A housetrained Chihuahua is worth her weight in gold. A dog that lacks housetraining skills—or has frequent accidents—is a typical complaint among toy breed owners, including Chihuahua owners. But it does not have to be. If you follow the proper technique to housetraining your puppy or adult Chi and are patient, your Chihuahua will know when and where to relieve herself.
A Simple Principle
Housetraining a puppy or adult does not need to be tough. While Chihuahuas have a bad reputation for being famously difficult to housetrain, this is mostly undeserved. A Chi may take longer to housetrain (or never be completely reliable) for a variety of reasons.
For starters, the Chi is a toy breed, which means they require a little more flexibility when it comes to determining an effective strategy to housetraining. The second reason is that most owners have unrealistic expectations of their puppies and untrained adults, which almost guarantees a Chi\\\\\\\’s failure.
What Is it About Toys?
As a Chi owner, you must understand that your Chihuahua cannot be expected to hold it for as long as larger dogs and will need more frequent opportunities to empty herself. If a healthy adult dog follows a regular meal and exercise routine and has just emptied herself, she should be able to hold for up to four hours.
Furthermore, as the smallest of the toy breeds, when a Chihuahua urinates, the resulting patch is extremely small—sometimes no more than a tablespoon of liquid. Accidents frequently go unnoticed, especially when they occur on carpet or other absorbent flooring, until the stains dry and begin to smell or discolour the carpet. By this point, the Chihuahua has become accustomed to using the rug or carpet as a bathroom, and the owner is faced with retraining his dog.
Accept that an accident will occur sooner or later, regardless of how meticulous and careful you are in teaching your Chihuahua. Keep a cleanser on hand that is made
particularly to break down urine and eliminate the odour. Blot the area until no more liquid can be absorbed, and then apply the urine-removing cleaner. Cleansers containing ammonia should be avoided since the residue smells like pee to dogs.
One variable at a time.
It is critical to begin slowly and gradually when housetraining. You should only raise one variable at a time. For housetraining, your two variables are time (the number of minutes/hours the dog can hold) and space (the areas of your home where the dog may be trusted). If your puppy can consistently hold for two hours in her crate, you can consider increasing her time to two and a half hours, or maintaining her at two hours but expanding her environment to include a small playpen encircling her crate.
The Rewards System
Give the correct behaviour and you will be rewarded. Nothing happens when you engage in the wrong behaviour. It doesn\\\\\\\’t take long for a dog—a species that has been tamed for hundreds of years and lives to be with humans—to find out which behaviours are most beneficial.
Applying the reward system to housetraining is actually rather straightforward. When your puppy or adult is in the process of emptying herself, praise her calmly and say, \\\\\\\”Go potty\\\\\\\” or another appropriate command. If you are very enthusiastic in your vocal encouragement, you will surprise your Chi and may even disrupt the flow of events. After she\\\\\\\’s finished, keep telling her how excellent she is and giving her a small treat. Repeat this every time your Chi eliminates in the proper location, like as outside or in a dog litter pan. Soon, she will not only know where to relieve herself, but she will also understand the word \\\\\\\”Go potty\\\\\\\” and will begin seeking for a spot when you ask her.
Acceptable corrections.
The only time a light verbal scolding is permitted in housetraining is when you find your Chihuahua urinating herself in the inappropriate location. If you observe this happening, you can say, \\\\\\\”Ah-ah!\\\\\\\”,\\\\\\\” this should shock the Chi and cause her to stop what she is doing. Then, without anger or malice, pick up the pup and place her in the appropriate elimination site. When she discharges herself here, praise gently, issue a command, and then treat.
The greatest error you can make when housetraining your Chi is calling or dragging her to an accident and scolding her. This does nothing to speed up her learning; it only trains her not to come when you call her. If you collar her and take her over to the mess, she is unlikely to let you grab her collar again.
Harsh and/or physical corrections are not tolerated in house training! The Chihuahua is a breed that strives to please its owner. You only need to show her what you want consistently and follow a reward-based, positive housetraining approach. She will learn much faster while preserving the human-canine link.
Your best course of action is to go to the accident site and clean it up quietly. If your Chi is interested and you\\\\\\\’re having difficulties keeping your cool, gently place her in her kennel so you can finish your cleanup chores. While you\\\\\\\’re cleaning, attempt to find out what mistakes you might have done during her training.
Understand the signals.
If you don\\\\\\\’t keep a close check on your Chihuahua, she could have an accident in front of you. Young puppies provide very little warning when they are going to discharge themselves, most likely because they do not realise they need to go. Chihuahua puppies, like children, may ignore their cravings until it is almost impossible for them to get to the correct area.
If you pay great attention to your Chi, she will give you clues that she is preparing to relieve herself in one or more ways. Here are a few of the warning indicators.
