The worst mistake many German Shepherd owners make is thinking that you need to wait for your puppy to mature before you can start training him to go potty outside. Actually, the only thing this does is make it a little harder for you to successfully potty train your pup. In fact, the best time to start training your pup is the moment you bring him home. It should be out of the car and straight to the spot of your yard where you want him to go potty on a regular basis. Of course, if he goes potty, be sure you praise him and give him a treat to get things off to a good start.
German Shepherds are among the more intelligent breeds and generally learn new skills at a very fast pace. His success lies in your hands, as it takes lots of hard work and dedication on your part to teach your pup that it is not okay for him to go potty anywhere he feels like it, including inside your house. In the wild, the dog's mother would teach her pups to go outside to do their business. In your home, you take on the role of "den mother" and are responsible for teaching him this important skill.
Start training your pup the moment you bring him home, and don't stop until he is fully trained. The good news is that it doesn't take much in the way of supplies. All you need is:
You will also need a large amount of patience and time to work with your pup. Keep up the good work and soon your pup will be more than happy to go potty outside where he should.