New chihuahuas will have no idea where the bathroom is unless you make it very clear to her (or him), so the first thing you should do with a new chihuahua is spend time with them and let them know where things are...the place to sleep, the toys, and the bathroom.
Chihuahuas by nature will just go when they have to, and are rather carefree about it at first, so you will need to spend time around her, and help her to know the rules and procedures.
If your chihuahua has been with you for a while, and she (or he) is still making mistakes, then you should first know that these loving dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. This means you should spend most of your time on commending good behavior rather than discliplining your chihuahua when mistakes are made.
If you want to correct any problems with peeing or pooing in the house, confine your chihuahua to a small room when he sleeps at night, since they dislike using their sleeping area for a toilet. First thing in the morning, take your dog out to where you want her "area" to be, and keep her there until the business is done. Then commend her, and be very affectionate, and use a soft voice. This bonds the chihuahua with you, and creates a desire to repeat the experience.
If you have been active in disciplining your chihuahua and are feeling frustration, you might want to know that chihuahuas are pain avoiders, so she might be running off and doing the business in a secret spot, and disappearing before you discipline her. Again, positive reinforcement is the key to getting your chihuahua house trained and happy.
If punishment is used, it should only be given when catching her in the act, or within a few seconds of the bad behavior, otherwise the dog won't know why you are angry. Punishment should only be a stern voice and facial expressions, since chihuahuas are very perceptive. Beating your dog is not a good idea, since it will create avoidance behaviors (example: do not poo on the living room carpet), rather than focused good behaviors (poo in the garden near the fence).
Male chihuahuas have "marking" built into their brain, and you will not change them. Basically, they can pee on demand. You can teach your male to go to a particular spot when he wants to mark. One woman had a house-bound male, and succeeded in paper training him by laying plastic down, then paper, then put a full bottle on top that was covered in dog urine. She then worked with her male dog to give him praise when he urinated on the bottle.
Other more methods of house training include crate training and outdoor training, so you might want to investigate these methods if you are not having success within 4 weeks.
If you are at your wits end after using everything mentioned here, you should get advanced help, because sometimes professional advice is the only thing that can bring success in house training your chihuahua.
Chihuahuas are smart, loving dogs, and a joy to have when they learn the rules and respect you, so be kind and firm, and enjoy your time with your little buddy.
Most people want to go to the bathroom right after they wake up. Your Yorkie is no different and this is where the routine begins. As soon as you are up in the morning, take him outside for his first potty trip of the day. He has been holding it all night, so go out quickly without any disruptions or distractions.
Make this potty trip a short one. Let your Yorkshire Terrier do its business and then come right back in for breakfast. Let him eat while you get ready for your day. By the time you are all dressed and have eaten your breakfast, it will be time to take your Yorkie out to potty again.
Hopefully your Yorkie's food and water has settled enough so that he is ready to go back out and do it again. Your Yorkshire Terrier puppy will need potty breaks at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. If your job or school takes you away from the house during the day, then you will need a friend or family member to keep to the routine.
Your Yorkie will need to be taken out again as soon as you return home. Again, a schedule or routing needs to be followed consistently. It may be helpful to keep a chart with times of day for potty breaks. These can be adjusted gradually as you make note of your puppy's natural elimination patterns.
Feed your Yorkie dinner at the same time every evening, early enough to have his food settled enough to have a successful potty break before going down for bed for the night. And in the morning, begin the whole routine again, keeping to the same schedule.
Potty trips should be kept short (ten to 15 minutes at the most) and low keyed, and do not let your Yorkie confuse these breaks with playtime. Give your Yorkshire Terrier plenty of praise and affection when he does his business. A small treat and verbal praise work good for this purpose, and will reinforce his good potty habits.
At one time, negative reinforcement was the rule. If your dog had an accident in the house, he was scolded and punished. This has proven to be less effective than positive reinforcement. Praising the good behavior works because your Yorkshire Terrier wants to be loved and to please you. If you are late getting home and find an accident, just go right to your normal routine.
After taking your Yorkie out on his potty break, you can clean up the mess without any fanfare. It is best if your puppy doesn't even see you doing it. You both just let it pass and do better tomorrow.
Your Yorkshire Terrier is dependent on you for almost everything. One of the most important is a firm foundation of potty training, which is only possible by following a routine from the beginning, and will result in a happy Yorkie and a happy owner.
Both Jack Sinclair & Beth Guide are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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