I was so excited when my parents finally agreed to get me a dog. I was literally squealing with delight!
My parents got me a chihuahua and it’s the cutest thing ever, but it has been really hard to housebreak. It seems like no matter what we do, our chihuahua just won’t stop peeing in the house!
I want to know how long it’s going to take before we’re able to stop worrying about this and if I should talk with the vet or maybe even consider giving him back.
Like us, many chihuahua owners may encounter the same situation and ask the question: Are Chihuahuas Hard To Housebreak? In this article, I will try to answer this question and show you how I solve the problem.
Are Chihuahuas Hard To Housebreak?
The chihuahua is a breed of dog that has been known for centuries to be stubborn and difficult to housebreak. The chihuahuas’ small size, which makes it convenient and easy to carry around; makes it very hard to train since you risk getting injured by the angry little dog if you get too rough with them.
Most people say that Chihuahuas are difficult to housebreak, but it is not an entirely true statement. Chihuahuas can sometimes be difficult to housebreak and they require more time and effort than other breeds. It is important to note that the entire process takes around 4-6 months, and varies depending on their age. Other breeds such as Labrador Retrievers or Siberian Huskies housebreak faster than a Chihuahua.
Why Do People Find It So Difficult To Housebreak Their Chihuahua?
The reason why some people may find it difficult to housebreak their chihuahua is that they are doing the wrong things. They don’t understand what causes a dog to pee in his own territory and he doesn’t know when he needs to go out, so you have to teach him.
There’s a lot of misinformation about how long it takes for dogs to be trained with this method. The truth is that it takes time and patience on your part but it’s not as bad as some people say. It can take up to three months or more depending on your chihuahua dog, but if you stick with the process then there will come a point where he knows what’s expected of him because you’ve created new habits for him.
Why Do Chihuahuas Take So Long To Be Housebroken? 6 Reasons
People often ask the question: why do Chihuahuas take so long to be housebroken?
Housebreaking is the process of teaching your dog that it’s not acceptable to pee inside the house. There are many reasons that can cause your chihuahua to be difficult to be housebroken and here are the top 6:
1. Small Size Breed
The first problem that you will encounter is the size of the dog. The Chihuahua as a breed is noted for being very small and fragile, so it can make training difficult. Dog owners are afraid of hurting them or using too much force when they reprimand their chihuahuas.
2. Need To Go Potty Often
Chihuahuas doesn’t have large bladders like other larger dog breeds. They will need to relieve themselves every couple of hours because they can only hold a small amount of urine in its bladder at any one time. This makes the process more difficult, especially if you’ve just started training for the first few days and you want them to hold it for longer.
3. Stubborn by Nature
Some people may say that Chihuahuas are stubborn, because they’re so independent and headstrong. They don’t want to listen to you and they’d rather do things in their own way. It could be because of their small dog syndrome where chihuahuas feel a need to be in control.
4. Not Enough Commitment From The Owner
Most of the time when a chihuahua is peeing in the house, it’s because you’re not paying enough attention to him or you don’t know when your dog needs to relieve himself. Having a lack of commitment on your part will not help you housebreak your dog.
Be consistent in the way you treat him both when he has gone to the toilet outside and when he hasn’t. If you are inconsistent then it can confuse him just like a person who’s told one thing, but does another. It will make training harder for you.
You should try and train your dog during the daytime by getting it get used to having a schedule and learning that they have limited time for free play outside.
5. Lack Of Knowledge
One of the most important reasons why most people don’t succeed in house breaking their dog is because they are not aware of how to do it properly.
They try and follow methods that they have read about on the internet but they’re giving advice from someone who doesn’t understand the chihuahua breed or truly know what works best for them.
Before trying you should research the methods that have been proven to work for your dog breed, and you should try and use those methods first.
6. Not Enough Patience
Some people expect the dog to be trained after a few training sessions, but this is not possible. Dogs need time and patience so you should go slow with your training. Keep repeating the process over and over again until he learns what it expected of him. If you try something new during the middle of the training then he will be confused and he will have to start all over again. Are chihuahuas hard to housebreak? Not always. Patience is the key!
How Do I Stop my Chihuahua From Peeing In The House?
The following are some tips that you can use to stop your Chihuahua from peeing in the house:
1. Clean Up Accidents Immediately
If your dog does have an accident, then it’s important to clean up the mess right away. Don’t just let it sit there or else he’ll think that it’s okay for him to go in that spot. Use a good air freshener or some potpourri to get rid of the odor as well.
2. Crate Training
Crates are great for housebreaking because they give your dog his own space where he can urinate without getting into trouble. You should make it comfortable by adding a blanket and a dog bed. The crate needs to be big enough that he can get up, turn around and lay down comfortably. MidWest Homes Dog Crate is a good choice. You should also put a few treats in the crate so that you can use it to reward him when he’s done his business inside it.
3. Take Them Out Often
You need to take your Chihuahua out often to coincide with their potty schedule. Take them out regularly so that they can go to the bathroom and relieve themselves. Make sure you do this in an area where there isn’t anything for them to pee on or else they will think it’s okay to relieve themselves there.
4. Keep A Schedule On The Door Or Window
It’s very important to keep an eye on your Chihuahua and become aware of when he needs to urinate. Watch him closely and learn what his signals are. Look for signs like sniffing at the floor, pacing from side to side or if he’s just roaming around looking for a place. When you notice that he needs to relieve himself, take him straight to his potty area so that he can do his business. Are chihuahuas hard to housebreak? Certainly not! If you are aware of the signs, you can easily train your cute chi.
5. Reward Good Behavior
When you catch your Chihuahua in the act of going outside, then you should be very happy and excited about it. Immediately take him outside to a designated potty area and give him a treat when he’s done doing his business. This will greatly encourage him and he will be more than happy to go outside when you call for him because he knows that he’ll get a treat after.
6. Put His Water Bowl Away Late At Night Before Bedtime
A lot of times Chihuahuas have accidents because the owners keep their water bowl filled up all night and they just wake up to go drink out of it. You should put the water bowl away after dinner so that it’s not accessible during the night and he’ll have to wake you in the morning or wait until you’re up to get his water.
7. Crate During The Night
It’s common for Chihuahuas to have accidents during the night because they like to roam around when they’re not sleeping. When crate training your Chi, you should place the crate next to your bed and keep it open so that he can go in and lie down for a while. This will help him from accidentally peeing or pooping in the middle of the night and trying to walk all over the sheets or carpet.
8. Act Happy When They Pee And Poop Outside
It’s very common for Chihuahuas to have accidents during training and you should act happy when they do their business outside. Don’t punish them or else they will be confused as to why you’re punishing them for going potty in the right place. Instead, just tell them what a good boy they are while you give them some praise and a treat.
How Often Should I Take My Chihuahua Out To Pee?
How often you need to take your Chihuahua out to go potty depends on how young they are. You should try to establish a schedule and do it at the same time every day if possible for best results.
For example:
- A 9 week old puppy can be taken out every hour
- For older puppies and adult Chihuahuas, you should take them out every 2-3 hours
Make sure you don’t stay too long when taking your Chihuahua outside though. If he starts to whine or bark then it means that they likely have to go potty again and if it takes longer than 10 minutes then you need to try again later or else they will get confused.
How Long Should I Wait Before Taking My Chihuahua Out Again?
This depends on how often you’re taking him out as well and what time of the day it is. Dogs like to relieve themselves once every 2-3 hours in small quantities throughout the day so if you take them out at 8 AM then they may have to go out again at around 11 AM and then again at 2 PM.
If you take them out after dinner then they may not have to go out for another 3-4 hours or even longer. You should always try taking him out before he starts whining because that means that he is about to pee or poop on the floor, but if it’s been more than 15 minutes then he may be confused about why you’re not taking him out.
Also Read: How Long Can A Chihuahua Hold Its Bladder?
How Do I Recognize When My Chihuahua Needs To Go Outside?
Chihuahuas have a very small bladder so they will need to go out every 2-3 hours around the clock. If you keep an eye on your Chihuahua then it won’t be hard to recognize when he needs to pee so you can take him outside quickly. Here are some common signs that your chihuahua needs to go outside to pee/poo:
1. Whining (obviously)
2. Sniffing Around The House
3. Go around in circles
4. Nose the ground a lot
5. Barking
What If My Chihuahua Has A Pee Accident After I’ve Taken Him Outside?
Sometimes your chihuahua might have an accident even after you’ve taken him out to pee. This will happen a few times during the housebreaking process so don’t get upset about it because there’s nothing you could have done. When this happens, bring them back outside and tell them “No!” or “Bad Dog” after they’ve done their business. You should then try to take him out again in 10 minutes so he can go potty properly, but don’t scold the dog if he tries to pee or poop inside because it’s not his fault that you didn’t catch him.
Conclusion: Are Chihuahuas Hard To Housebreak?
Chihuahuas are very intelligent dogs and will quickly learn what it means to pee or poop outside. It’s very important that you’re consistent with the way you take him out though and don’t ever give in because then he will think that he can continue having accidents. We hope the above information on Are Chihuahuas Hard To Housebreak was helpful.
