Greetings All!
I have a 12 week old GSD female that only wants to stay by my side. This is a great attribute I think and will prove beneficial in later training. However, I would like her to go out into my fenced back yard alone to relieve herself, especially after I've put my PJ's on and it's 25 degrees out. Well, she won't. I have to go out and walk around the yard with her. Any ideas? She is reserved with strangers and dogs, but not really timid in any way. I'm thinking of tieing her out for short periods and gradually increasing the time ala crate training. Is it too early for that? Thanks!

At 12 weeks you probably want to go with her, just so you can keep track of whether or not she goes, and what type of "go" she does. Sorry it's so cold there, but you'll probably want to keep going out with her until she's 5 or 6 months old, at least. Gotta keep track of her movements if you want housebreaking to succeed!

Also, I wouldn't socialize a dog to an uncomfortable situation on a tie-out (I made a thread about this) essentially you're abandoning her in a place she fears. It's your job to guide and protect her, not leave her stranded in a scary place. Try to spend more time playing with her in the back yard. I guarantee that if you spend 45 minutes back there with her every day, she'll have no problem with the back yard in 2 weeks.

That doesn't mean she'll be interested in going out there without you, but you might be able to just open the door and give her a "do your business" without actually going outside.

My 1-year old GSD used to do the same thing, wouldn't do anything with me right there with him. I agree with David that at this age you want to keep track of everything she's doing out there, but once she gets a bit older and more used to being in the back yard, you can try doing something that worked for me:

I make Gus sit at the door, then I open it and release him from the sit. He'll be excited and run outside, but will always stop and look back to see if I'm coming. So I may take a couple steps through the door and then I'll stand still and make one big encouraging forward-circle-whooshing motion with my arm(s) and say, "Go on!" The movement usually excites him enough to think it's a game and he'll race away without even thinking about me following. Then he'll realize he has to pee and he does his business. I'll either stay perfectly still through this whole process, or back toward the door and stand in the door frame, then verbally praise him just as he's finishing.

I'm also working towards the day I don't have to go out into the cold at all!

 Quote: John Eiszler

Greetings All!
I have a 12 week old GSD female that only wants to stay by my side. This is a great attribute I think and will prove beneficial in later training. However, I would like her to go out into my fenced back yard alone to relieve herself, especially after I've put my PJ's on and it's 25 degrees out. Well, she won't. I have to go out and walk around the yard with her.

This is just part of the fun of having a puppy! At 12 weeks, I'd go out with her. It sucks, I know! I've had to do it more than a few times and those winter months make it hard. But you can use this opportunity to praise her for peeing/pooping outside, and don't forget to label it! This will pay off later when you want the dog to go when you tell them too.

Don't worry, it's not uncommon at all for a 12 week old pup to want to stick with you all the time, even for potty breaks. She'll most likely get a lot more confident as she gets a little older and more secure in her environment. This shouldn't be an issue for too long. Hang in there, and keep your winter coat and shoes handy!

John enjoy it while it lasts. If you do your part correctly, it won't be long before she's off running on her own, a happy self confident dog. Then you can ask about recalls and how to imprint that behavior!
When I have a new pup and its winter, I keep a pair of warm slip on boots and a pair of insulted cover-alls close. They're very warm and easy to get in and out of.
But most of all enjoy your puppy, the time never lasts long enough.
If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy