Also, for some Chihuahuas that live where inclement weather is common, such as in northern regions and find going outside in winter too cold, a litter box might be an excellent solution. You will need a litter box with the top removed and litter. Litter box training is becoming especially popular because many Chihuahuas put up a fight or refuse to go outside when the weather temperatures are low or too wet. Be patient and persistent. If you train a dog litter, you must use the litter box in the bathroom instead. Some say that Chihuahuas are notoriously hard to potty train. Hello! Sometimes a pee pad makes a sound that scares some puppies, so you might want to use a litter box if that happens. I think what you are looking to accomplish is doable, but it may not be perfect from day one. Once she has learned how to ring the bell when you instruct her to, then instruct her to ring it, give a treat, encourage her to go potty, and if she goes potty - especially poops, instruct her to ring it again and give another treat after she has potties then rings the bell at your instruction (reward for peeing also at first). Also ensure that your box is not placed on anything absorbent, such as carpeting or a floor mat. Hello, I would work on training Tia to not pee on the floor, and deal with the naughty later. Avoid Punishment Next, how much attention will he receive in his new home with you? After all, many Chihuahuas grow to be no larger than your average sized cat, and most litter boxes were designed for that exact size. Ideally, if she can't find a litterbox, I'd like her to notify me that she has to go potty by training her to ring a bell.The second problem we're having is...sometimes she eats or plays with her own feces. If your puppy does any of those, quickly, but gently so as not to scare him, pick him up and carry him over to the litter box and place him inside it. Try to establish a predictable schedule so you can be available to direct the behavior. Increase the enclosure size no more than two times the current size at a time. Have a look at their website for pictures and a demonstration - Wizdog Indoor Dog Potty. If pup gives you breaks in the whining, try to time your treat sprinkles when pup is quiet for a couple of seconds, to reinforce the calmness, instead of the nervousness. After thirty minutes, encourage him back over to the box. If your puppy goes, then praise him when he finishes, and offer him three treats, one at a time. potty training your chihuahua puppy ... Providing a litter box (and training your dog to use it) offers her as-needed access, no matter what time of the day or night she gets the urge. Potty Training a Chihuahua Indoors. I recommend putting the litter box in a larger area like an exercise pen. Do I have to tough love past this? They have less control over their bowels and will go when they have to go. When your puppy is doing well for two hours between litter box trips, then gradually increase the amount of free time that you give him after eliminating. When you begin pee pad training, choose a command word and use it every time you take your dog to the pad. Here is information on indoor potty training. You want him to learn to go potty in the box in a particular location and not just anywhere in the house. “The only difference is you take the dog to the litter box each time instead of your designated potty area outside.” For puppies, you should encourage them to go shortly after eating and drinking. Eventually, I didn’t need the crate anymore! Studying your dog’s habits can also help you identify his bathroom “triggers” – like having to go after a certain amount of playtime. Choose a spot that is outside of your “smell zone.” An important tip to remember is to make sure not to let your dog decide the spot he likes. Repeat until well established. Good luck! I would still pursue picking up the poop quickly and encouraging her to alert you after she goes - to minimize the amount of time she has the option of eating it - since the pumpkin or product will make it less desirable to eat, but often doesn't stop a dog completely if you leave them long enough and often enough with the poop - and the product won't stop the poop hiding. A crate is particularly suited to Chihuahuas because of their temperament and small size. Mary lives by herself and has a little Chihuahua named Lula. You can use a litter box for cats or dogs, no matter. Prepare a litter box. Set the bell up where the litter box that she uses most frequently is now, so that when the litter box isn't there, the bell will still be there for her to ring and let you know she has to go. Since he is doing so well outside, I suggest continuing to encourage pottying outside and use a real grass pad inside when you are gone if he cannot hold it that long. It is best to take her over about 15 minutes after eating. You need to find a trainer who can think outside of the box to help you, and one who uses discipline and rewards - but does it calmly. The best way to potty train any dog is to use a crate. However, housebreaking a Chihuahua is NOT a step up from paper training. The litter box method uses paper pellets. Chances are you have heard the old cliche, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” When