How to train a Chihuahua to use a litter tray or diaper

Is it possible to train someone to relieve themselves in a certain place?

One of the advantages of the Chihuahua breed is the ability to toilet train in a specific place chosen by the owner, including a litter tray or diaper.

This plays an important role in the fact that representatives of this breed are very popular among dog breeders living in city apartments.

The owner just needs to be persistent, follow the pet’s natural “ food , then toilet” routine and be aware of some of the character traits of these dogs :

• tendency to independently determine a place to relieve oneself;
• negative perception of punishment and love of praise.

You can toilet train your pet in the shortest possible time if you approach this issue responsibly and with knowledge regarding the nature of the breed.

The speed of training also depends on the individual characteristics of the dog..

What should a toilet look like?

A dog of a miniature breed (also often called “dwarf” or “pocket”) breed does not need to be walked twice a day. Small pets can fulfill their physiological needs in the house. However, in order to avoid unexpected “surprises” in an apartment or house, it is necessary to teach your Chihuahua puppy to go to the toilet in a certain place. A special tray or a disposable diaper can be used as a toilet for dogs of dwarf breeds.

When buying a puppy, ask the seller if the animal is toilet trained. Conscientious breeders will often teach the dog to have a specific bowel movement before putting the puppy up for sale. Check with the seller whether the dog has been trained to go to the toilet in a diaper or in a litter tray. Most often, breeders teach pocket breed dogs to relieve themselves in a diaper.

It would seem that this is the simplest and least burdensome method in terms of maintenance. However, it has a number of negative aspects. First of all, this method cannot be called hygienic. In addition, if you did not have time to change the diaper in time (for example, you were late at work), your pet may not want to go to the “dirty” toilet and will make a puddle on the carpet. The whole reason is that both the floor covering and the diaper have a soft base.

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The dog, this problem is especially common in tamed puppies (both girls and boys), could be “confused.” To avoid such problems, according to the recommendations of experienced dog handlers and dog breeders, the best solution would be to train your four-legged friend to use the tray.

How to choose a tray?

Today, pet stores offer customers a wide range of trays for dogs of dwarf breeds. There are products with low or high sides, some with a special “entrance”, there is a tray with a vertical column, often purchased by owners of male dogs, there are trays with a “grass-like” coating and others. For example, the latter option is often used as a toilet for those Chihuahuas that are trained to empty their bowels outside.

The best option for a litter box for a dog in the house is a galvanized or plastic tray, at the bottom of which there is a special grill or rubber mat. The option with a removable grill is considered more convenient and hygienic - it is easy to clean, convenient to disinfect, and the dog does not get dirty.

Why does a Chihuahua pee anywhere?

Often, toilet training does not go smoothly and the owner is faced with the fact that the pet, no matter what, relieves itself anywhere.

If we are talking about a male dog, then you need to know that after 10 months the pet reaches puberty and can begin to mark its territory.

The situation may be aggravated:

• old marks of other dogs;
• the presence of a female in heat nearby;
• hormonal imbalance;
• stress.

In such a situation it is necessary:

• increase the number and duration of walks;
• use special sprays designed to repel dogs from leaving marks;
• take a responsible approach to raising a Chihuahua - often the marks left by the pet indicate that he feels like the boss in the house and marks his territory.

If nothing helps solve the problem, the only radical option left is castration.

When should you diaper your puppy?

It is necessary to start training a Chihuahua puppy to wear a diaper immediately after he appears in the house.

The younger the dog is, the more often it needs to go to the toilet. In addition, the puppy may pee while playing or experiencing strong emotions.

And if this can to some extent be attributed to negative aspects, then an undeniable advantage will be that:

• the puppy has a flexible psyche;
• his character is not fully formed;
• he does not yet have hard-to-eradicate habits.

All this suggests that the sooner you start toilet training your pet, the easier and faster a positive result will be achieved.

Expert opinion

Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich

Expert dog handler.

The puppy must be taken to the diaper immediately after eating and, if possible, not allowed to leave it until he relieves himself - this is the main trick for speedy toilet training. The fact is that after eating, the dog almost immediately needs to visit the toilet and this will help him quickly remember the correct place. Also, the pet must be praised after it relieves itself exactly where it is needed - Chihuahuas love affection and praise and will strive to receive it again and again.

Features of toilet training a Chihuahua

The charm of Chihuahuas lies in their small size, personality, and variety of coat types and colors. Representatives carry a bright individuality that dominates the characteristic characteristics of the breed.

There are several characteristics of this breed that should be taken into account during the home training process. First, it is important not to shout or show anger or frustration. This teaches the dog that the owner has an irrational dislike of his bodily functions. As a result, she will become sneaky (hiding to relieve herself) and will actually abandon potty training. You may develop a fear of going to the toilet in the presence of a person, even in a designated place.

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Chihuahuas clearly show by their behavior when they need to go to the toilet. The ability to read an animal's body language will help the owner complete the task faster. After the dog chooses the correct place, it must be praised and treated with a treat. Animals are individual, each owner can find the most successful method of motivation.

Experienced dog breeders give some simple tips on how to accustom a Chihuahua to a diaper or tray:

• be patient: any dog, even the smartest one, needs some time to understand what the owner wants from it. Therefore, you should not expect that the learning process will go quickly and easily;
• draw up and stick to a nutrition plan: eating on a schedule and the puppy’s fast metabolism will help determine the time to go to the toilet;
• Don’t forget to reward your pet for things he does.

At what age should training begin?

You can start training a dog at any age, but more often there are recommendations for toilet training puppies. People, for various reasons, can also get adult animals (for example, take them from friends who are moving or adopt them from a shelter). In this situation, it is important to understand that they need a different approach and different training rules. Chihuahuas can successfully potty train at any age, but it is best to start as early as possible. During the first 6-12 months of a Chihuahua's life, their brains develop at a rapid rate, so they will naturally understand sequences more quickly. When these principles are learned at an early age, they remain into adulthood, making potty training easier in a new home.

How to toilet train a Chihuahua puppy? There is no place for harsh or physical training methods in home training. Modern training methods have moved away from an aggressive, “nudge your nose” style towards reward-based positive reinforcement. When a dog performs a natural bodily function at a designated location (peeing or pooping) and receives a reward, it tries to save its "effort" to spend at that designated location to earn a tasty treat. The Chihuahua wants to please its owner; as soon as he understands what is wanted from him on the street or in a certain place, he will try to do it correctly. With consistency, patience and encouragement, your pet will learn much faster in return without compromising the human-dog bond.

Possible problems

The new owner of a baby should study the information on how to train a Chihuahua to use the toilet in a diaper. Once you buy a puppy and bring it home, you will have to spend a lot of time toilet training it. If it is not possible to spend the whole day at home, it is necessary to enclose the space, leaving the Chihuahua in an enclosure, or in a closed room where the floor is covered with diapers.

If an accident occurs, it is better to ignore it and calmly remove it. Do not use household cleaners that contain bleach or ammonia, they can increase the odor and bring your dog back to the area.

If the dog has already found an unsuitable place for the toilet, it needs to be cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner and bowls of food and water placed there. Dogs don't mess up where they eat, so this will help you break the bad habit in no time.

The habit of defecating near the toilet may indicate that the dog is simply given too little space.

Anything that disrupts an animal's normal routine can make home training more difficult. These may include urinary tract infections, a gastrointestinal disorder or illness that causes diarrhea, mobility problems (the dog has trouble getting outside quickly), changes in diet, schedule, or medications that cause increased water intake and subsequent increased urine output. Stress increases the frequency of urination. Unexplained behavior may indicate a medical problem.

The main thing for the owner to remember is that any difficulties can be overcome.

How to choose a place

It’s worth deciding where the Chihuahua’s toilet will be even before the puppy gets into the house.

The most suitable places for this:

• glazed loggia;
• bathroom;
• corridor;
• hallway.

In the first few days, the puppy should not be allowed to roam around the entire apartment or house. It is better to keep it in a limited, but sufficient space for comfortable living. You also need to put a diaper or a tray there.

Keeping a Chihuahua in this way eliminates the possibility that he will get confused in a new place, will not be able to find a toilet and, as a result, will relieve himself on the carpet, in the kitchen or other place not intended for this .

If it is not possible to fence off a space for the puppy, you should lay out several diapers at once - at least 1 in each room. As the Chihuahua gets older, it will be better to determine the toilet and the number of diapers can be gradually reduced.

You should not place the toilet next to the food area - representatives of this breed are very clean and will refuse to relieve themselves where they eat.

Training methods

There are several ways to train a Chihuahua to wear a diaper.:

• If the dog is in a cage, enclosure, arena or any other confined space, you need to cover the entire floor in it with diapers, leaving no alternative for the pet to relieve itself. The number of diapers should be gradually reduced and eventually only 1 should be left. By this time, the Chihuahua will be well aware that this is the toilet.
• If the dog has access to the entire apartment, you should lay out several diapers at once in different places - the more there are, the less likely it is that the pet will wander past.