Sniffing the floor or ground.
Running behind the furniture.
Starting to squat (female and young male puppies) Sniffing another dog\\\\\\\’s mark
Raising a rear leg (in older male puppies)
Do not punish.
In some cases, even if a puppy or an adult urinates directly in front of you, you should not correct them verbally. One of these occasions is when a Chi leaves a puddle due to submissive urinating. When a really submissive puppy or young adult greets you, she may kneel slightly and urinate on the floor. This is a dog\\\\\\\’s signal that she recognises you as her boss and wants to make sure you know it. It is not an indication of disobedience.
If a puppy or adult Chihuahua suddenly starts peeing more frequently or urgently than usual, have her evaluated by your veterinarian. She could have a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or another illness that necessitates medical treatment.
A person\\\\\\\’s natural instinct may be to correct the dog; nevertheless, shouting a rebuke will only make a meek puppy or dog more fearful. Typically, submissiveurination fades as the Chi matures.
Another typical mistake that is not an accident is malepuppy dribbling. When young male puppies need to urinate, it is not uncommon to watch them dribble as they trot across a room or out in the yard. This scenario also disappears when the pup matures, which normally occurs at the age of five months.
Using A Crate
Crates are one of the most effective ways to housetrain a puppy or renew an adult. A crate can be particularly useful because puppies and dogs have a natural dislike to laying in their own faeces and urine. They do not want to be dirty. In fact, one of the first things you can notice about very young puppies is that they relieve themselves in the whelping box, away from the area where they are playing.
When you use a crate for training, you want to teach the puppy to hold until she alerts you to her needs and you can let her out.
How do I know if my Chi has to go outside or just doesn\\\\\\\’t want to be in her crate? If you just put your Chihuahua in her cage and she relieved herself immediately before going in, her pathetic wailing is most likely caused by her confinement. If she\\\\\\\’s been in her crate for an hour or more and then starts talking with you, she probably has to relieve herself. The sound of her bark or whine will gradually reveal what she is communicating.
Size and Timing
The container, however, only works if it is not too large for the Chi and the owner is cautious about its use. For housetraining, the container should only be large enough for the Chi to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. This provides your dog with a pleasant location to lay or chew on a decent toy, but it is not so large that if the puppy empties herself, she can lie in a clean, dry portion of the crate, away from her waste.
The Chi should only be crated for eight to ten hours at most. Twenty-four hour period. The crate is not a substitute for spending quality time with your puppy or adult, as well as the close monitoring required while the Chihuahua is playing in a bigger space. It is only meant for usage when you are unable to monitor your Chi or when you leave the house for brief periods of time.
Urge Triggers
Knowing what triggers a Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s urge to relieve herself can also help you decide whether you should confine her or take her for a little walk. In general, your Chi will need to discharge herself at these times:
Immediately upon awakening
Immediately upon being let out of her box (at any time) and after playing
Within 30 minutes after having a meal, within an hour of drinking water.
Following or during a lot of enthusiasm.
While under stress, such as a car ride every four hours during the day (adult).
Every two hours or less during the day (puppy)
As you can see, if you have a puppy—especially a young puppy—the urge to go is a rather often occurrence. In other words, you cannot offer a dog too many chances to discharge herself. As the puppy matures, she will be able to better manage her requirements. However, always let a Chi to relieve herself before placing her in a crate for any length of time.
Playpens
When you are certain that you understand your Chi\\\\\\\’s need to relieve herself, you can broaden the crate-training concept to include a playpen or an exercise pen. Place your dog\\\\\\\’s crate in a tiny playpen on an easily cleaned floor surface. You can leave out a stable water bowl (one that the Chi cannot tip over) and a few toys to keep him occupied in the playpen. Initially, you should only utilise the crate/playpen setup when you can keep an eye on your Chihuahua. You do not want her to use the playpen\\\\\\\’s corner as a lavatory. Before you leave the house, let your Chi relieve herself and then place her in her box. When she appears to have grasped the concept that the playpen is an extension of the no-potty zone while you are overseeing her, you can start leaving the open crate in the playpen when you need to leave.
Moving On.
If your puppy or adult Chihuahua has been reliable in the playpen/crate configuration for a few weeks, you may want to give her more space in your home. A smart first step is to enlarge Chi\\\\\\\’s area into the room where you presently store her crate and playpen. You may also use another small room with an easy-to-clean floor, such as the kitchen or breakfast area. You\\\\\\\’ll want your Chi\\\\\\\’s crate to be open and in this area, just like the playpen. To separate this space from others, get a couple dog barriers or baby gates to place in doorways.
If you do not want your Chihuahua to have access to your home while you are away or unable to supervise, you can continue to use the crate or crate + playpen setup. If a puppy is teething or an adult suffers from separation anxiety,
tendency to be a touch destructive; a crate or crate and playpen will keep your Chi secure while also limiting your rascal\\\\\\\’s capacity to ruin your home.
