house training dog?
15 Mar 2010
I got a chihuahua puppy (4 mos) a week ago. It’s a female. I have been trying to train her to pee outside by taking her out every few hours during the day. I wait until she starts squatting to pee or poo and as she does so I say "go pee, good girl" and as soon as she’s done with either pee or poo, I give her a treat. She is still messing alot in the house and any time she starts whining alot and I think she may need to go out, I take her out. It takes her 10 minutes to start trying to pee usually if even then. She just walks around and not just trying to find a spot to go. Sometimes during the day I can’t spend alot of time outside with her because I have to watch my son inside the house and I can’t take them both outside at the same time. I’m just not sure what to do.
we have a fenced yard, but the fence is in bad shape. Plus, I am trying to actually train her and give her praise when she goes, so I need to be with her. How long does it typically take to train them to go outside?
Hi there! I have a yorkie and when i brought her home for the first time i found this to be the hardest thing..LOL One thing that i thought first, she is a puppy. Second, she is in a new surrounding…(I think they test us for awhile to see what they can get a way with.. :0)) Anyways i tried taking her out every 10-15 min and was going to move up a little longer however i found this did not work. What I found to work (to my surprise) I tied a bell to the door (the one i take her out to go the bathroom) she got interested in what i put there and she pawed at it. Once the bell went off I excitedly said thats a good girl lets go potty .. i then found one phrase to use and only used it when she was going to the bathroom (you can say things like lets go potty, get busy etc. ) Anyways, i took her out side and stayed out with her until she did something. (this may take awhile so be prepared to stand outside.) To make a long story short… I let her register that the bell meant potty. She to this day uses the bell when she has to go… and if she really has to go and your not quick enough she will ring it harder and louder! She does not go to the bathroom in the house either. She now knows the outside is where we do our business. Also i use to give her a small treat to reward her for ringing the bell and doing something outside. So you can try that and see if that helps. GOOD LUCK!
5 Responses
2010 Mar 15
sounds like you are going to be doing a lot of shampooing of rugs. do you have a fenced in yard? that would be nice. our chihuahua loved the outdoors.
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2010 Mar 15
It wasn’t mentioned in your question, so I am assuming you are not fully utilizing the crate. You need to take her out regularly (after meals, play and naps). And the times that she is not directly in your sight, keep her in the crate. Since dogs instinctually do not eliminate where they sleep, she will hold it in as long as she possible can. Remember, the crate should only have enough space for the dog to get up, lie down, and turn around in a circle (if there is too much space, the dog will eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other).
After you have begun to establish that elimination is outside, then loudly say "NO" if she is in the act of eliminating inside, then quickly take her outside. And if you do not actually catch her in the act, then do not say anything; just clean it up and hope you catch her earlier next time.
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2010 Mar 15
It’s only been a week, chihuahua’s have small bladders so they need to go out frequently. Say good pee and potty as she’s walking around looking and praise and reward and say good potty as you have been doing. You’re expecting too much too soon right now she’s only 4 months old.
You’re on the right track so keep it up, but chihuahua’s are notoriously difficult to housebreak, even as adults I’ve known a few that still go in the house and not outside. So you have to be diligent and very consistent and patient with them.
Some dogs are not fully reliable inside until a year old so expect accidents up to a year.
References :
2010 Mar 15
Hi there! I have a yorkie and when i brought her home for the first time i found this to be the hardest thing..LOL One thing that i thought first, she is a puppy. Second, she is in a new surrounding…(I think they test us for awhile to see what they can get a way with.. :0)) Anyways i tried taking her out every 10-15 min and was going to move up a little longer however i found this did not work. What I found to work (to my surprise) I tied a bell to the door (the one i take her out to go the bathroom) she got interested in what i put there and she pawed at it. Once the bell went off I excitedly said thats a good girl lets go potty .. i then found one phrase to use and only used it when she was going to the bathroom (you can say things like lets go potty, get busy etc. ) Anyways, i took her out side and stayed out with her until she did something. (this may take awhile so be prepared to stand outside.) To make a long story short… I let her register that the bell meant potty. She to this day uses the bell when she has to go… and if she really has to go and your not quick enough she will ring it harder and louder! She does not go to the bathroom in the house either. She now knows the outside is where we do our business. Also i use to give her a small treat to reward her for ringing the bell and doing something outside. So you can try that and see if that helps. GOOD LUCK!
References :
2010 Mar 16
The bottom line is you need to take her out every two hours.
Continue to use positive reinforcement when she goes outside.
If she makes in the house, use the "No" command only if you catch her in the act.
Continue this routine and within 2 months she will get it. House training a dog is hard work. It takes consistency and a lot of energy on your part but ultimately your efforts will pay off.
Best of Luck!
References :
http://www.Dog-Training-Works.com