The excitement of a new puppy can often distract from the firm way they must be domesticated. Chihuahuas and other Toy breeds are notorious for being extremely difficult to housebreak. Behavior specialists list Chihuahuas in the top five most difficult breeds to housetrain. Though it is not easy, it is not impossible. There are quite a few tips to train your puppy with very few accidents, so do not despair! You and your new housemate can do it!

Steps

1. You Want to Start by Creating a Space for Your Pup. Whether you use a small exercise pen, a crate, or fence off an area of a room in your house, make sure it is no larger than 2×3 feet. The intention here is to create an area small enough that he considers it his space for eating and sleeping. It is against their nature to urinate or defecate where they sleep, so this is a good way to start. It will teach him to “hold it” until he is let out.
2. Establish a Feeding Schedule. He will most likely have to go about thirty minutes after eating, and that is when you should take him outside. For pups under 3 months, feed them 4 times a day, 3-6 months, 3 times a day, and over 6 months, twice a day should suffice. Avoid feeding him scraps or treats in between meals when he is a pup. This will compromise his training, and lead to mistakes in the house.
3. Be Sure to Take Your Pup Out Just Before Bedtime, and Immediately Upon Waking. If he naps during the day, be sure to take him then, as well. As they grow and nap less often, they will associate waking up with being taken outside, and will be less likely to go in the house.
4. You Can Attempt to Associate Certain Words and Phrases with Urinating and Defecating. To do so, while he is going, you should say things such as, “go potty,” “go to the bathroom,” or even “go for a walk.” This word association will help you communicate when he should go. If you are leaving for the evening and you will not be around to take him out, but you need him to go before you leave, you can then use these words and phrases to encourage him to go outside. If “Want to go to the bathroom?” is always said during or just before he is taken outside to go, he will associate it with going to the bathroom.
5. Praise Your Pup for Proper Behaviors. Use positive inflections in your words, and give him positive attention for using the bathroom the proper way. Do this during and immediately afterwards. He will enjoy this, and eventually, associate it with his potty behaviors.
6. Correct His Wrong Behaviors, but Do Not Condemn Him Afterwards. If your pup makes a mistake, pushing his nose into it or yelling at him after the fact will not help. He will not understand the connection, and he will just think you are angry for no reason. If you catch him in the act and yell, “NO,” or speak sternly, he is much more likely to understand the connection and alter his behaviors as a result. Excess anger without proper conditioning will set back the house training, and will scare the pup. Chihuahuas are generally quite scared of loud noises and raucous behavior, so be cautious with your disciplinary approaches.

Tips

• Some people like to take a newspaper out for their dogs, as a way of getting them used to using a newspaper when they cannot hold it and their owners are not around to take them outside. Others like to use a wide variety of methods such as grass pads and indoor dog potties. These methods are left to the owners to decide, as dictated by schedules, preferences, and cleaning methods.
• Chihuahuas fall very naturally into schedules, and as they grow, you will want to alter these schedules very gradually. A very young pup will need to go at least every 2-4 hours, and some will have to go even more frequently than that, depending on age and size. Every time they have an accident, it sets back their training, as they are creatures of habits. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on your pup, and ensure that you have the time and energy to train him before taking him into your home.
• After a few weeks of these techniques, your pup should understand a little bit more about his acceptable potty behaviors. There will be mistakes throughout, but with these careful techniques, your pup should be housetrained in two to three months.

Popularity: 1% [?]

A litter box for dogs? Has the world gone crazy? No, but you might if you have to pick up another pile of dog remains from your living room carpet. Indoor dog litter boxes make a lot of sense; especially if you live urban areas where having your dog outdoors is not an option. Here are 5 reasons you should consider an indoor dog litter box.

Economics

Puppy diaper pads aren’t cheap. A year supply of puppy pee pads can run you $450. Patio potty systems can easily run you over a grand. That’s serious change that can be invested with better alternatives. An indoor dog litter box will only cost you $50 a year. They’re affordable, tough, and provide a sanitary site for you dog. Save your carpet and wallet by investing in a dog litter box for your home.

Convenience

When you come home from a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is clean up a dog’s mess. With an indoor dog litter box, the mess is easily contained and quick to clean up. Your dog’s remains settle easily on the top of the grates of the litter box, so clean up is easy and mess free. Simply replace the newspaper from within the dog litter box, for a fresh setting for you dog.

Cleanliness

When dogs start to lose their control, they frequently face health problems that can be further antagonized by contamination caused by standing in their own filth. An indoor dog litter box features a raised screen so that the urine is absorbed below while your puppy’s feet stay nice and dry. It’s healthy and clean, saving your dog the indecency of standing in his or her own waste while you’re away. The pad easily absorbs the mess, with the bottom replaced for easy cleanup.

Artificial grass can be very difficult to clean up. Often, the cleanup falls to the wayside, leaving your puppy to suffer.

Design

Indoor dog litter boxes don’t look like a toilet. In fact, your friends may even mistake one for a yoga mat. Unlike puppy pads that scream puppy potty, an indoor dog litter box doesn’t look like a bathroom device at all, except to your dog. Keep it clean, and the potty will blend into the rest of your home. You can keep it in the living room, hallway or kitchen.

Environmentally friendly

Using a dog litter box vs. dog diapers or pee pee pads will minimize the your affect on the environment. Puppy diapers fill up landfills and leak waste. An indoor dog litter box, on the other hand, can last a long time, so you aren’t contributing any pollution to the environment. An indoor dog litter box is an earth friendly alternative.

As dogs get older, they lose their abilities to control themselves, and in results accidents occur. Accidents can also happen as a result of diseases, infection or other physical problems. You may have to work late at the office often, and can’t get home in time. Don’t blame yourself or your dog. Place a dog litter box within your home to reduce the frequency of these accidents.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Dogs are wonderful, but their messes are not. When your dog skips out on its housebreaking duties, the mess it leaves catches you between rage and guilt. You’re upset that your animal friend has left you a “gift” that smells and stains your carpet, but caught wondering if you forgot about the walk or came home from work too late. Perhaps you’re furry friend is getting up there in years, and these bathroom problems are just a sign of the times. You almost feel guilty that your dog is growing old.

Whether you are away from home frequently or your pooch’s bathroom habits have gone senile, there are solutions beyond a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle. An indoor dog litter box may be the perfect solution. Messes get isolated without staining the carpet and are easy to clean up. You don’t have to come home boiling and frustrated every time you find a mess. Your pooch can be comfortable while you’re gone without making a mess.

The following are a few benefits of an indoor dog litter box solution.

A litter box is more economical and environmentally responsible than “puppy diapers.”

Those puppy pads add up, not only on your monthly budget, but also on the size of trash you contribute to a landfill that will last thousands of years. Similar to baby diapers, puppy pads don’t easily break down. They’ll be around about as long as the Egyptian Pyramids, but don’t contribute the same legacy. Plus, they’ll cost you a small pharaoh’s ransom over a few years. A year’s supply of puppy pads costs more than $400. Add it up over several years, and you’re paying the price of a quality used car just so your puppy can go to the bathroom. You’d be better of buying them a 1987 Toyota and letting them have their way with the bucket seats.

A litter box keeps it clean.

You can get puppy litter boxes with specialized designs that make the whole process very sanitary, both for you as well as the puppy. The bottom is raised yet absorbent so your dog’s feet stay dry and clean. Solid messes are easily cleaned up, leaving no stain. They are convenient, making it easy to clean up after you’ve gotten home from a tired day’s work.

Puppy potties don’t look like a bathroom.

A puppy litter box doesn’t even look like itself. Much different than what you’d get for a cat, puppy litter boxes don’t scream bathroom. Assuming it’s clean, a guest would look at it and probably wonder what it’s for. It looks more like an exercise mat, although you might want to explain yourself before any houseguest sits down to do yoga. A puppy litter box doesn’t look offensive. It fits inside a house comfortably. Since it’s easy to clean, you can keep it from smelling and looking disgusting. They are also durable if used outdoors, even in the rain, sleet or snow. A good dog litter box can last for years, saving you money on pee pads and contributing less to a landfill while fitting the natural environment of your home.

