how can i potty train my chihuahua without having to lock him up in a crate?

Question

He doesnt always do it in front of us. I dont want my carpets getting ruined by him and i do not want to put him in a crate .. its like puppy jail!!

Answer 1

Lock it in the bathroom or swat it with a rolled up news paper while screaming at it.

Answer 2

Crate training, if done properly, is nothing like puppy jail. You DO NOT confine the puppy in there 24/7. The puppy only goes in to sleep at night, when you can't watch him, and when you leave the house. Of course, you can always housebreak dogs without using a crate. This, of course, is a little more work.

Take the puppy out often. Take him out every 45 minutes, 15-20 minutes after every meal, right when he wakes up from every nap, right when he wakes up in the morning, 30-45 minutes before bed, and after every play session. Yes, that seems like a lot, but Chihuahuas have very small bladders and WILL go if you don't take them out often. Be sure to keep an eye on him at all times. If he goes into a different room, follow him. Once you turn your back, he could go without you knowing.

I was puppy-sitting for my cousin, and her chihuahua is almost housebroken, BUT I was not watching him for a few minutes while I made lunch. He went to the bathroom behind a lamp in the living room and I never knew until it was found a few days later. That's how sneaky they can be.

When your puppy does go outdoors, praise him and you could even give him a small treat. Try to make it a big deal that he went to the bathroom outside, because he'll start to associate it with something positive. NEVER punish him if he does go in the house. Do not even consider hitting him, even with a newspaper. Don't rub his nose in his own business. If you see him in the act, firmly say no, clap your hands loudly to startle him, and bring him outdoors immediately to finish. Again, praise if he finishes his business outside. If you see he had an accident and you didn't catch him in the act, just clean it up well, remove the odor the best you can, and take it as a lesson learned that you need to watch him more carefully. If you take him over to his business and start yelling at him, he won't understand why. The best thing is to forgive and forget. Good luck!

Answer 3

I have a puppy right now, so what we do is if she starts sniff'n around we'll take her outside untill she goes and when she does we give her a treat, but when she goes in the house we usually tell her no and set her in the crate for a few minutes to tell let her know that she can't go in the house. Its working really well for our dog. We've done this for about a month and she is learning really fast. The treat thing is really effective.

Answer 4

Take him out to the garden at a specific spot you want him to pee or poop. The key is patience. He may circle around an area before he let it out. Then praise him lots and give him a treat. He may not want to do it at first because he's not familiar with the surrounding, so you have to try it again in about 15 minutes. Once he does his business in that area, he will always go back to it and release :P If he has an accident at home, scold him and say bad dog, several times, and ignore him. A few times, he will get it that he shouldn't do it inside the house.

Answer 5

Take him outside often. Watch for what behavior clues he gives when he needs to go to the bathroom (does he run around looking for a spot, sniff the floor, act hyper?) and when you see that behavior take him outside right away. Praise him when he goes outside. As far as the crate there is nothing wrong with putting him in one when you are out of the house as long as it's big enough and you give him water. I keep my youngest dog in a crate when I'm away from the house because he chews on things and I'm afraid he'd eat something that could harm him or that he'll hurt himself (he's very adventurous lol). I give him a treat to get in his cage and now as soon as I start putting on my shoes he's in his cage waiting for that treat.

Answer 6

I didn't crate my dogs. And did regularly put them outside, and did the rewards and the pat on the back. And as they grew up little spots and sprays happened mysteriously. I see other people in their homes with their dogs and so I ask if they have any accidents? No never, is usually the answer. So my next question is did you crate your dogs?? Yes is the answer. I think it is cruel too, if they aren't crated you are more likely to have spots and accidents.

Answer 7

I have 3 of these devils. I read no chihuahua is ever fully potty trained and I believe it to be true. You just have to catch them before they go on the carpet. Its purely by luck if mine potty outside I believe LOL

Answer 8

just sit outside with him for a while and every time he goes potty in the right place say "good potty" pet him and give him a treat. They also have scented things at petsmart you can put in your grass and it attracts the dog to go there instead

Answer 9

Do you use WE-WE Pads? There are made with plastic underneath, some paper on top, with a drop of ammonia included to attract the dog. I have tried other brands; but found fine holes pierced in them, so they leaked through.

Answer 10

Buy those puppy pads that soak up pee and put him in a room with alot of then and close the door
Thats what I did

Answer 11

Take him out after he eats, after he wakes up, and after he plays. If you do this he should learn to potty outside.