You can’t scold your pet – a Chihuahua only needs positive motivation.

The most effective way

The help and support of the owner will help the dog in the shortest possible time not only get used to the new home, but also clearly remember what a toilet is and where it is located.

Most often, dogs go to the toilet where they have already gone at least once..

The reason for this is the pheromones contained in previous feces - dogs smell them, even if it is elusive to the owner’s sense of smell, and go to do their business there. This is why it is important to thoroughly wash the floor where the dog has peed and remove or completely cover all carpeted areas with diapers.

However, this fact can also play a positive role in the issue of accustoming a Chihuahua to a diaper lying on the floor - by spraying a special spray on it or leaving a simple rag or newspaper with which you previously blotted the puddle, you can significantly speed up the process of the dog remembering exactly where the toilet is located.

How to train to the tray

First of all, you need to understand that litter box training is not a matter of one day; you need to show some persistence and be patient.

It is normal for your pet to walk past the litter box at first. It takes time for a dog to remember the right place to relieve itself.

There are several points to consider:

• The right place . You need to track which place the puppy has independently chosen for the toilet (most often this is a place near the doors, balcony or windows), and place the tray there, gradually moving it to where it should be permanently.
• Limited space . If it is not possible or desirable to keep a dog in a confined space all the time, then this should be done at least while the owners are away - this will minimize the likelihood that the puppy will make a mistake and go to the toilet in the wrong place.
• Praise . For every correct action, including defecating in a designated place, the Chihuahua should be praised. But you can’t scold for mistakes and blunders - the pet will feel negative and will look for a secluded place for the toilet that is difficult for the owners to reach.
• Help . After sleeping and eating, you need to take the puppy to the tray, this will help the pet quickly understand what it is intended for.

It is important to keep the tray clean . And not only to avoid unpleasant odors in the house. The fact is that the puppy will not go to the toilet where it is dirty and, at best, will do all his business near the tray.

NOTE!

If the tray is clean, but the pet still relieves itself near it, perhaps the reason is the size of the tray and it is worth purchasing a larger toilet.

If you are training a Chihuahua that is accustomed to wearing a diaper, you should first wrap it around the mesh of the tray.

Possible difficulties

In addition to problems with training a dog, owners often face other obstacles. The dog can walk past the litter box or do its business on the furniture. Such difficulties are very common, so every breeder should know how to avoid them.

Male does not raise his paw

How to train a puppy to wear a diaper at 1, 2 or 3 months

As you know, all male dogs go to the toilet in a small way, with their paws raised. This habit should appear by the pet's first year, when the peak of puberty begins. There are practically no problems with this on the street, since there are trees and bushes around. The male often does not raise his paw when the litter box is at home. In this case, the pet needs help. In pet stores there are special trays for boys, where there is a column.

For your information! You can put a regular stick in the pot or make a support from a water bottle. Thanks to their instincts, dogs quickly navigate and understand what needs to be done.

Emptying by

If the dog does not go to the litter box, but does its business next to it, it means that something is not happy with the pet. Perhaps the reason is the high sides, which are inconvenient to overcome. In this case, it is necessary to replace the pot.

Often, owners neglect the cleanliness of the tray and are in no hurry to wash it. However, it is necessary to clean up immediately after defecation. Otherwise, the dog will not go to the right place due to dirt and smell.

Sometimes the dog sits close to the edge and then the liquid leaks onto the floor. In this case, it is necessary to place a diaper under the tray, and teach the dog to sit in the center of the toilet.

Vocalizes on the sofa or bed

If your dog goes to the toilet on pieces of furniture, it is necessary to limit access to these places. This behavior can cause stress when the baby has just been adopted into a new home. Adult dogs sometimes experience involuntary urination due to kidney disease. In this case, it is necessary to take your pet to a doctor for consultation.

Important! The stain on the sofa or bed should be thoroughly washed so that the smell does not attract the dog in the future.

To avoid trouble, you need to regularly clean the litter box and walk your dog. In the most urgent cases, special repellents are used to protect furniture from unwanted puddles.

Relieving himself on the carpet

Carpets absorb odors well. Therefore, if a dog makes a puddle once, then further similar pranks are not excluded. While toilet training your Chihuahua, experts advise removing carpets from the house. If this is not possible, then it is important to wash them thoroughly with bleach or powder. You can cover the surface with diapers until the puppy learns to go to the correct corner.