Saves your dog the embarrassment and you a one-sided argument.

You may not be able to get home from work on time, or your dog may be suffering problems due to age or other health problems. Messes happen. An indoor dog litter box prevents them from happening, giving the dog a clean way to do its business in peace. If you had to go, would you want to cross your legs all day until your dog decided to come home? Give your puppy a chance to relax without contributing to permanent carpet stains and owner guilt complexes that rage in the night.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Owning a dog can be wonderful. Dogs are basically 4 year olds that never grow up, so you never have to worry about the cost of college. However, you do have to worry about them soiling the rug. Constant dog doo and urine stains on the carpet are enough to sour even the world’s biggest dog lover. Pooch messes can ruin a home, souring your living area with the noxious smell of a disgusting dog pound.

Sometimes a dog that messes up the house isn’t the result of poor training or a bad upbringing, but a serious medical condition. Infections, bladder stones, colitis, diabetes, cancer, parasites, and inflammatory diseases can all be the real reason your pooch is soiling the carpet, which no amount of training, finger shaking or pet treats will cure.

If your dog suddenly and surprisingly starts urinating indoors, it may be the result of a bladder infection. It’s always best to check with a vet if the behavior is new and not just the result of bad habits. Like humans, dogs can be cured of infections with proper medical care. When an infection is the source of the problem, clearing the infection is the key to getting your pet to use the proper facilities.

Also, it’s fairly common for older, spayed females to dribble. You can easily fix this with applied dosages of estrogen. Often, you can get away with tapering the dosages off after a few months after your pet’s hormonal system reaches a balance, although some dogs may require estrogen treatments for the rest of their lives.

Inflammatory bowel disease is often confused with irritable bowel syndrome because the results on the rug are similar. Unlike IBS which can be caused by stress, however, inflammatory bowel disease is the result of inflamed cells in the bowels, and the treatment is completely different. The source of the inflammation may be bacterial, dietary or parasitic. Removing these conditions should return the dog’s system to normal.

Worms and other parasites waste the dog’s body of nutrients and energy. As the pooch’s body struggles to rid itself of the parasites, it will go to the bathroom frequently, often uncontrollably. Consult a vet to see how to rid the parasites. Often, antibiotics and worm removal are key to curing the animal and returning it’s potty use to normal.

Kidney or bladder stones can also lead to frequent urination which the dog cannot control. Consult a vet to see how to rid the stones. If a dog is left inside, a proper indoor dog toilet method may be necessary, giving the dog a proper place to do his or her business without soiling your rug.

If a dog is suffering from cancer, failure to control its potty habits is often the first sign. Have the animal screened to detect problems early.

Failure to control its bowels may be a dog’s first sign of diabetes. Consult a vet to make sure. Like humans, animal diabetes can be treated with proper diet and exercise. You may have to buy special food. Indoor dog potties may be necessary to give the dog a proper place to go where the messes can be easily cleaned and maintained.

Bathroom problems may also be the result of a neurological disorder. This can be confirmed through blood work, radiographs and other tests. It’s fairly common in older dogs. In these cases, indoor puppy potties can be very helpful, giving the dog an easy accessible place to do his business that’s easy for you to clean up too.

If you have a housebreaking problem that doesn’t just seem behavioral, have the dog checked by a vet. Often, the reason is more medical than behavioral. By treating the medical condition, you get to the source of the problem, often eliminating it so the dog returns to normal bathroom behavior. Enjoy your relationship with your dog more by eliminating housebreaking problems at the source. Indoor puppy toilets can be an easy facility for your dog to use if he can’t control himself.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Like children, you need to get your puppies young to raise them right. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By properly socializing your puppy from an early age, you can teach it important socializing behaviors it can carry for the rest of its life. Starting with a puppy is like beginning with a blank page. The first behaviors you teach it are crucial. With proper socialization, you can avoid serious behavior problems such as shyness, timidity and aggression.

Once a puppy has all its shots at about 16 weeks of age, it’s important to socialize it with other friendly dogs, as well as acclimate the puppy to environments outside of the home and property through regular walks on a leash.

If you raise your puppy in the country or a suburban environment, it’s best to gradually acclimate him to traffic noise, crowds of people and other everyday life situations he’ll experience in more populated areas. Starting at 8 to 10 weeks of age, a weekly visit to town can be very helpful in getting your puppy used to busier areas. This can be very helpful at preventing environmental phobias.

When socializing with other dogs, keep in mind that puppies with fewer than 3 or 4 series of vaccinations should avoid contact with other unfamiliar dogs. It may be best to carry them in a crate or a Sherpa bag to make sure they don’t make too early contact with other dogs that may subject them to disease.

If your puppy shows early signs of timidity, it’s best to gradually introduce him to new and unfamiliar people so he can learn confidence and trust. Visitors should avoid sudden movements to touch the puppy as this can increase his fear and inclination to react aggressively. Make sure the introduction is gradual and passive, allowing your puppy to first sniff the hand through a gentle means. Avoid eye contract and confrontational body language. Visitors should crouch near the floor with the body facing away from the puppy, holding their hand to the side while offering the puppy a treat. Allow the puppy to first take the treat from their hand, rather than forcing the treat onto the puppy.

If the puppy is shy, resist the temptation to coddle or treat the puppy like a “poor baby.” The visitor should always remain encouraging, friendly and upbeat.

It’s very crucial the puppy learn to socialize with his own kind. By only socializing with humans, your puppy can learn problematic behaviors when around other dogs, leading to anxiety or aggression.
If your puppy is timid around other dogs but fully immunized, begin with socializing the puppy around other friendly easy-going puppies and dogs. Beginning to medium sized puppies work best, gradually working towards bigger dogs as the puppy learns confidence and comfort. Notice the puppy’s body language as it interacts with other dogs. If your puppy is especially timid, one day play sessions work best.

There are easy to recognize signs that your puppy is stressed. Panting when it’s not hot or the puppy is not thirsty is one sign of an overly anxious puppy. Timidity shown by running away, shirking or hiding in your arms is another sign of fear. This is natural in the beginning and should go away as the puppy is better socialized with humans and other dogs.

Yawning repeatedly is another sign of a possible nervous tick. Other dogs may become more hyperactive, running around and barking excessively. It’s similar to how some people may become overly anxious and talk or fidget nervously. Some dogs may tend to withdraw as they are overwhelmed by the situation.

Be patient and gradual with your puppy, but start early. Like humans, the building blocks of behavior in puppies are laid at an early age. It’s important to establish a solid foundation for a well-adjusted and healthy dog for years to come.

Popularity: 10% [?]

You brought home a cute little puppy, you showered him with new toys, and you did your initial cuddling, but now it is time to get down to business; I’m talking about training your puppy, and one of the first commands for him to learn is “sit.”There are many ways to start training your puppy to sit, but the two most popular are the Click and Treat Method and the Compulsory Method.  Here is a summary of the two methods:

Click and Treat Method

This method is based on the concepts of classical conditioning.  Without getting into the whole theory behind Pavlov’s Dog, the Click and Treat Method is centered upon the idea that a dog can be trained to sit with only positive reinforcement and without a leash or collar and, most important, with no force.  All you need is a basic clicker which you can purchase at any animal supply store.Here is how it works.

1. You must begin by establishing a connection between the treat and the clicker.  You do this by giving the dog many treats while you click the clicker over and over again.  He will get the idea that when he hears the clicker, he will be rewarded.
2. Then stop giving the dog treats until he has directed his attention to you.  When you get his attention, present a treat and click the clicker as you give your dog a treat.
3. Now hold a treat chest level so that he has to face his attention upward.  This should force him to naturally take a sitting position in order to direct his attention to the treat.  As soon as he sits, click the clicker and give him the treat.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 several times until it seems as though he has caught onto the idea that he will be rewarded for this behavior in correlation to the clicking.
5. Now add the “sit” command to the routine and continue to keep doing this over and over.
6. Eventually, you will be able to remove the click and rely on the sit command alone.

The keys to success with the Click and Treat Method are patience and an open mind that your dog will be able to be conditioned into understanding commands.  Once you have successfully accomplished the “sit” command, you should be able to use this method for other tricks as well.

Compulsory Method

Unlike the Click and Treat Method, the more traditional Compulsory Method is a method of coercion where you enforce instead of reward your dog’s behavior.

This method is simple.  Basically, you push down on the dog’s rump section, forcing him into a sit position, while saying the “sit” command.  If your dog lies down when pushing on his rump section, you may need to gently pull up on his chin while pushing down his rump section in order to get him into a sitting position.  You must repeat this several times until he realizes that he will be forced into the position if he doesn’t take the position on his own.  He will eventually start to take the sit position on command because he knows this is a behavior you will enforce.

Choke collars have been known to be used with this method as a way to enforce the “sit” command.  Using the choke collar, an owner would use the same steps only they will use the collar to pull up with just enough for the dog to sit, but not enough to make him stand.  If the dog begins to stand, the choke collar will be uncomfortable, making them take the sit position.  Though, using a choke collar, especially when used incorrectly, can cause the dog to fear the use of a leash and may also cause the dog to become nervous and/or aggressive.

Overall, whichever method you use when training your puppy, it is important that you remain consistent and be patient.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Traditionally, dog training techniques worked on the basis of the reward vs. punishment dynamic, with punishment being the more prevalent teaching tool. Harsh sanctions against unwanted behavior were the norm. But in recent years, the dog training world has been experiencing a rapid shift from the old training techniques to more positive, reward-based methods.

As defined by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), dog-friendly training is “training that utilizes primarily positive reinforcement; secondarily negative punishment, and only occasionally, rarely, and/or as a last resort includes positive punishment and/or negative reinforcement.” Positive dog training seeks to use training methods that are not detrimental to the owner’s relationship with his or her dog. This means thinking in terms of rewards, not punishment, as the main tool for shaping your pet’s behavior and using learning devices that avoid physical pain, intimidation or fear.

The reason positive training methods have gained popularity is because they work. Their success lies in the fact that, like people, and nearly all other animals, dogs will keep doing things that are rewarding and stop doing things that result in no rewards or are outright ignored. No punishment is required. Just the lack of a reward is, most of the time, enough.

The trick is not to have lots of treats at hand all the time, but rather to control the outcome of your dog’s behavior. If take this bit of dog training advice and use it every day, you will quickly be able to lead your dog towards the desire behavior.

How it works

The two concepts under which positive dog training techniques function are associative learning and operant conditioning.

Associative learning says that if two things consistently happen at the same time, we eventually start expecting one as soon as we see or experience the other. This is sometimes referred to as Pavlovian conditioning, a term that derived from psychologist Ivan Pavlov’s famous experiments with dogs. In his research, Pavlov conditioned a group of canines to salivate at the sound of a metronome, because they came to associate the sound with the appearance of meat powder.

Operant conditioning, the other concept underlying the positive dog training method, involves the use of consequences as a means to modify canine behavior. Rewarding desired behavior and ignoring undesired behavior results in the near complete elimination of unwanted behavior.

One of the reasons that positive training is so effective is because it separates learning the behavior from learning the command. By associating stimulus with desired behavior, positive dog training lets the dog learn a behavior first. Then, a verbal command can be added. By breaking down the process of learning, positive training creates easy benchmarks for both dog and owner.

In traditional dog training, people tried to teach the desired behavior by saying the verbal command while physically forcing the dog to perform the desired behavior. Methods of traditional training often require the use of violence, via choke collars, prong collars and electric shocks. The idea was to use pain to coerce dogs into adopting a behavior.

This is not only painful for the dogs, but it is also a lot less effective than positive dog training techniques.