it comes to potty training chihuahua adults, you might think the odds are stacked against you in terms of potty training. If your dog is used to using puppy pads, you can line the box with a puppy pad at first. The simplest and most familiar indoor-potty solution is the conventional litter box. Check out the exercise pen method I have linked below. If you give him the mental and physical stimulation that he needs when you are present, then when you are gone you can leave things like food stuffed chew-toys, an automatic treat dispenser, such as Pet Tutor or AutoTrainer, take him to Doggie Daycare part of the week, or hire a dog walker to come midday. Many dog owners fail to inform themselves or gain this essential knowledge, and it is easy to commit mistakes when they try to potty train their dogs indoors. Puppies, in particular, must be watched constantly. Just move the poop into the litter box, and that makes a big difference. Buying a Chihuahua litter box is the first step you should take to litterbox train your dog. Hello Sheryl, If your puppy continues to be accident-free, and even increases the frequency of his trips to the box by himself, then increase the time between taking him to every three hours. PuppyGoHere Dog Litter Pan Litter Box Training. If at any point you cannot supervise your puppy, place him into his crate. Dogs are often easily trained to let themselves into a fenced yard when needed. Otherwise you will still need to take him to go potty in the litter box during the night until he is trained well enough to find the box in the house during the night on his own. If he does alright, then he would probably be fine without the other animals. Caitlin Crittenden, He keeps weeing and pooing in the house as he won’t go outside when it’s windy or wet I need to know what’s the best tray to use for him and how best to train him for got the toilet in the house using the above trayKind regardsMeil. Thanks! When your puppy begins to go on his own, then change the frequency of your trips taking him, from every two hours to every two and a half hours. She will pee on her litterbox but will go poo outside of it. Caitlin Crittenden. Once he will go potty in the litter box while it is outside when you take him over to it, then begin one of the methods to train him how to use the litter box while he is inside also. Congratulations. If you are using the 'Exercise Pen' method or the 'Scent' method, you will need a scent to add to the litter to encourage your puppy to eliminate while he is learning. Once you have trained your chihuahua how to use it, you will not have to worry about it making a mess in your home when you are not there. Potty training is the process of teaching your new puppy or dog the right place to pee and poop, and encouraging them to use it until they return there reliably of their own accord, and don’t toilet anywhere else until they have access to it. Make sure to repeat this same command, in the same tone, every time you take your dog to the potty tray. He has food and water, a few toys, a towel for him to lay on and a scented pee-pad to use while we are gone. Salvador: Crate training seals the deal! Put your Chihuahua on a feeding schedule. Just move the poop into the litter box, and that makes a big difference. You will want to continue to clean up all of the other pees and poops in the box though, to prevent your litter box from becoming so dirty that you puppy will avoid it. If your puppy is very food motivated, then you can simply use pieces of his own dog food in place of treats. Jan 22, 2019 - Learn how to litter box train a chihuahua puppy using exercise pen, scent, and crate training methods. It is definitely not too late to train Julio. How to Potty Train a Chihuahua. Avoid using litter for the litter box and instead fill it with shredded newspapers or other organic filler like that. If your home is very large and you find that your puppy has accidents when he is located far from the litter box, even though he seems to understand the concept well and has worked up to lots of freedom in your home, then you may need to add a second litter box in the far part of your home, to help your puppy find an appropriate place to eliminate when he is in that part of your house. The pads are scented with an attractant and i spray additional attractant on them as well. Praise her when she goes and does not forget to use keywords to trigger her to go potty faster. Do not use kitty litter. Thank you for writing in. There are four basic ways people potty train Chihuahuas – paper, litter box, crate, and outside. However, young dogs do not have as well-developed control over their body functions and need to be taught that you expect them to relieve themselves in the appropriate spot, the litter box--this also can take some time. If your puppy has any accidents, then decrease the amount of time by at least thirty minutes, until your puppy is having no more accidents. Food allergies and intolerances in Chihuahuas, guide and advices. Allow him to sniff the litter box and decide to go to the bathroom. Reward your dog with a treat or praise and affection. Litter box training allows for liquid and solid waste. If using the spray, spray the