House Breaking Your German Shorthair Pointer

From experience I find the best way to house break your German Pointer is through crate training. However this requires some diligence. Let me add that your dog does not view the crate as punishment nor should you use it as such. Dogs have a natural tendency to retreat to the crate where they feel more secure, this is the result of being derived from wolves that live in dens. Number 1 rule, this is very important, your dog is only out of the crate when you can watch him fully. and ensure that he doesn’t spend any additional time outside of his crate. If you don’t keep an eye on him when he is outside of the crate and he has an accident inside the house, you can blame no one but yourself as you didn’t correct him the second it happened. Once accidents start, it can be extremely hard to break the pattern.

To teach Fido the right way to relieve himself, always praise him when he goes in the proper location. Crate him at night, then take him out first thing in the morning and show him where to go. Give him a while, then praise once he goes. The less accidents, the sooner you should be able to train your German Pointer. Do not give the dog any freedom until he is housebroken. Getting it right is a lot of work your dog, he’d rather be doing something else. Take your eyes off of him for a second, and Fido could easily relieve himself on the floor. Once he starts to go indoors, it can be really hard to break this habit. He will smell it the next time he is in that area. Every time he smells it, he will likely go to the bathroom in that same area. To prevent this from happening watch your dog at all times and ensure that he only goes outside. If you allow him to make mistakes, you’ll need to be a lot sterner to break him of the bad habits.

Pointer’s need interaction with people, and if you are going to keep them inside you’ll need to ensure that they have been properly house broken. I can’t stress enough, when you house break, use confinement as much as possible. Confinement means that until you have housebroken your German Pointer, he isn’t allowed to freely move around the house. Always keep a eye on your dog and make sure that if he’s outside the crate you know where he is what he is doing. Housebreaking your German Pointer can take you some time, but it will be well worth it once your German Pointer is properly trained. He’ll be an essential member of your family, and not use the bathroom anywhere he takes a notion. He will only relieve himself outside or in an area that you have trained him.

So start when your German Pointer is young and enforce the rules, he’ll be a happy member of your family in no time at all.

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