Help! We need help on house training our chihuahua!?
Discount Medical Scrubs
Ok so a few months ago we adopted a 2 y.o. chihuahua. She is so adorable and we all love her! She is great with my 8 month old daughter too. However she will not go potty out side! I am getting so sick of cleaning up her messes!! We have carpet and it stinks now! I clean it and scrub it but urine stinks! She is now going in my daughters room! We have tried kenneling, time outs in the bathroom, rubbing her face in it, a swat on the butt, yelling and nothing works!! She will continue to go in the house! We rent and I cannot have this happeing to our rental house! She is so sweet but I don't know how much more of this I can take. We have a cat and he is so good about pottying in his box. Any ideas? What would you do? She is spayed, and its not medical, its just lazyness. Should we re-home her to someone who can handle this? I am busy as a mom and I don't need one more kid pooping let a lone in the house! Thanks for your help!!
Tags: butt, carpet, daughters room, discount medical scrubs, messes, mom, nothing works, rental house, swat, thanks for your help, time outs
March 26th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
With my chi I did "ritual" training with positive reinforcements. He had set times he was fed/watered, then immediately I would take him out for a walk, and we stayed until he "finished", then he got a treat and we went inside. If I left my apartment for anything, he was put in his crate, then the instant he was let out, it was outside until he did his business, then given a treat and brought inside. Took about 2 weeks for him to get it down, but we have been accident free for over 6 months, not even one when he gets overly excited about new guests. I hope this helps you, or gives you an idea of wether or not you have time to try and housebreak, having one of your own.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
You can try taking her out every hour or so, especially after she eats or drinks. At night you can put her in her cage and if you wake up during the night take her out jsut to see if she has to go. If you can’t mange every hour, maybe every 2 would be better, If you go out put her in her cage so she won’t make a mess in the house besides in her cage. My JRT was the same when he was pup, we were persistant with him and he learnt. It might take a bit more time since she is already 2 but she should learn soon enough.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
Well, first of all, this isn’t a reason to get rid of her. After all, you wouldn’t put your daughter up for adoption if she didn’t get the hang of potty training after just a couple months.
I’ve found kennel training is often very successful. That means that she is out of her cage when she is supervised by an adult. You should be able to learn more about this method by Googling it. There are many books on the subject, and you could get one at the library or your local Petsmart (or equivalent store).
But please don’t give up on her. A few months isn’t much time to get used to a new house, new routine, and new humans.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
from an earlier post:
Do NOT use pee pads. This teaches your dog that it is ok to go in the house and confuses him.
Always keep him in the same room as you so you can keep an eye on him. If he wanders too much get a leash and tie him near you so you can watch. As soon as he starts to go tell him no no no no and run him outside. When he goes outside praise him. As he becomes more trustable you can let him have 2 rooms at a time and eventually you won’t need to watch him at all.
If you can’t watch him or are gone put him in a crate. Make sure the crate is only bid enough for him to lie down, turn around and stand up in. Also don’t put any blankets or stuff like that in there until he learns. Otherwise the pee gets soaks up and he doesn’t care that he messed his crate. Most dogs will not go where they sleep. This will also set your dog up for success. Since he can’t go in the house because he is in a crate or being watched and corrected then he won’t have a chance to get away with and think, well, if mommy’s not home I can pee on the carpet! and it will take much longer to re-train the more often he goes.
Do not leave his water or food out. After he eats or drinks find out how long it will take for him to have to go. Then get him outside when he’ll need to go and reward him for going potty outside.
Take him out before bed and before going in his crate, and don’t give him food or water 2 hours before bed or being in a crate for a few hours.
When he is searching for a spot repeat a cue phrase like get busy, or go potty. Your dog will learn to relieve itself on command. Very handy in rain or snow!
Good luck!