German Shepherd Housebreaking



Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009

by Marcela Shiflett

Miecke and the potty training

Having had multiple dogs before, we knew we had to potty train our adorable German shepherd puppy right away. We always use the same method. We use the crate. So it was a no-brainer that we would have to use the same method on Miecke. Of course, nothing comes easy with Miecke. As adorable and lovable she is, she can be twice as hard-headed. As she HATES to be confined.

The crate system of potty training is simple. During the day, you take them outside shortly after they eat and drink and you praise them extravagantly when they do their business outside. Occasional accidents inside are to be expected. Puppies do not like sitting or sleeping in their own mess. When you put them into their crate at night, you leave them just enough space to lie down. In relatively short period of time they will hold it until they can go out.

Of course Miecke was different. She hated the crate with passion. She cried all night and the mess she made was indescribable. We figured it would pass. After some time, and some sleepless nights, we were ready to throw in the towel. We tried everything. We placed the crate closer to us, far away from us, we limited food and water intake before bedtime, nothing worked. It seemed that Miecke had a special storage in her body where she saved the urine and fecal matter. She decided that we will not be in crate unless we suffer too. We didn't know what to do.

All of a sudden, she stopped. Out of nowhere. I think that we we're just a little more stubborn than she was. What did I learn? That no matter how difficult it seems to train your puppy, it can be done. It takes lots of patience, some sleepless nights, but it must be done. Because if you don't train your puppy right away, it will never become the kind of dog you really want around your family.

More adventures of Miecke, our German Shepherd, can be found at http://gsd-training.blogspot.com

More information about care and training of German Shepherds is here: http://www.squidoo.com/taking-care-of-a-german-shepherd

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Lorrie Davids
 2 years 292 days ago.
96 fans.
Miecke sounds like a handful, but the bond forged with an animal is worth it. Welcome to SearchWarp.
» left by Marcela Shiflett 2 years 291 days ago.
She is a handful! But we love her!!! Thank you for the welcome.
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