Housebreaking your Chi...
To start, there are many methods in which you can housebreak your new baby. Whichever way you choose, it is
important to understand your puppy. Dogs really want to please; the trick is you have to help them understand what it
is you want from them.
Since the Chihuahua is a small breed and may never be an outside dog, there is also paper training. Place layer of
newspaper over potty pad (get at Pet Stores) in the corner away from the feeding and water dishes. After meals, take
the pup to the paper. Each time the pup eliminates, change the top layer newspaper and leave the bottom. Puppies like
to go where they smell urine and feces, eventually this will attract them back to go on the paper. Do not forget To
PRAISE! Remember, pleasing you is what makes the puppies tail wag even faster.
Housebreaking your new puppy is going to take "Patience". Pups need to relieve themselves a minimum of six times a
day! A puppy is not physically able to control the muscle that allows him or her, to "hold it" until he is about 12 weeks
of age. A puppy should be taken outside, to the paper or piddle pads provided, after each meal or drinking water...a full
tummy puts pressure on the colon and bladder. Watch for signs, such as turning in circles, smelling around, etc. Using
a crate or confining your pup to a small part of the house that has easy cleanup is the way to go! Expect your puppy to
have an accident once in a while. This is normal and after all, he or she has only been on this earth a couple of months!
If you catch him in the act of pooping/peeing, make a startling noise to interrupt ( not scare), take to the designated
area, PRAISE and perhaps a treat for a job well done! Do not punish physically, this is wrong, it will only cause the pup
to fear you and make the problem worse. SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE. Don't give the pup a chance to goof.
Watch for the telltale signs then swoop him/her off to the blessed area!
Please remember this even if you forget all the rest of our suggestions: DO NOT HIT YOUR PUPPY, DO NOT SPANK
THE PUPPY AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, NEVER RUB HIS OR HER NOSE IN THE URINE OR POOP!
Some owners think their dog is being sneaky when it goes under a chair or around the corner to relieve itself. Your dog
only knows that the mess upsets you, but does not know it should stop making the mess. Those two acts, in your dog's
mind, are not related. Remain consistent Do not allow your pup to do something one day and not the next.
This will only confuse him or her as to what you want, NEVER leave an untrained puppy unattended in your house, the
dreaded "mess" will appear and you will have to start all over in reinforcing the rules. You need to make your dog
understand what is expected of him. DOGS WANT TO PLEASE. Always PRAISE your dog for good behavior. NO FORM
OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT is as effective as praise, encouragement, patience and love. Come to think of it, that
applies to all of us.
House Soiling Problems
If you've consistently followed the housebreaking procedures and your pup still continues to pee in the house, there may
be another reason for it.
MEDICAL...urinary tract infection, parasites...contact your Veterinarian.
SUBMISSIVE/EXCITEMENT URINATION...happens while greeting, play, fear of punishment or feels threatened. Seek
Professional Advice.
TERRITORIAL URINE MARKING...dogs sometimes deposit feces/urine, to scent mark their territory. Both Male and
Female dogs do this, and it usually occurs when they believe their territory has been invaded.
SEPARATION ANXIETY...some dogs become anxious when they are left alone. You will find urine or feces along with
other destructive behavior or barking.
FEARS OR PHOBIAS...when animals become frightened, they may lose control of their bladder/or bowels. If your pup
is afraid of loud noises, such as thunder, fire sirens, gun shots or something as simple as a door slamming, this may
cause him or her to have an accident.
If a human child suffered from any of the problems above, any caring and responsible Adult would seek help and advice
from a Professional to help support, ease and possibly correct the above problems.
There is a lot of help out there in the way of books, Veterinarians, Trainers, Do not be afraid to ask for help! All of the
above is simply a shortened summary to get you started. Oh, and one more bit of advice....Remember your Chihuahua
cannot read, so all of this is so much blah blah blah...translate for him/her with love, patience and perseverance because
that pup is your forever furkid!
important to understand your puppy. Dogs really want to please; the trick is you have to help them understand what it
is you want from them.
Since the Chihuahua is a small breed and may never be an outside dog, there is also paper training. Place layer of
newspaper over potty pad (get at Pet Stores) in the corner away from the feeding and water dishes. After meals, take
the pup to the paper. Each time the pup eliminates, change the top layer newspaper and leave the bottom. Puppies like
to go where they smell urine and feces, eventually this will attract them back to go on the paper. Do not forget To
PRAISE! Remember, pleasing you is what makes the puppies tail wag even faster.
Housebreaking your new puppy is going to take "Patience". Pups need to relieve themselves a minimum of six times a
day! A puppy is not physically able to control the muscle that allows him or her, to "hold it" until he is about 12 weeks
of age. A puppy should be taken outside, to the paper or piddle pads provided, after each meal or drinking water...a full
tummy puts pressure on the colon and bladder. Watch for signs, such as turning in circles, smelling around, etc. Using
a crate or confining your pup to a small part of the house that has easy cleanup is the way to go! Expect your puppy to
have an accident once in a while. This is normal and after all, he or she has only been on this earth a couple of months!
If you catch him in the act of pooping/peeing, make a startling noise to interrupt ( not scare), take to the designated
area, PRAISE and perhaps a treat for a job well done! Do not punish physically, this is wrong, it will only cause the pup
to fear you and make the problem worse. SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE. Don't give the pup a chance to goof.
Watch for the telltale signs then swoop him/her off to the blessed area!
Please remember this even if you forget all the rest of our suggestions: DO NOT HIT YOUR PUPPY, DO NOT SPANK
THE PUPPY AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, NEVER RUB HIS OR HER NOSE IN THE URINE OR POOP!
Some owners think their dog is being sneaky when it goes under a chair or around the corner to relieve itself. Your dog
only knows that the mess upsets you, but does not know it should stop making the mess. Those two acts, in your dog's
mind, are not related. Remain consistent Do not allow your pup to do something one day and not the next.
This will only confuse him or her as to what you want, NEVER leave an untrained puppy unattended in your house, the
dreaded "mess" will appear and you will have to start all over in reinforcing the rules. You need to make your dog
understand what is expected of him. DOGS WANT TO PLEASE. Always PRAISE your dog for good behavior. NO FORM
OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT is as effective as praise, encouragement, patience and love. Come to think of it, that
applies to all of us.
House Soiling Problems
If you've consistently followed the housebreaking procedures and your pup still continues to pee in the house, there may
be another reason for it.
MEDICAL...urinary tract infection, parasites...contact your Veterinarian.
SUBMISSIVE/EXCITEMENT URINATION...happens while greeting, play, fear of punishment or feels threatened. Seek
Professional Advice.
TERRITORIAL URINE MARKING...dogs sometimes deposit feces/urine, to scent mark their territory. Both Male and
Female dogs do this, and it usually occurs when they believe their territory has been invaded.
SEPARATION ANXIETY...some dogs become anxious when they are left alone. You will find urine or feces along with
other destructive behavior or barking.
FEARS OR PHOBIAS...when animals become frightened, they may lose control of their bladder/or bowels. If your pup
is afraid of loud noises, such as thunder, fire sirens, gun shots or something as simple as a door slamming, this may
cause him or her to have an accident.
If a human child suffered from any of the problems above, any caring and responsible Adult would seek help and advice
from a Professional to help support, ease and possibly correct the above problems.
There is a lot of help out there in the way of books, Veterinarians, Trainers, Do not be afraid to ask for help! All of the
above is simply a shortened summary to get you started. Oh, and one more bit of advice....Remember your Chihuahua
cannot read, so all of this is so much blah blah blah...translate for him/her with love, patience and perseverance because
that pup is your forever furkid!