My 5 month old GSD has been amazing with potty training ever since we got him. He is basically fully housetrained except for some pre-puberty related incidents. However, he sucks at communicating he needs to go so I’ve learned to watch his behavior closely and I often take him out with 3-4 hour windows in between. We’re also at a point where he can walk freely around the house without crate breaks (no stairs because I live in an appartement), so he has access to all rooms when we don’t close a door (this is relevant).
I was in the kitchen making lunch when I heard him happily walking by and when I turned around, he had my shoe in his mouth. He sat down in the living room and put down the shoe. At first I laughed, because why would he take my shoe? He’d never really shown interest in shoes before. Then, I (laughingly, but sternly) told him that no, he is not supposed to play with shoes.
It took my shoe, noticed he had moved the other one too, and put them both back in the bedroom, where they were before.
He immediately ran after me and took one again. Again putting it down in the living room in the same spot. I told him no again and put the shoe back. He followed me, but walked back empty-mouthed and sat down in the exact same spot in the living room, looking at me expectingly.
I then realized, it had been 3 or 4 hours since I had last taken him outside. He needed to go outside, so he took my shoes as he knows I wear them when we go outside.
I quickly grabbed my shoes, put them on, praised him, and took him outside. He immediately ran to the grass and did his business.
He finally communicated he needed to go outside, but definitely not in a way I expected him to!
Dr Bryan Goodchild
Dr Bryan Goodchild,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. He is the founder of Likeablepets.com , which works to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.
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