Odd behavior?

alphatyson · 10-28-2011, 06:58 PM

Hi guys,

I'm pretty new to the whole world of GSDs, but I did do a lot of research before getting Alpha, who is currently a little over 9 weeks. He's been acting kind of strangely sometimes; basically, he'll run around like a madman and bark/whimper/bite and has a really short attention span (ie. when I give him raw hide to chew on he'll chew it for a few seconds and start running around). I figured this usually means he needs to go #2, so I would take him outside and tell him to go potty and he would walk around sniffing and after 10-15 minutes of walking around I'd take him back inside only to have him start acting crazy again. I would then crate him to get him to calm down, then after I take him out I'd try again and he still won't go, so I'd take him inside assuming he doesn't need to go and sure enough he poops somewhere after 5 minutes.

I think this might have something to do with the fact that I started putting him on a leash a couple of days ago. When I first got him I felt like he wasn't quite old enough for one so every time I took him out to potty he would be free to run around. Do you think he might be used to going potty without a leash? Perhaps he needs more privacy? What else could this strange behavior be attributed to?

Thanks for any help!

Emoore · 10-28-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphatyson

basically, he'll run around like a madman and bark/whimper/bite and has a really short attention span (ie. when I give him raw hide to chew on he'll chew it for a few seconds and start running around). I figured this usually means he needs to go #2,

No, it just means he's a normal German Shepherd puppy. Barking, whimpering, biting, running around like a madman. .. check! Short attention span. . . check! All normal behaviors.

Although with a puppy that age, you should probably assume they need to potty about every 15 minutes unless they're sleeping, so it's not a bad thing to go ahead and take him out

The running around, barking, biting, etc just means he wants to PLAY!

alphatyson · 10-28-2011, 07:08 PM

True, but I guess but main concern is the fact that I take him out to potty, then after not producing anything take him back inside and he goes potty after 5 minutes. He was pretty good about it when I didn't have him on a leash this type of "mistake" would never happen. I can't wait for him to be potty trained

Emoore · 10-28-2011, 07:30 PM

Yeah, since you started him pottying off the leash and then transitioned to the leash, the leash is probably distracting him a bit from doing his business. When you go outside, stand like a statue, don't walk around, and be very boring until he's done his business. Don't even give him the full leash to walk around and sniff. Then, once he's done his job, get excited, throw a little mini-party, and let him run around and play and sniff bugs.

Right now he's thinking that outside is too interesting to go potty right away. So he holds it so that he gets more time outside. You want him to start thinking that he'd better get the boring part of pottying out of the way so he can have fun outside!

kitmcd · 10-28-2011, 09:15 PM

I'm also having potty training problems that I've never experienced before. I've never had a GSD, but have house broken 7 other dogs. I have used the same techniques in the past with good results and very, very few accidents.

With this puppy, at 8-12 weeks I took her out every 30-60 min, she did her business fairly promptly and then we would have play time, reward, etc. Now for the last two weeks, she goes out and does her business (sometimes several times), but it seems to be just a token as she will go again in just a couple minutes after coming back inside. She also has never even once "asked" to go out....by whining, sitting at door, or ringing the little bells that I have her paw each time we go out the door.

I'm getting very frustrated!

robk · 10-28-2011, 09:22 PM

Try not to get too frustrated. Just be patient. It will click for them eventually!

**jocoyn** · 10-31-2011, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitmcd

I'm also having potty training problems that I've never experienced before. I've never had a GSD, but have house broken 7 other dogs. I have used the same techniques in the past with good results and very, very few accidents.

With this puppy, at 8-12 weeks I took her out every 30-60 min, she did her business fairly promptly and then we would have play time, reward, etc. Now for the last two weeks, she goes out and does her business (sometimes several times), but it seems to be just a token as she will go again in just a couple minutes after coming back inside. She also has never even once "asked" to go out....by whining, sitting at door, or ringing the little bells that I have her paw each time we go out the door.

I'm getting very frustrated!

Have you had her checked for a UTI? GSDs are pretty easy to housebreak.

Capone · 10-31-2011, 07:53 AM

Only allow him in a small section of the house for now, Close to the door he goes out to do his business - i let my puppy roam the whole house and had the same problem. Then potty training was a lot easier when we gated him in the kitchen/family room. Cheap baby gates $5 at walmart

kitmcd · 10-31-2011, 09:11 AM

Thanks for responses. Yes, I've had her checked for UTI...all fine. I do keep her with me, shut into whatever room I am in. Really at a loss at why she will just squat and go with me right there with her. It is getting better...only one accident yesterday.

She has the "go potty" down well....we go out the door and she does her business quickly....it just seems that she holds some in reserve for "gifting"!

RocketDog · 10-31-2011, 10:49 AM

The running around like a madman is what we call "ButtTuckin!" here, LOL. It's happy play.

Try playing for 5 min or as long as you can after she does her biz, especially if you have her on the leash and are totally boring as someone suggested. That way, she'll be encouraged to hurry up so she can get to play!

10-28-2011, 06:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
alphatyson New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 23	Odd behavior? Hi guys, I'm pretty new to the whole world of GSDs, but I did do a lot of research before getting Alpha, who is currently a little over 9 weeks. He's been acting kind of strangely sometimes; basically, he'll run around like a madman and bark/whimper/bite and has a really short attention span (ie. when I give him raw hide to chew on he'll chew it for a few seconds and start running around). I figured this usually means he needs to go #2, so I would take him outside and tell him to go potty and he would walk around sniffing and after 10-15 minutes of walking around I'd take him back inside only to have him start acting crazy again. I would then crate him to get him to calm down, then after I take him out I'd try again and he still won't go, so I'd take him inside assuming he doesn't need to go and sure enough he poops somewhere after 5 minutes. I think this might have something to do with the fact that I started putting him on a leash a couple of days ago. When I first got him I felt like he wasn't quite old enough for one so every time I took him out to potty he would be free to run around. Do you think he might be used to going potty without a leash? Perhaps he needs more privacy? What else could this strange behavior be attributed to? Thanks for any help!

10-28-2011, 07:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	Yeah, since you started him pottying off the leash and then transitioned to the leash, the leash is probably distracting him a bit from doing his business. When you go outside, stand like a statue, don't walk around, and be very boring until he's done his business. Don't even give him the full leash to walk around and sniff. Then, once he's done his job, get excited, throw a little mini-party, and let him run around and play and sniff bugs. Right now he's thinking that outside is too interesting to go potty right away. So he holds it so that he gets more time outside. You want him to start thinking that he'd better get the boring part of pottying out of the way so he can have fun outside! __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

10-28-2011, 07:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
alphatyson New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 23	True, but I guess but main concern is the fact that I take him out to potty, then after not producing anything take him back inside and he goes potty after 5 minutes. He was pretty good about it when I didn't have him on a leash this type of "mistake" would never happen. I can't wait for him to be potty trained

10-28-2011, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
kitmcd Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 192	I'm also having potty training problems that I've never experienced before. I've never had a GSD, but have house broken 7 other dogs. I have used the same techniques in the past with good results and very, very few accidents. With this puppy, at 8-12 weeks I took her out every 30-60 min, she did her business fairly promptly and then we would have play time, reward, etc. Now for the last two weeks, she goes out and does her business (sometimes several times), but it seems to be just a token as she will go again in just a couple minutes after coming back inside. She also has never even once "asked" to go out....by whining, sitting at door, or ringing the little bells that I have her paw each time we go out the door. I'm getting very frustrated!

10-28-2011, 09:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
robk Master Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 572	Try not to get too frustrated. Just be patient. It will click for them eventually!

10-31-2011, 07:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Capone Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northwest, Illinois Posts: 27	Only allow him in a small section of the house for now, Close to the door he goes out to do his business - i let my puppy roam the whole house and had the same problem. Then potty training was a lot easier when we gated him in the kitchen/family room. Cheap baby gates $5 at walmart

10-31-2011, 09:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
kitmcd Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 192	Thanks for responses. Yes, I've had her checked for UTI...all fine. I do keep her with me, shut into whatever room I am in. Really at a loss at why she will just squat and go with me right there with her. It is getting better...only one accident yesterday. She has the "go potty" down well....we go out the door and she does her business quickly....it just seems that she holds some in reserve for "gifting"!

10-31-2011, 10:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,270	The running around like a madman is what we call "ButtTuckin!" here, LOL. It's happy play. Try playing for 5 min or as long as you can after she does her biz, especially if you have her on the leash and are totally boring as someone suggested. That way, she'll be encouraged to hurry up so she can get to play!

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement