I'm adopting a 3 yr old chihuahua,are they hard to housebreak and train?

Answer 1

I have found the adults to be pretty easy, if started off right in a new home..Just do a LOT of walking and praising..Never scold for mistakes, but keep her walking often, so mistakes don't happen much..
when you get her home, feed her 3 times per day for the first couple of weeks, and walk her a few minute after each feeding..Don't be surprised if she doesn't eat well at first..anyway, walk after every feeding and praise her each time she potty's or pees outside..
Dogs love Routine..so they know what to expect and when, so keep to a schedule, and put the dish up as soon as she has eaten..
Eventually, as she gets better trained, you can gradually reduce the mid day feeding, to just a treat or biscuit..
Chihuahuas are NOT any harder to housetrain than any other dog..It is just lazy owners, who would rather stay on the couch and pick up after them, than to commit to training... and walking..

Answer 2

Three years ago I adopted a stray Chihuahua. He was approximately three years old at the time. He was fairly well housebroken at the time but he now will even scratch at the door to be let out. He can sit, stay, lay down, shake, roll over and crawl now too. He had some pretty severe behavioral issues at first (mainly running away which would explain why he was a stray) and you could tell he had been abused so I had to be very careful about any sort of punishment. With lots of love and patience though he has turned out to be a wonderful dog and even goes to the office with me everyday. Every dog is different, of course, but don't get discouraged. I was never a small dog person having grown up on a horse ranch and only ever owning larger dogs but Chihuahua's are actually very intelligent little creatures and make great companions.

Answer 3

I've recently rescued a 3 year old chihuahua as well. I have no history from her before the time I got her so I really don't know if she was housebroken or not. We haven't had too much trouble with her. She goes if we let her outside, but the one problem we've had is her not letting us know when she needs to go. If we think to let her out, great. If not she won't tell us in any way and she'll try to sneak off somewhere in the house and go. We put bells on her coller so that we can be aware of where she is in the house at all times and give her a lot of praise when she goes outside. I still believe the accidents are our own fault for not paying enough attention. I wish she would whine by the door or something if she needs to go, but we have to pay close attention to how often she goes, when she eats and drinks, and whether or not she is acting like she has to go (sniffing around or trying to run off somewhere) Good luck! They are great little dogs and we love having her.

Answer 4

When you first bring them home, put them in the grass right where you want them to go all the time. She will smell her urine there and most likely will always go there. Dont bring her in the house before hand put her from the car directly into the grass!!!Take them out as often as you can as well. This will encourage them to go to the door every time. If you can, try a crate, dogs dont like to urinate in their area, so being 3 she will be able to hold her bladder pretty well. Also if she has a noisy toy, tie it up where she can play with it but not move it from by the door. That way if she has to go, she will go by the door and play with the toy, you will be able to hear her as well.
Good luck!
I also just adopted a cocker spaniel from the shelter and she was 1, she was a stray so I thouht I would have to house train her but she was so used to going outside she even holds it all night!
Congratulations on adopting an animal, so many need homes, congrats!

Answer 5

If she's three, she should already be housebroken and trained. However, if not just work with him/her every day. 30-45 minutes after eating, take the dog outside and stay outside until the puppy goes. It'll take time, but keep working with the dog. Things will work out.

If you're adopting from a shelter, they'll have covered most of the training and housebreaking.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Three is a little late to housebreak,but as they say,"It's never too late".
If your pooch isnt doing its business outside your best bet is to crate train him.A small crate is preferable so it wont have lots of room to go potty in.Dogs dont like to filth their own space.
Never leave your pooch in the crate more than six hours at the most,their bladders can't handle it.In the morning the first thing you should do is take him out of crate and go directly outside to urinate.Try using the same spot,your dog will smell his own urine and will soon learn this is where he goes potty.Repeat "go pee",teaching him the command,once he's gone give him lots of praise,perhaps some treats too.
Don't let him drink after 7:00
Take him out directly after he's eaten
Take him to his pee spot several times during day
Praise praise praise

Answer 7

A 3 year old dog may be set in his ways, and could very well be hard to train, same thing as far as hosebreaking the dog is concerned.You just have to wait and see what bad habits this dog has acquired during 3 years of life.

Answer 8

They can be impossible to housebreak.
I know a breeder who never even tries to fully house break them. If they will go on the puppy pee pads that is as good as she gets it.
They are very tiny very stubborn little dogs and becasue of their size many are spoiled rotten. It is hard to swat a 2 pound dog.
Good luck.

Answer 9

at three yrs old they should already be housebroken.
but remember that it's a new house and he/she might want to mark a new territory watch out for that to.
just be loving and yet Stearn and don't let the chi get away with things like that.
good luck

Answer 10

If its 3 and its not housebroken yet-there is a problem, and it will be nearly impossible to train him now.