That is so true, when I say, "Do you have to go bathroom?", they're eyes light up they do the head tilt and bolt for the back door. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Kim

 Quote:

Connie,

That is so true, when I say, "Do you have to go bathroom?", they're eyes light up they do the head tilt and bolt for the back door. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Kim

ahhh...the head tilt...I love it when my guy does that.

I would have to agree with keeping the puppy leashed and with you at all times. Playing or any kind of activity will always encourage a puppy to pee/poo. Usually after any kind of physical activity, even if it's just running around a little bit, after he's already relieved himself outside, will stimulate him to go again.
Maybe try to get him back outside before he even shows signs...maybe only have him inside for 15 or 20 minutes, then bring him back out again and encourage him to go.

My last dog, when he was a pup, I would bring him out first thing in the morning...then again 1/2 an hour later....and he always needed to go again. poop, play, eat, sleep and do it all over again..ahhhh...the joys of owning a puppy. lol
Don't worry, he will grow out of it....did mention his age?

 Quote:

......I would have to agree with keeping the puppy leashed and with you at all times. Playing or any kind of activity will always encourage a puppy to pee/poo. Usually after any kind of physical activity, even if it's just running around a little bit, after he's already relieved himself outside, will stimulate him to go again.
Maybe try to get him back outside before he even shows signs...maybe only have him inside for 15 or 20 minutes, then bring him back out again and encourage him to go.....My last dog, when he was a pup, I would bring him out first thing in the morning...then again 1/2 an hour later....and he always needed to go again. poop, play, eat, sleep and do it all over again..ahhhh...the joys of owning a puppy. lol
Don't worry, he will grow out of it....did mention his age?

EXCELLENT point. Even a "new" untrained adult will do this after playing or just being up for a while in the morning, even after s/he went out as soon as the crate was opened. Moving around and being up gets thing going, even after the bladder is relieved the second they are let out of the crate.

I had forgotten that deal about "again 1/2 hour later." People can get frustrated and start to think it's deliberate (which, btw, it never is!), when it's just a function of function. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

 Quote:

......I would have to agree with keeping the puppy leashed and with you at all times. Playing or any kind of activity will always encourage a puppy to pee/poo. Usually after any kind of physical activity, even if it's just running around a little bit, after he's already relieved himself outside, will stimulate him to go again.
Maybe try to get him back outside before he even shows signs...maybe only have him inside for 15 or 20 minutes, then bring him back out again and encourage him to go.....My last dog, when he was a pup, I would bring him out first thing in the morning...then again 1/2 an hour later....and he always needed to go again. poop, play, eat, sleep and do it all over again..ahhhh...the joys of owning a puppy. lol
Don't worry, he will grow out of it....did mention his age?

EXCELLENT point. Even a "new" untrained adult will do this after playing or just being up for a while in the morning, even after s/he went out as soon as the crate was opened. Moving around and being up gets thing going, even after the bladder is relieved the second they are let out of the crate.

I had forgotten that deal about "again 1/2 hour later." People can get frustrated and start to think it's deliberate (which, btw, it never is!), when it's just a function of function. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

exactly. Tucker is now 2 years old...but when we go to the park, first thing he does is poop...we play fetch for 20 minutes...when we're done..he poops again. Now don't worry, he doesn't go in the house, and your pup will get past the stage and be able to hold it for longer periods.
Activity and playing will always stimulate a pup to need to go again.

I have on a few occasions put her back into the crate if she has not done her thing when I took her out. Usually a few minutes later she will start to whine a little and we go right back outside and wala everybody is happy. When shes hanging out inside and its been a while, she will give me some sort of indication, she'll roam around sniffing the ground, or pass by the door a few times, she'll have this worried look on her face. But, the key is when shes roaming the house I do not take my eyes off of her, only so I can catch the signals. It only takes a second to turn away and an accident occurs. Good Luck