Chihuahuas can be a very stubborn breed, especially when it comes to housebreaking. Some Chihuahuas are not housebroken until they are well into their adult years, causing not only inconvenient messes, but unwanted stress on their owners. Luckily, it is never too late to potty train your adult Chihuahua.
Things You'll Need
- Dog treats
- Potty pads
Instructions
Potty Training Your Adult Chihuahua
Decide where you want your adult Chihuahua to eliminate. This could be outside, in a crate, or on a potty pad.
Keep your Chihuahua confined to a small sleeping area at night, as a dog usually will not eliminate where he or she sleeps.
Take your Chihuahua directly to the designated elimination place first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Use consistent keywords for telling your dog to eliminate. Always say the same thing, whether it is "Go potty" or "Do your business." This way the Chihuahua knows exactly what action you want him or her to perform.
When your Chihuahua goes in the designated area, be sure to praise and reward, so he or she will know this is the correct behavior. Say "Good dog," and reward with a dog treat.
Your Chihuahua may still have occasional accidents. When this happens, punish with your voice by saying "Bad dog" within a few seconds of the act. Do not yell for accidents that are found later, as your Chihuahua will have no memory of the accident and will not understand why he or she is being punished.
Do not rub your Chihuahua's nose in the accident, or punish in any way other than your voice. These methods do nothing to teach the Chihuahua the appropriate behavior.