Effectiveness of Positive Dog Training

Most trainers today agree that positive dog training techniques are more effective than traditional training methods. Positive techniques tend to have better timing and focus more on specific behaviors, which helps accelerate the training process.

Corporal punishment and coercion, on the other hand, will often lead to a dog becoming aggressive and violent. Additionally, the use of pain increases a dog’s stress levels and actually impairs its ability to learn. Not to mention the fact that physical intimidation will break a dog’s spirit and make him a lot less confident around other animals and crowds.

Positive dog training eliminates the use of pain and physical coercion. This creates a stronger bond between owner and dog, as the animal will look to its owner for leadership and will look forward to performing desired behavior.

For tips on housebreaking a puppy please visit our puppy training page. 

Popularity: 18% [?]

Deciding to train your new puppy or an older dog at home as opposed to sending him/her to a professional trainer is a wise decision because you are the best person to train your own dog. The bond between you and your dog will be stronger, your personalities will mesh better, you will have confidence in the training of your dog as well as in your dog’s skills and abilities, and your dog and you will love and trust each other. Read below for some information to get your new puppy off to the best possible start, correct numerous behavioral problems in older dogs, and simply apply basic and advanced dog obedience training.

Housebreaking a Puppy

While the arrival of a new puppy is cause for joy and excitement, it comes with frustrations. The most frustrating part of new puppy training is housebreaking a puppy. This is especially true because there will be unpleasant messes to clean up during the trial and error period. From your dog’s point of view there is no right or wrong place to go potty; thus, it is your job to clearly communicate and reinforce where it is acceptable. The keys to potty training a puppy are to closely monitor your puppy to try to limit messy mistakes and enthusiastically reward the desired behavior every time it occurs. Know that opening the door every time your puppy wants to go to the bathroom is not an effective method of potty training. The best tool to use when training your new puppy is to designate a potty area and use a dog toilet. Dog potties, for example the UgoDog Indoor Dog Potty, are cleaner, more effective ways of housebreaking your puppy.

Limiting Separation Anxiety

Frequently, dogs become too reliant and dependant on their owners. As a result, they can experience separation anxiety when their owners leave home, which can cause them to act inappropriately when you’re apart. Generally, a mild case of separation anxiety can be fixed by utilizing the following simple lessons.

1. Make sure your dog is comfortable when you are away by providing plenty of fresh water, clean bedding, appealing dog toys, and some food.
2. Before leaving, be sure to give your dog plenty of exercise.
3. If you often have the radio or television on when you are home, you can leave it on while you’re away and your dog will be comforted.
4. Pay no attention to your dog when you first arrive home and when you are just about to leave. Then, when he/she is calm, initiate some contact with him/her.
5. Separate yourself from your dog when you are home. For example, keep him in the garage while you are in the house. This way he/she will learn being apart is ok.

For more severe cases of separation anxiety, you may want to consider a visit to your vet for medication.

Walking your dog

Dog walking is a crucial skill to master for both you and your dog. It is important for you to train your dog to walk correctly with a leash because they will be much safer and more manageable. Additionally, several cities have ordinances requiring dogs to be walked on leashes. To master dog walking, you must first get your dog comfortable with wearing something around his neck. This can be accomplished by the dog wearing a collar or maybe a cute bandana. Your dog will probably roll around and try to take the item off, but it is important that you do not remove it until your dog has settled down and forgotten about the item. Once your dog is comfortable wearing something around his/her neck, you can introduce the leash.Show your dog the leash before you put it on so he/she can become accustomed to it. Let him/her sniff and inspect it. Ensure your dog knows it is not a chew toy. At first your walks should be quick and short so your dog can get used to the concept. When your dog begins to strain the leash, stop immediately instead of pulling him/her back into place. When your dog is walking comfortably along a loose leash, give him plenty of praise. Eventually, you will be able to walk long distances and you and your dog will enjoy taking stress-free walks. Housebreaking a puppy, limiting separation anxiety, and walking your dog are just a few of the numerous lessons you will need to teach your dog. Know that for every aspect of your training consistency and persistency are crucial.

Popularity: 20% [?]