Potty Training Your Great Dane Puppy
A Great Dane is a very large dog so failing to potty train them early on when they are puppies can lead to big problems. The good news is that Great Danes are easy to teach positive behaviors and respond well to consistent training. It is recommended to start potty training your Great Dane pup as soon as they are able to learn.
Because of the Great Dane’s personality, they are very easy to potty train compared to some other breeds. Great Danes love to please their owners, so they tend to try to follow instructions as best as possible.
This makes them one of the easier dogs to potty train since they definitely will want to gain your approval regarding their efforts in many aspects of their training.
Common Pitfalls of Potty Training
While potty training your Great Dane may be easier compared to training some other breeds it is important to avoid some common pitfalls along the way.
Following some simple tips can benefit you and your new companion so unwanted behaviors are eliminated.
Irregular schedules
This is one of the most important steps in potty training a Great Dane or any dog. Inconsistent routines can cause problems that are easily avoided with a consistent schedule. Great Danes will do much better learning appropriate potty training behaviors if you stick to regular routines and schedules.
Using puppy pads
These products are mats that are laid down on the floor and block urine and feces from ruining carpets or floors. It is better for Great Danes to not learn habits of peeing and defecating inside at a young age. This can create negative situations later on when they are older that will need to be corrected.
Not Establishing a Space
A Great Dane needs to know where its home is so it is necessary to establish a space for them. One way to do this is using sectioned-off areas of your home that they can be in while they adapt to the surroundings.
You can do this by putting up a baby gate(s) or keeping doors to certain rooms closed at all times when you’re not using them.
Gradually introducing your Great Dane to new areas of your home will help to avoid unsupervised messes. What’s worse than entering a private room and unknowingly stepping into a mess that your pet left behind?
Signs Your Dog Needs a Bathroom Break
Dogs will often give indications that they need to go potty outside of their regular schedules.
Some common signs include whining, spinning in circles, pawing at the door, returning to a spot where they previously had an accident or displaying some level of discomfort.
It is important to be aware of these signs to know when your Great Dane may need to go to the restroom.
Your pet will typically be able to give you enough advance notice before they end up having an emergency situation with urinating or defecating in the house.
Over time, you’ll learn the exact cues that your dog tends to give when they really have to go.
It will become second nature to your dog and the humans in the house to understand what it is they want and to take quick action to eliminate accidents.
Crate Training
This form of training is somewhat controversial because some people oppose putting their pets in a crate. They view it as a cruel action that may have lasting negative effects on their dog.
However, if a crate is used correctly there can be benefits that can help your puppy learn good behaviors. It is worth considering this option when you are potty training your Great Dane to ensure that you see optimal results with your dog.
If you choose to use a crate make sure to learn all you can about this method so that your puppy is not stressed out or develops anxiety.
Don’t overuse the crate and make sure you are not just using it when you are away, since this can cause your pet to become quite anxious. If you take time to make sure your Great Dane is comfortable in a crate, it may help with potty training.
Successfully Potty Training Your Great Dane
There are some useful tips to follow when you are potty training your Great Dane. Consistent routines are one of the key factors to successful potty training. Certain times of the day may make ideal bathroom breaks that can fit into your schedule.
When meals are done
A good, and often necessary time for bathroom breaks will be after meals. After large meals dogs are more likely to need to relieve themselves.
Meal time will likely coincide with routine bathroom breaks. Get into the habit of letting them out in the yard or bringing your pet for a walk shortly after they’ve finished their meal.
Morning and evening
Allowing your Great Dane to relieve itself in the morning and before bed can help reduce an accident during the night. Make it into a crucial part of your own routine before you leave for work or before the kids leave for school, as well as shortly before you settle in for the night.
After activity
It is typical for Great Danes to need a bathroom break after or during exercise and activities. Even on a colder day, it’s important to maintain a routine. You can have them go outside and warm up with a few laps around the yard or a light jog with you around the block before they do their business.
A Process for Easier Potty Training for Your Great Dane
It’s important that you choose an ideal place for your dog to relieve themselves. Even if you have a large yard or many places in the neighborhood, try to encourage your pet to go to a certain spot that will be committed to habit.
It’s important to do this as early on as possible and your dog will learn that they should go to a designated area for their business.
Select a command that you use on a regular basis with your dog. This is what you’ll have your pet associate with relieving themselves.
You can say things such as “outside” or “go potty”, which are simple and short enough to say and have your pet understand for the most part. It might be something that you won’t mistakenly say at other times and confuse your dog.
Choose a door for your dog to exit exclusively for their potty training process. You should stick with this one door for their entire process.
It will reinforce for your pet a specific scenario so that you remove variables that might lead to confusion and anxiety. That’s the last thing you need when you have a dog who’s learning a somewhat difficult or new process for them.
Put your dog on a leash, then bring them to this door you’ve chosen. Bring them out to the area that you’ve designated for their “bathroom”. You’ll keep them on their leash for this whole time, and wait for them to relieve themselves.
Once they begin to urinate or defecate, say the magic word or phrase you’ve selected. When they successfully do this, turn it into a big celebration (at least for the first few times). Remember that this is a celebration for not only your pet but yourself!
It may seem like a daunting and challenging task to get your Great Dane to conduct all of these steps and do their business in designated spots on a routine basis.
However, this simply is all about reinforcing habits that are sure to stick with your dog. If they do have a setback, do your best not to become overly anxious or show your anger or any other extremely negative feedback.
Instead, use gentle redirection techniques and positive reinforcements in order to get them back on track. You’ll be more likely to have success with your dog’s potty training efforts and your Great Dane will have fewer accidents.
There may be a wide array of products on the market like puppy training pads, but you really don’t need to buy all of them.
Just stay consistent, use positive reinforcement methods, and set up a good routine for your Great Dane to follow.
