Many Chihuahua owners make several common mistakes when trying to housetrain their Chihuahua. In this article, you will learn what those mistakes are and how to avoid them assuring you 100% success in housetraining your Chihuahua.
Housetraining seems to be the number one complaint among Chihuahua owners. I’ve heard it said that Chihuahuas are the most difficult breed to housetrain. I’m here to tell you that is not true! Of all the Chihuahuas I’ve owned through the years I’ve never had a problem housetraining any of them. If you adopt an adult Chihuahua that is not already housetrained it can be a challenge and will take longer, but it is not impossible.
So, why do so many find it difficult to housetrain their Chihuahua? There are many common mistakes that Chi pawrents make when trying to housetrain their Chihuahua. These mistakes can make housetraining your Chihuahua much more difficult. Let’s find out what they are and how you can avoid them.
#1 Not Introducing Them To The Crate First
Using a crate or a pen to housetrain your Chihuahua is an absolute must! If you have an aversion to using a crate because you feel it is a “cage” then use a pen or indoor fence.
Before you even begin to housetrain your Chihuahua make sure that he is comfortable and accepting of being in a crate (or pen). This is especially true if you have never used a crate before. If you just put him in the crate and then leave to do some shopping (or whatever you do) your Chihuahua will forever associate the crate with you leaving.
Or if your Chihuahua makes a mistake and has an accident or chewed up one of your shoes and you grab him and put him in the crate he will learn to hate the crate. Never ever use the crate as punishment.
To introduce your Chihuahua to a crate for the first time let him sniff it without you even attempting to put him in it. When he comes close to sniff it give him a treat and lots of praise. Next, put the treat just inside where he can reach it without having to go inside. Finally, throw one in and let him go in after it. Be sure to praise him. Let him get used to being in the crate with the door always open.
#2 Not Establishing A Regular Feeding Time
Having a regular eating schedule while potty training is crucial to your success. What goes in regularly also comes out regularly.
That schedule is one you will have to choose according to your lifestyle. Just be aware that the more often your dog eats and drinks the more often they will have to relieve themselves.
If you work, perhaps once in the morning and once when you return home. However, definitely not close to bedtime. While training, do not allow your dog to graze all day long. Put his water bowl where he can’t get to it one hour before bedtime.
Dogs are creatures of habit and routine. They are quite content to eat at the same time every day and eating the same thing every day. They do benefit from eating a variety of fresh foods for a more balanced diet though, just don’t change their kibble without doing it gradually.
#3 Not Employing The Use Of A Crate or Pen
Dogs are den animals. It is not cruel to confine your dog to a crate for short periods. In fact, they feel safe there. The best part of that for housetraining a Chihuahua is they also don’t like to eliminate where they sleep. Oh, but they will if left confined for long periods and have no choice. You don’t want that to happen because they also will get used to it and any place in the house will not be off-limits for them. See: To crate or not to crate, that is the question
Never let your dog have free reign of the house until he is completely trained. Do take them outside often while they are little, especially right after they have eaten, drank, or after a play session. Generally speaking, a puppy can hold his bladder one hour for every month of age. If they are 2 months old, take them out every 2 hours, 3 months, 3 hours, etc. As they grow they will be able to hold and control their elimination for longer periods of time. Be sure to allow lots of supervised playtime outside the crate. NEVER, NEVER leave your Chihuahua in a crate all day long or for very long periods of time.
#4 Not Establishing Regular & Consistent Potty Trips Outdoors
This is a must. You have to be consistent and stick to a schedule when potty training a Chihuahua. If you are unable to, enlist a family member or hire someone to come and let them out at scheduled times. This is not something you will have to do forever. But even when they are completely housebroken, you are asking for trouble if you leave a dog alone for very long periods of time. They need human interaction and stimulation. If they don’t get that they become bored and may develop bad behaviors, including eliminating in the house.
When you take them out use a cue word or short phrase, such as “potty” or “do your duty”, whatever works for you. They will come to understand what it means and what you want from them. Allow them enough time. If after you have allowed sufficient time and they have not gone to the potty take them back to their crate and try again every 15 to 20 minutes.
#5 Not Giving Them The Praise They Deserve For A Job Well Done
When you take them out and they obediently potty outside, give them a treat and lots of praise. What your Chihuahua wants most is to please you. As a warning though, it’s best to treat them every other time or every few times., but praise them every time. If not, they will come to expect a treat every time. They will be just as happy with a little outdoor play or a longer walk as a reward for good behavior.
#6 Not Immediately Correcting A Mistake When Potty Training
Even with all your diligence, accidents may will happen when you are potty training your Chihuahua. When they do, remain calm, and never yell at or hit your Chihuahua. All that teaches them is to fear you. Instead, calmly pick them up and take them outside give them the cue and allow time. If they don’t (after all they already did), take them back to their crate and continue adhering to your schedule.
#7 Not Thoroughly Cleaning When An Accident Has Happened
Accidents happen. If you plan on having a white carpet and it never getting soiled, you will be sadly disappointed. An accident will happen in the crate, your bedroom floor, in your kitchen, and on your carpet. When he has an accident make sure you thoroughly clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner. Dogs like to return to the same place they have been eliminating and they know that by the smell. Don’t let them smell where they have gone before.
If you have rescued a Chihuahua as an adult they may have been eliminating anywhere they wanted. If this is the case you will have to housetrain from the very beginning just as you would a puppy. In this case, housetraining them will be more challenging and take longer so be prepared and be patient!
Dogs have a million more smell receptors than humans do. How many millions more depend on the breed, but suffice it to say they can smell way better than we do. They know exactly where they have gone before and where every other dog in the neighborhood has gone before. The point being they are attracted to that smell and will go again in that same spot if they are allowed to. There are several brands of odor removing products that work well.
TIP: Use this to your advantage if you want them to go in one preferred spot in your yard rather than using the whole yard as their bathroom. When you are potty training take them out to that same exact place.
#8 Using A Crate That Is Too Big When Potty Training Your Chi
Be sure to use a crate that is big enough for them to stand up and turn around in and no bigger. If the crate is too big they may eliminate in one corner away from where they sleep. You don’t want that to happen because if they are allowed to often it will become an ingrained habit.
Quick Potty Training Tip:
Don’t free-feed your Chihuahua in his crate when trying to potty train your Chihuahua. In other words, don’t put his food and water bowl in the crate and leave it there for him to eat anytime he wants. However, giving them their breakfast or dinner in the crate as well as occasional treats will help keep him from eliminating in his crate because dogs won’t pee or poop where they eat.
As already mentioned never free-feed your Chihuahua. In order to make housetraining a success, you must make sure that he has regular feeding times. Once in the morning and once in the evening. That way you know exactly when they ate and when what goes in must come out. 🙂
Potty Pads or Outdoor Training?
All of these steps can be applied to paper or litter tray training. However, housebreaking a Chihuahua is NOT a step up from paper training. If you intend for your dog to always go outside, don’t even introduce paper or litter tray training. Paper and litter tray training may be necessary if you live in an apartment or for an older dog who is not capable of going outside. Elderly pawrents that find it difficult to take their dogs outdoors may also prefer paper or litter tray training.
If that is the case and you intend for your Chihuahua to always use a pee pad, litter tray, or a potty patch, then apply all the above in the same way only instead of taking them outside, take them to the place in the house you prefer them to go.
In Conclusion:
If you strictly and consistently adhere to these steps you will avoid the common mistakes that many people make when housetraining or potty training their Chihuahua and you will soon have a housebroken Chihuahua. Remember it is NOT cruel or hard-hearted to confine a dog to a crate or a pen (for short periods only). I have crate trained my dogs this way and they are healthy, happy, well-adjusted, and most of all, housebroken. They also go to their crate on their own often to just relax and sleep.
Remember too that sticking strictly to these tips is only temporary. While training you can not be hyper-vigilant one day and lackadaisical the next day. That will only confuse your Chi and you will only make it harder on them and on yourself. Once your Chihuahua is housetrained, he can have free reign of the house and you can free-feed him (although I don’t believe you should) if that is your preference.