litter three times a day for several days, until your puppy begins to eliminate there consistently. Eventually the process should look like - take her over the potty, instruct her to ring the bell, wait for her to go potty, give a treat after she goes; if she poops also, instruct her to ring the bell again, give a treat for ringing it. Place several interesting toys inside the area, such as food-stuffed Kongs. If he eliminates there, praise him softly, and when he finishes offer him two treats, one at a time. In that case, teach Sophie to let you know by ringing a bell when she needs to go out: https://wagwalking.com/training/ring-a-bell-to-go-out. Our puppy is 5 weeks old, so we have 3 more weeks of prep before we bring him home. Crate training is definitely the simplest and quickest way to house train a … We change the litter every other day, ... Then, place your dog in the box and use a command, like "go potty," and praise it. Do this until your puppy will go into the litter box without fear. You will need to reward him more for going potty outside and encourage him to tell you when he needs to go out, even when he has the litter box. If your home is large and you blocked off areas earlier, then you can now include those areas in your puppy's space if you wish for your puppy to go there. Potty-training your Chihuahua can be a frustrating process, but you must resist the urge to spank, scold or punish your dog for having accidents inside the house. A litter box would work, and the best way to teach house break him would be to use a crate. After he is trained to go potty in the litter box, continue to take him outside to pee the majority of the time so that he will continue telling you when he needs to go outside. © 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. By the way, both my brother and I went through dog potty training with a dog litter box. How to Train Your Chihuahua Dog to Use a Litter Box. For a small, one level house, where doors are normally left open, it is very realistic to expect her to go to the box with some vigilance and training for a while. it up and set it in the litter box. He has gotten very good at being walked outside. If your dog “misses,” it will be easier to clean up. Confine your Chihuahua in a small enclosure or a crate that he will not feel comfortable going to the bathroom in. Litter boxes for toy breeds have become increasingly popular in recent years, and you can also buy pee pads at pet supply stores that can be used the same way that you would use a newspaper for potty training a puppy. To do this, gradually add the space from those blocked areas back into the rest of your home, where your puppy has been spending his time. If you work from home, work part time, or work full time but have a lot of time to give to him for things like training sessions, or play when you are home, then he will be much less likely to be lonely. Remove any absorbent material, including mats and rugs, from the enclosed area. Praise your puppy for sniffing, touching, or stepping into the box. When you travel, if he is used to alerting you when he needs to go, then he should simply ask you to go outside, instead of have an accident when there is not a litter box present. There are days where we will come home and he will not have used it at all. Although it may be tempting to locate the litter box out of the way, this is not a good idea, as your dog needs to be able to readily access it. Your dog's litter box will have to be cleaned out regularly, to prevent smells and encourage your dog to continue using it. If you are using the spray and he seems distracted whenever he is in the litter box, then you can reapply the spray while he is still outside of the box. Best of luck training, Please help me with a plan. He’s been doing this for about 10 years. Do this until your puppy can remain calm in the crate for thirty minutes. How to Litter Train a Dog. When you punish your dog during potty training, he will become confused and scared. This will help him get used to going in the right spot, and help you establish repetition in your training. If your dog goes on the floor, and you try to correct him hours after the fact, he will be confused and upset, not knowing what he did wrong. Add to Wishlist. Chihuahua Potty Training Made Easy. Choose a command for your Chihuahua to pee or poop, like “go potty”. I’m thinking we need to do the exercise pen with real grass and an open crate inside it when we’re gone for longer stretches. Do everything you can to help him learn the proper etiquette, and you will enjoy a long, quality relationship together. Because he has already been trained to go potty outside, you might want to train him to use the litter box outside first by walking him over to it on leash and following the same potty training process that you did to train him to pee outside in the first place. Petey is 13 and has been marking on furniture and other things in the house. If your Chihuahua does not go to the bathroom in the litter box, return him to his crate and try again. Imagine having all the joys of owning a dog but with the convenience of not having to take her outside to go to the bathroom. 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