Potty training can be challenging for novice dog parents, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming, and mostly involves sticking to a schedule and giving your Chihuahua plenty of opportunities to learn. 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 everything you need to know about potty training to get your Chihuahua to pee outside quickly.
Chihuahua potty training
Potty training is essential to ensure your chihuahua develops good bathroom habits, and it is much easier to instill these good habits while your chihuahua is a puppy. However, if you have adopted an adult Chihuahua that is not housebroken, she can be potty trained as well. Don’t believe the saying; you can teach an old dog new tricks. It may take some time and work to break the habits they have learned, but it is certainly possible.
One of the things that makes toilet training your Chihuahua more complicated than some other breeds is their size. It’s much easier to spot a big 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 potty training little Chi. Here’s everything you’ll need before we get to the tips:
8 tips and tricks on how to potty train a chihuahua
1. Choose a place
Whether you have a yard or your Chihuahua is a city pup, choose an outdoor area where your dog can pee. You will use this place to help your dog develop a sense of routine around using the bathroom. If you live in an upstairs apartment, you may want to invest in an indoor grass training area for your home or balcony until your Chihuahua learns to hold it long enough to come downstairs.
2. Give your Chihuahua lots of bathroom options
The key to potty training your Chihuahua outside is to make sure he has plenty of opportunities to go. Puppies simply cannot hold their bladder as long as adult dogs. Adopted adult dogs may never have been potty trained outside and will need a new routine reinforced with lots of consistency.
All you have to do is take your puppy or adult Chihuahua outside on a leash a few times a day to the place you have chosen for them. For very young puppies under 12 weeks of age, you will need to do this every hour or two, and you can increase the time as the puppy gets older.
Even if your puppy doesn’t feel like he needs to go to the bathroom, take him outside on a schedule to get him into a routine. Good times to exercise your Chihuahua are first thing in the morning, after playing, after a meal, after drinking water, and before bed.
3. Praise and reward
To motivate and encourage your Chihuahua, reward them with a tasty treat (or whatever motivates them the most, such as a toy, playtime, or praise) every time they use the bathroom outside. This creates those all-important positive associations. Offer a reward right after they finish the task, not during it, 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 get is a neutral boost for both; there is no reaction when they go to the toilet and when they go outside. Going potty outside must become more attractive than going inside.
4. Learn the signs
It’s important to tune in to your Chihuahua’s cues that they need to use the bathroom. Signs include whining, circling, sniffing and scratching at the door. If they have an indoor spot that they continue to use, watch out for them going in that direction and intercept them!
5. Consider crate training
Crates get a bad rap, but when used properly, they can be useful and help your pet feel more secure when you’re not there. The trick is to turn the crate into a bedroom and make it cozy with cozy bedding and toys. The crate should be a place where your puppy wants to spend time and should not be used as a punishment. A puppy will avoid going to the bathroom in his crate if it’s the right size, so it’s much easier for him to potty train when you use it.
Place a puppy training mat under bedding and blankets in case of accidents, but don’t mark it as a toilet. This will encourage your puppy to wait until he leaves the crate and goes to the toilet. If there is a space to cough in the crate, they will not learn to hold it.
Every time you let your puppy out of the crate, go straight to his toilet. They will soon learn that there is a predictable pattern to follow, which makes it much easier for them to learn to hold on just a little longer.
Using a crate also helps puppies avoid separation anxiety. If they have a safe bedroom to go to when you’re out, they won’t feel as if they’re alone in the big house.
6. Be understanding
It’s impossible to get through potty training without sometimes having accidents. This is completely normal, and your dog is not doing it out of spite or out of bad behavior. Avoid being harsh or punishing your dog for urinating or pooping in the house, as this will make them anxious or fearful around you. If you catch them going indoors, just make a sharp sound, like “ah!” to get their attention, then calmly take them outside to the bathroom.
This should happen as soon as possible so that your Chihuahua can make the connection between using the bathroom and going outside. They may have already finished, but going straight to the toilet will still help them identify the appropriate area. If they end up outside, reward them! They need to be praised when they do the right thing, even if they just peed on your favorite rug.
7. Take them out, then take them out again
The outside world is exciting and interesting, especially when you are a puppy. But when you let your puppy outside to go potty, he won’t always do it! Or they will start to go, but then get distracted. You might think they went to the toilet and decided to put them back in, only to go potty five minutes later, which can be really frustrating!
Until they are trained, take them out and put them back in when they seem done, then five minutes later, take them out again. You’ll be surprised how often they go potty again!
8. Stay with them
As stated above, puppies (and dogs) don’t always go to the bathroom as soon as they are let out. Some have to sniff and play before they feel ready to go potty. If you just let them out and don’t watch them, you’re setting yourself and your puppy up for failure. You have to watch them go to the toilet to reward them and know that they actually went. This is necessary and where many people fail.
This can be tricky depending on how/where you take your dog. If possible, you can try to leave them outside and watch from a window (preferably out of sight). If you are in a situation where you cannot leave them, keep your arms crossed, do not look at them and gently shake them off your leg.
This is where your patience will be tested, as you may be there for a while!
Final Thoughts
If your puppy or adult Chihuahua seems to be taking a little longer than you expected to learn the basics, don’t panic. Dogs are not the same; some will learn quickly, while others will take more time. However, if the problem persists, you might want to have a veterinary examination your dog to rule out medical causes, such as urinary tract infections.
It is also possible that your Chihuahua suffers from anxiety, especially if it has had a troubled past. If you suspect this could be the cause, visit your vet and consider working with a professional trainer. But if you follow the tips and tricks above, your Chihuahua should be trained in no time!
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Featured Images: New Africa, Shutterstock
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