Potty training can be challenging for novice dog parents, but it shouldn’t be too overwhelming, and it mostly involves sticking to a schedule and giving your Chihuahua plenty of learning opportunities. When it comes to potty training, always remember to be consistent and persistent.
So are Chihuahuas easy to potty train? In this guide, we’ll share all you need to know about potty training to get your Chihuahua peeing outside in no time.
Chihuahua Potty Training
Potty training is necessary for ensuring your Chihuahua develops good bathroom habits, and it’s far easier to instill these good habits while your Chihuahua is a puppy. However, if you’ve adopted a non-housebroken Chihuahua adult, they can be potty trained, too. Do not believe the saying; you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. It may take some time and work to break the habits they’ve learned, but it’s certainly possible.
One of the things that makes toilet training your Chihuahua more complicated than with some other breeds is their size. It’s much easier to spot a large dog going to the bathroom behind the couch than a Chihuahua!
Learning how to train a Chihuahua not to pee or poop in the house will save you a lot of accidents. So, let’s dive into toilet training a tiny Chi. Here’s everything you’ll need before we get into the tips:
The 8 Tips & Tricks on How to Potty Train a Chihuahua
1. Pick a Spot
Whether you have a yard or your Chihuahua is a city pup, pick an outdoor area where your dog can pee. You’ll use this spot to help your dog develop a sense of routine around using the bathroom. If you live in an upstairs apartment, you may wish to invest in an indoor grass training patch for your home or balcony until your Chihuahua learns to hold it long enough to get downstairs.
2. Give Your Chihuahua Plenty of Bathroom Opportunities
The key to teaching your Chihuahua to go to the bathroom outside is to ensure they have plenty of opportunities to go. Puppies simply can’t hold their bladders for as long as adult dogs. Adopted adult dogs may never have been taught to use the bathroom outside and will need the new routine reinforced with lots of consistency.
All you need to do is take your puppy or adult Chihuahua outside on a leash several times a day to the spot you’ve chosen for them. For very young puppies under 12 weeks, you’ll need to do this every hour or two, and you can extend the time as the puppy gets older.
Even if it doesn’t seem like your puppy needs to use the bathroom, take them outside on schedule to get them into the routine. Good times to take your Chihuahua out are first thing in the morning, after playing, after a meal, after drinking water, and before bed.
3. Praise & Reward
To motivate and encourage your Chihuahua, reward them with a tasty treat (or whatever motivates them most, like a toy, play session, or praise) every time they use the bathroom outside. This creates those all-important positive associations. Offer the reward just after they’ve finished doing their business rather than during to prevent them from stopping.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s easy to miss your Chihuahua going potty indoors. If you don’t reward them for going outside, all they are receiving is neutral reinforcement for both; there is no reaction when they toilet inside and none when they go outside. Going potty outside must become more appealing than going inside.
4. Learn the Signs
It’s important to tune in to your Chihuahua’s signs that they need to use the bathroom. Signs include whining, circling, sniffing around, and scratching at the door. If they have a spot indoors that they keep using, keep an eye out for them heading in that direction and intercept!
5. Consider Crate Training
Crates get a bad rap, but when used correctly, they can be useful and help your pet feel more secure when you aren’t there. The trick is to turn the crate into a bedroom and make it cozy with comfortable bedding and toys. A crate should be where your pup wants to spend time and shouldn’t be used as a punishment.
It is much easier to potty train a puppy if you use a correctly sized crate, as they will avoid going to the bathroom in it. Place a puppy training pad under the bedding in case of accidents, but do not designate it as a toilet area. This will encourage your puppy to wait until they leave the crate to go to the bathroom. Every time you let your puppy out of the crate, take them straight to their designated toilet spot to establish a routine. Using a crate can also help prevent separation anxiety in puppies.
Accidents are normal during potty training, so do not punish your puppy for them. Instead, make a sharp sound to get their attention and take them outside to their bathroom spot. Remember to reward and praise them when they go potty outside. Take your puppy out multiple times to ensure they have fully emptied their bladder.
It is important to stay with your puppy while they go to the bathroom outside to ensure they are actually going. This will help you reward them and reinforce the behavior. If your Chihuahua is taking longer than expected to learn, consult a vet to rule out medical issues or consider working with a professional trainer. With patience and consistency, your Chihuahua should be potty trained in no time. following sentence:
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