Housebreaking Chihuahua

[YONNY]

I recently heard of a small dog that was trained to use a litter box. I want to get a Chihuahua and would like to do the same.Anyone have any advice?: YONNY)

[Squawksx3]

Hi YONNY and welcome to the board :)

I've heard of this also, but never knew anyone personally that has done it... so I'm not sure how you would go about it. Have you tried searching the web for info?. If I get a chance, I'll see what I can find. Good luck

[YONNY]

Hi Squawwksx3

Thanks for your reply. Hope to hear from you again.
YONNY

[eth_ng]

I haven't heard of this before, but I think it's possible as long as you train the Chihuahua from young.

[Top Dog]

Isnt this funny I just went out to a client today to teach her how to train her poodle to be trained to a litter box. Yes it is possible and this lady is an elderly lady with a 6 month old poodle. The concept is the same as outdoor training, I placed the litter box infront of the kennel. At the times puppies will eliminate, Sleeping, feeding, playing or training she is to be placed in the litter box and given the comand if she does not go within one minute she is to be placed in the crate(which she hates) on removal after a half hour to be placed in the litter box again and repeat command, if she does not go back in the crate for another half hour until she goes, then she is allowed some freedom. She will soon come to realize when she goes she can have freedom and will eventually learn to go to the litter box.

[Love Bird B]

I know you can train dogs to go on newspaper so a litter box doesn't seem too far off. If I ever get a Chihuahua, I would try to train him in the same manner, either on newspaper or a litter box.

[lkeubank]

We tried to litterbox train our pomeranian and it turned into an absolue fiasco. Instead of eliminating in the litterbox, the dog would either play in the litterbox or attempt to munch on the litter pellets (there's a special kind made out of recycled newspaper that is specifically for dogs). One day I caught him taking a nap in it after I got back from class. It was wonderful. I had intended it as a solution for his small bladder -- I sometimes have to leave him at home for 6-7 hours at a time, and I worried he wouldn't be able to hold it. However, despite his size (5lbs) he only needs to relieve himself 2-3 times a day.
I think it honestly depends on your dogs tempermant/disposition -- our dog won't go to the bathroom anywhere but on grass (or the carpet -- but he knows better). He never took to using newspaper, puppy pads, etc.
Chihuahuas may do better with the litter box training, as I have found they are less obstinate than poms.
Good Luck! If you do decide to try to litter train, be sure you buy the litter that is specifically for dogs -- some of the cat litter varieties are harmful if eaten.

[eth_ng]

Newspaper training isn't that hard [yeah yeah I know it's a long process]. You just put the dog in a room [preferably a bathroom or somewhere which is easy to clean up] covered with newspaper and make sure you stay with the dog inside. After the puppy eliminates on the newspaper, praise him. After a while [a few days not a few hours] you can take away a bit of the newspaper if the dog eliminates on the bare spot say 'no', lift him onto the newspaper and praise him when he does it on the newspaper. After another few days you can continue to remove the newspaper until there is 1 1/2 times of the puppy's size. After the puppy is used to doing it on the newspapers you can move the papers outside or where ever you would like the pup to do it. Make sure you get the scent of the urine on the newspaper when moving the papers and be sure you are with the puppy when he does it outside for the first time in case he makes any mistakes.