Chihuahua Information Center
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Chihuahua Potty Training
What Happened?
You bring your new Chihuahua puppy home and cannot stop marveling about how cute he or she is. You are happy, excited and already have fallen in love. THEN, your little new family member pees all over your carpet without any warning....And THEN you realize just how important Chihuahua potty training is! You may feel overwhelmed at first, wondering how long it will take and if you know the exact, proper steps to take for success....And THAT is why we are here for you!Taking your dog outside is definitely not enough to teach Chihuahua potty training. There are a lot of little, subtle things that will go a long way toward helping you train your puppy well....And also some bigger important steps to always keep in mind.
The Two Most Important Things
1. A dog cannot learn what you do not teach him or her. They are not born knowing where to pee or poo...And their time with their mother is not spent learning this! When they are very young newborns, she stimulates them to go to the bathroom....And most breeders do not have the time train 4, 5, 6, or even 7 little pups!
2. Chihuahua potty training will go well if you remember that your puppy wants to please you. They love you and they want to know that they are making you happy. They want those kind words and pats of happiness. And they want those treats. However, they need you to be patient and to show them in the best way possible what they must do. If they have an accident, it is exactly that : an accident. What this means to you is that more training must be done and it is a good idea to make sure that you are following all of the steps.
To Begin
One must understand that when it comes to Chihuahua potty training, a young 8 week old puppy does not have full control over their bladder and bowel muscles. It takes some time for those muscles to fully develop. It will happen over the course of a couple of months. Until then....
A 2 month old pup can only hold their needs for a MAXIMUM of 2 hours.... A 3 month old for 3 hours....And so on. By the time your Chihuahua is about 8 months old, they will be able to hold on for at least 8 hours, sometimes even a bit longer.
Therefore, remember how often they must go and do not expect them to hold on any longer than their body allows.
Some believe that when a puppy is put into a crate that this will create a situation where they refuse to pee or poo in there. This is not true. While it is correct that most dogs do not like to soil the area in which they live, rest, sleep and eat....nature overrules on this one! If left in a doggie crate, when Mother Nature calls, the pup will listen.
Indoors or Outdoors?
Should Chihuahua potty training take place inside with pee pads or outside in the yard? While some owner of toy sized dog find success with indoor methods, it is against the instinct of the dog to go to the bathroom inside on a small, white pad. They will do far better if brought outside. Some owners are concerned about weather condition and Chihuahua potty training. Some do not like to go outside.... It is true that the puppy will not want to venture out into the freezing cold, walk through the snow, etc.
The answer to this is simple.... One must make sure that the designated area is shoveled out, free of snow and also the path that leads there. And, just as you naturally would want to wear a coat when you go outside in the winter, your tiny Chihuahua should have that protection as well. If it is below freezing (32° Fahrenheit - 0° Celsius) or your Chihuahua shows signs of being too cold, one should always put a doggie sweater and doggie boots onto their Chi.
Fur alone is not enough to protect a tiny puppy from harsh elements. Ice and ice salt can be very rough on their paws and this is why boots or shoes are needed as well.
The Designated Spot
One of the most important things that you can do for success in Chihuahua potty training is to choose ONE area that will serve as their bathroom. If an owner simply brings their Chi outside and allows them to roam around, always choosing a different area, this will confuse a puppy. They should be brought to the same place all of the time. WITHIN that area, the pup should be allowed to choose the perfect spot. An owner should stand in the middle of the area, holding the leash...And allow the puppy to walk around within that diameter until they decide exactly where to go.
One must remember that this can take as little as 1 minute or as long as 15 minutes. One of the largest complaints of frustrated owners who are not having success with Chihuahua potty training is that they say they pup pees right after being brought back inside. This is most often because they did not have the patience to stay outside with them long enough.
Timing
Those who are working hard at Chihuahua potty training should remember that the puppy will need to have a bowel movement about 15-20 minutes after each meal. They also will need to urinate according to their age... Remember, 2 hours for a 2 months old, 3 hours for a 3 month old and so on. They will also need to be taken out:
- Every morning... First thing... before any other task is done
- Right after waking up from any nap, no matter how short or long they were sleeping
- Right before bedtime
Pee PadsHome owners wish to do Chihuahua potty training with pee pads...despite the name, some pups can be trained to eliminate on them as well.
Other owners find that they wish to begin with pads and work their way to going outside.
If wishing for a transition, one should remember that dogs are creatures of habit. They can get very confused if trained for 1 thing...and then asked to do something completely different later. However, if one insists, it is best to place the pee pads close to the exit door.
They should be brought there each and every time they make a motion to pee or poo and and all designated times. As they learn to use the pad, it can be brought closer and closer outside, until it is eventually outside...and then taken away.
For those who wish to always use this method, one must remember that it will usually take a lot longer to complete Chihuahua potty training. As with the outdoor method, they must be brought to the pad at all appropriate times. Reward in the form of a very happy voices, gentle pats and a small treat will work well to show them that they did a good job. If they have an accident on the floor, a paper towel should be used to clean it up and then patted onto the pad lightly, in order to put some of the scent onto the area.
How Long?
Many new owners wonder just how long it will take for Chihuahua potty training. While each puppy is different and learns at varying paces, in general, if one follows all of the guidelines, one can expect success by the age of 4-5 months.
