The American Kennel Club describes the German shorthaired pointer as friendly, intelligent and willing to please, so housetraining should not be difficult. Dog training in general should always be positive, rewarding the dog for good behavior.

When the puppy comes home for the first time, take him or her to the spot where you would like elimination to take place. It might take some time before the puppy eliminates, because puppies are naturally curious and want to explore, but eventually the need is bound to arise. When your German shorthaired pointer urinates or defecates, praise him or her for doing the right thing in the right place.

Dogs have a natural instinct for not fouling the place where they sleep. Even young puppies will walk a small distance from their mothers when they need to eliminate. This instinct can be used to the owner's advantage in dog training. A crate can be used as the dog's den where he will sleep and spend any unsupervised time. The crate should be large enough for the puppy to turn around in comfortably. He or she will not eliminate in the crate, and should be taken out every two hours to eliminate outdoors. Always take the German shorthaired pointer to the same place each day to eliminate. Dogs are creatures of habit, and when he or she smells the spot, the puppy will know what to do.

German shorthaired pointers were bred as hunting dogs and must have their exercise. Daily walks are another good opportunity for dog training. Take plenty of plastic bags along to stay on the good side of the neighbors. Have a certain phrase that you use consistently, such as "Do your business," or "Do your outside thing." Say the phrase at the time your puppy eliminates so that the act will be linked to the words in his or her mind. When elimination takes place, give praise as a reward.

Although housetraining might be the main reason in your mind for taking your German shorthaired pointer outside, your dog's priorities will naturally be different. While a human will go to a restroom with one thing in mind and accomplish the task efficiently, the dog's mind works differently. When you take your puppy outside, he or she becomes interested in a variety of sights, sounds and smells, and dog training takes the back burner, so don't rush. Even when the puppy has started to get the idea and begins to ask to be taken outside, he or she can easily be distracted by the sound of another dog being walked past the house, the smell of another animal that has visited, the sight of birds flying overhead, or many other things. It is fun for the pup to get outside and wander around, perhaps taking a break lying in the cool grass before playing all over the yard. This behavior can give the owner the mistaken notion that the puppy does not need to eliminate. If you act on this mistaken belief and bring the puppy inside, the pup might suddenly remember what he or she was supposed to do outside and eliminate just inside the front door. This is not willfully stubborn behavior. If it happens to you, try lengthening the time you take your German shorthaired pointer outside, or take the pup outside, then inside, then outside again.

If you have tried dog training for two weeks and the pup just isn't getting it, try taking him or her to a veterinarian to make sure that there are no physical problems and to get more advice. House training is easier for some puppies than others, but it can be accomplished in all of them.

About the Author

Camille Goldin, talks about housebreaking challenges faced by most German Pointer owner. She writes for TrainPetDog.com, a website that gives information on different Dog training.