As you give your Chihuahua greater area, make sure she spends the same amount of time there. Increase just one variable at a time. Also, if your Chi has an accident in her present space (and it is not because you left her too long or did not allow her to relieve herself), reduce the amount of room until she is trustworthy again for several days.
Dog Doors
When a dog owner learns about the benefits of a dog door, it might be tough to return to the constrained lifestyle of timing walks, meals, crate time, and so on. A dog door that leads to a fenced patio or back yard allows a puppy or adult to relieve herself at will. This is a highly healthy setting for Chis, as well as quite convenient for the dog owner who may be unable to walk his dog every two to four hours.
Training
A dog door can be included to your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s housetraining as soon as she can physically push open the door. Doors are available in a variety of materials and designs, including rubber flaps and Plexiglas swinging doors, as well as locking or automatic doors that open when the Chi\\\\\\\’s specific collar is within a certain distance of the door.
To persuade your Chi to utilise the door, first remove it or secure the flap in an open position. Lure your Chi back and forth through the open door with food, complimenting her and telling her how clever she is. The next stage is to perform the same manoeuvre while holding the door or flap open, so that she feels the door and must crawl beneath it to get in.
Continue to hold the door slightly open until you can just crack the flap and your Chi is pushing the door open on her own. Then encourage her to go through the door all by herself. If your Chi adores a friend or family member, you can train them together—one on each side of the flap.
Now that you have your Chi flowing through the door, you can make one of numerous setups. When you leave the house, you may secure the Chi\\\\\\\’s kennel straight to the dog door, allowing her to be outside or relax in her crate. Your second option is to link the playpen to the dog door and place the Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s crate inside. Or, if your Chihuahua already understands the fundamentals of housetraining and you trust Allow her to enter and exit one or more of your home\\\\\\\’s rooms at will.
How should I size a dog door for my Chihuahua?
The most significant measurements to consider are the door\\\\\\\’s height, breadth, and the height at which it will be placed. Most Chis will accept a tiny or extra-small door. However, if you have an arthritic senior who is unable to crouch down to go under the door flap, you may require a taller or larger door. Most door manufacturers and shops are eager to advise you on which product will work best; take advantage of this service!
What goes out, also comes in.
A dog door is not suitable for every dog owner. Obviously, people who live in apartments or condominiums without a yard or patio have no need for a dog door. Even for people who do have a garden, there are advantages and disadvantages to providing a Chi with 24-hour access to the outdoors that should be considered before choosing in a quality device.
Chihuahuas are quite popular, which puts them at a higher risk of theft. If you allow your Chi unrestricted access to your backyard while you are away, ensure sure your fence is tall enough to deter would-be burglars and keep the fence gate shut.
One of the inconveniences of a dog door is what lies beyond it. If your garden becomes muddy, you will undoubtedly find paw prints around your home on wet days. If your Chi enjoys hunting lizards or other small animals, you may find a number of them in your home in various stages of life or decay. Installing a playpen within the dog entrance can help contain what Your Chi may bring these items or critters into the house, but that will not prevent your dog from doing the same.
Furthermore, there is a possibility that your Chi will escape from your fenced yard. (Ensure that there are no gaps or spots where she can dig.) Another risk is predators. If you live in a region with hawks, owls, or other birds of prey, your Chihuahua may become a victim. One option to avoid this is to run a crisscross of clear filaments over your fenced yard to dissuade birds, or to provide your Chi with an enclosed and covered place outside the dog door, such as a large pen.
Be compassionate but tough with your Chi; there aren\\\\\\\’t bathrooms everywhere!
Litter training
Many toy-breed dog owners use a litter box. A litter box offers the Chi with the same benefits as a dog door (continuous access to an area in which to discharge herself) without the need for an outdoor gated patio or backyard. With a little patience and perseverance in training, both pups and adults can be taught to use the litter box.
From the Beginning
Litter-training your Chi entails creating limits for the pup or dog\\\\\\\’s space, same like crate training. In fact, you\\\\\\\’ll utilise a crate from the beginning. When your crated Chihuahua indicates that she has to relieve herself, remove her from the crate and place her in the litter pan, which should initially be located next to her crate. You\\\\\\\’ll need approximately an inch or two of litter in the pan, as well as a small amount of your Chi\\\\\\\’s waste or urine, to assist her comprehend what\\\\\\\’s going on. Praise and treat her when she relieves herself—and don\\\\\\\’t forget to offer the \\\\\\\”Gopotty\\\\\\\” order while she\\\\\\\’s doing so. When she\\\\\\\’s out and about playing, try to get her on her litter pan every hour and treat her when she discharges herself.
What if my Chi doesn\\\\\\\’t eliminate after I put her in the pan?
