We have an 8 mo old GSD that we attempted to house-train using the schedule/crate method when we first got him at 12 weeks. At first this seemed to work well with only a few infractions along the way. Well at about 5 mo or or so he started to tinkle when placing him on the lead as we have him sit at the door (or where-ever it may be). This obviously is very concerning and extremely frustrating. We have tried not looking at him when attaching lead, we've tried distracting him with treat as we attach the lead (seems to work most of the time). I feel as though he is scared or submitting when we try to leash him and therefore he pees. Not sure why? Even if you build up the moment with excitement about going outside, as soon as you reach for the collar.... pee. He seems to do it only for the adults and not our children.??? My thought is that if we associate attaching his collar to something good like a treat or toy, then maybe he will eventually correct this problem. I don't think we are building up the excitement too much that he just gets too excited, on the contrary it seems as though he is scared of something. Sometimes it is hard to hold back the disappointment when this occurs but we don't yell and scream or scold him which i would think would just reinforce a scared feeling. We usually say no and maybe with a little disgust and then take him outside. I would like some opinions on this behavior and whats the best way to correct it.

Another issue is that i like having a dog tell me when he wants to go outside. What is a good way to accomplish this. Ive had one trainer say you don't want him barking at the door to go out... I'm thinking why not?

Thanks for the help.

Hi, Jen,

... at about 5 mo or or so he started to tinkle when placing him on the lead as we have him sit at the door (or where-ever it may be). This obviously is very concerning and extremely frustrating. We have tried not looking at him when attaching lead, we've tried distracting him with treat as we attach the lead (seems to work most of the time). I feel as though he is scared or submitting when we try to leash him and therefore he pees. Not sure why? Even if you build up the moment with excitement about going outside, as soon as you reach for the collar.... pee.

Build up excitement? Why?

There are a few red flags in that description, but for right now, I would start taking him out much more often. No matter what the issue is at the door, a full bladder isn't a good condition for dealing with it.

"No" with disgust isn't where you want to be. If this is excitement or submission or just a very full bladder, "no" and disgust is the opposite of what you want, which is calm upbeat matter-of-fact let's-go-outside-and-pee.


He seems to do it only for the adults and not our children.??? My thought is that if we associate attaching his collar to something good like a treat or toy, then maybe he will eventually correct this problem.


Calmness and no particular pressure or attention on the dog is probably the way you want to go. He is not trying not to go outside, right? The peeing is the only issue?


I don't think we are building up the excitement too much that he just gets too excited, on the contrary it seems as though he is scared of something. Sometimes it is hard to hold back the disappointment when this occurs but we don't yell and scream or scold him which i would think would just reinforce a scared feeling. We usually say no and maybe with a little disgust and then take him outside. I would like some opinions on this behavior and whats the best way to correct it.


I would stop punishing in any way for fear or anxiety.


Another issue is that i like having a dog tell me when he wants to go outside. What is a good way to accomplish this. Ive had one trainer say you don't want him barking at the door to go out... I'm thinking why not?


I would remedy the anxiety/peeing first. I would take him out very frequently and not have him in a position where he is anxious or wary and has a full bladder. I'd want to end this cycle asap.

Welcome to the board! (I see this is your first post.)

When my last GSD was young he had a similar problem.. I started leaving the leash on all the time when he was out of his crate (even in the house I would just let him drag it). My new puppy drags his leash everywhere, he now assumes if he is out of the kennel he has a leash on.. I put on different collars and leashes every day 2-3 times.. (leather, cotton etc.) I also give him a high valued treat every time I put on a collar or treat.. I still consider myself a newbie to training so I am sure someone else might have better advise

 Quote: John Lister

.... I started leaving the leash on all the time when he was out of his crate (even in the house I would just let him drag it). My new puppy drags his leash everywhere, he now assumes if he is out of the kennel he has a leash on.. I put on different collars and leashes every day 2-3 times.. (leather, cotton etc.) I also give him a high valued treat every time I put on a collar or treat.. I still consider myself a newbie to training so I am sure someone else might have better advise

What a good answer! It also separates the leash-attaching from the potty trip.

The switch from the no-handle leash to the outdoor leash can easily be separated from the potty-trip part without having to leave a handle-loop leash on all the time (which can be dangerous).