Try again in thirty minutes, and keep a close eye on her! If she appears to need to relieve herself, place her in the litter box again.
When your Chi is consistently expressing that she needs to go and is comfortable using the litter pan, you can give her more space to acrate inside an exercise enclosure with a litter box. Continue placing her on Check the litter box on a regular basis and pay special attention for signals that she needs to relieve herself. When you are not present, return her to her crate. When she is consistently using the litter pan, consider leaving the crate door open so she may use the litter box whenever she needs to.
An Older Housetraining Student
If an older dog is housetrained, she is typically taught to discharge herself outside. In other situations, she may have been taught to use newspapers or a product known as a housetraining pad (absorbent layers backed with a waterproof liner). In either case, the method for introducing the litter pan is essentially the same.
Dog litter is specifically intended for dogs, who produce significantly more pee than cats. Dog litter is thus a very absorbent, odor-killing, pelletised substance. If you have a cat, she is unlikely to be drawn to the dog\\\\\\\’s litter since it lacks the sandy texture that cats enjoy.
If your dog is trained to relieve herself outside, start by setting a litter pan with litter in her favourite location. Place a sample of her excrement or urine in the litter to assist her understand what\\\\\\\’s going on. Place her on the pan and use the \\\\\\\”Go potty\\\\\\\” command if she recognises it, praising and rewarding her when she gets it right. If she jumps out, bring her back in and repeat your attempts. With patience, she will begin to use the litter pan.
When she uses the pan consistently every time you take her outdoors to her favourite location, you can start moving the pan closer to the house. As with any training, go slowly—even a foot at a time—until the pan is just beyond the door. Once you\\\\\\\’ve moved the pan to this location, leave it there for a few days to emphasise its function. Then bring it inside and continue to utilise the \\\\\\\”Go potty\\\\\\\” command and the reward system.
Once your Chihuahua is using the pan right inside the door without any issues, continue carefully moving the pan to the desired position—again, a foot at a time. The process will take some time, but if you approach your Chi\\\\\\\’s training gradually, she will comprehend what you want her to perform. With few (if any) errors, she will be incredibly dependable when using her pan, to the point where you can leave her alone in your home all day without worrying about a single mistake.
When dealing with a pee-pad or newspaper-trained Chi, start by placing a pee pad or newspaper in the litter box on top of a very thin layer of dog litter. Put your Chi on the pad or paper when you know she needs to go, such as when you let her out of her crate in the morning. (If she understands the \\\\\\\”go potty\\\\\\\” command, use it!) Praise, reward, and repeat. Every two days, rip off a piece of the pee pad or newspaper to reveal more of the litter. Your Chi will gradually switch from the pad or newspaper to the litter.
Setting a Workable Schedule
The more predictable your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s need to relieve herself, the easier housetraining will be. Create and keep to a regular regimen to ensure that your Chi\\\\\\\’s relief times are consistent. The three most critical aspects of developing this regimen are meals, hydration, and exercise.
Feeding
Your Chihuahua should eat at specified times. For example, if your puppy eats four times a day, you could schedule these feedings for 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. Your Chi will need to make a bowel movement very soon after eating—usually within thirty minutes—so don\\\\\\\’t put her in her crate and go for work without it. Allow an hour for your Chi to eat, exercise, and relieve himself at each meal. If you are unable to maintain this routine, employ a relative, neighbour, or petsitter to assist you when you are not at home.
Allowing your Chihuahua to graze throughout the day (i.e., eat from an endless food bowl) can disrupt a housetraining routine. You can never tell when your Chihuahua will need to relieve herself.
Water
Your Chi should have constant access to fresh, refreshing water. Unlike a continual supply of food, having access to water at all times reduces the risk that your Chihuahua will overload on water at particular times. —which would make your Chi\\\\\\\’s desires more unpredictable. The only Two hours before sleep is a good time to check your dog\\\\\\\’s water. This will allow your Chi plenty of time to empty her bladder before settling up for the night. (This can also help with ageing, older Chis who have incontinence issues.)
Movement
Then there is exercise. Exercise almost guarantees that your Chi will need to release herself, either during the exercise or within thirty minutes afterward. Exercise increases your Chi\\\\\\\’s water consumption, so expect her to need to relieve herself again within an hour or two, even if she urinated during the walk or play session. Remember that perseverance, reward-based positive training, and taking tiny steps can help you succeed with housetraining your Chi. If your Chihuahua has an accident, take a step back and reassess the situation. Have you followed your schedule? Did you leave her alone for too long? Did you go too rapidly in giving her more freedom in the home? If you can\\\\\\\’t figure out where you went wrong, take a step back in her housetraining. Return to a smaller place or a shorter time period and allow your Chihuahua to rebuild her confidence as well as yours.