Potty Training Chihuahua's?

Question

I have two chihuahua mix puppies. They are almost 10 weeks old, and around 3 pounds, give or take. I have owned many dogs before, but never dogs this small. I have received some conflicting info about how to potty train them. I just wanted to get some more advice about this from some experienced chihuahua owners, or owners of other toy breed dogs. I was told that chihuahua's have very small bladders and cannot hold their urine for very long, especially as young puppies. I have typically crated dogs I have owned in the past during the day while we were at work, but I don't think it would be possible for them to hold their urine for 7 hours in a crate, and even if they could, I don't think it is right to make them. I do crate them for their safety, but instead of using a tiny crate and expecting them to hold their pee, I use a giant crate, and put a pee pee pad at one end, and their bed and what not at the other. I know that is not how dogs were intended to be crated, but that was the best solution I could come up with so far. I have had people tell me not to train them on a pee pad, and I get that that may not be ideal; however, being that my family and I are all gone during the day, and they cannot hold their urine for that long, I don't see what alternative I have. My family is gone for about 7 hours during the day, but we are with them all evening and night, and all weekend, and in addition, my mother-in-law that is currently living with us is home with them most of the day; however, I don't want her to have to be responsible to take them out and what not. Any potty training advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

not to be rude but you are doing everything wrong ... putting pee pads in the crate is encouraging the dog to soil its den ... its den is your house too ... and why would you get a puppy if you did not have the time to train it ??? you need to find a neighbour or hire someone because to housebreak your pup is going to take someone being there to let the dog out ... and small dog, small bladder, it makes ZERO difference ... that is like saying my small in stature friend has to urinate more because she is smaller ... the bladder is proportionate to the dog and a tiny dog at 3 months can hold his bladder exactly the same as a 3 month old large breed dog ... to housebreak a puppy you take it outside regularly ... your dog is a little over 2 months so should be taken out every 2 to 3 hours ... you CANNOT leave a young puppy like that alone for 7 hours and think you are going to have a nice dog ... because it will screw up the dogs personality and you will NEVER housebreak being gone for 7 hours ... well you might be able to train the dog to go wherever he feels like it but to actually train the puppy, someone needs to be there ... i got a chihuahua mix on september 5, less than 2 pounds, and he is housebroken already ... but i took him out every 2 hours, then as he got a bit older, every 3 hours, now he sleeps easily 8 hours overnight without getting out of bed and can hold it for up to 6 hours and he is barely four months old ... but you will not have those results until you make better arrangements than a large crate with a pee pads ... pee pads are the biggest mistake ever ... it does not matter the size of the dog ... a 3 pound dog is a dog just like any other dog and can hold their bladders and do their business outside and be trained but requires a human being to facilitate that ...

Answer 2

If chihuahuas drank the same amount as larger breeds, then I'd say there's a correlation between their small bladders and not being able to hold it. It's the same thing as saying giant breeds can go days without urinating because of their large bladders. Allowing them to use the pads as soon as their bladders are a little full however, and they'll never learn that they're supposed to hold it. I use a doggie door for my little ones that leads to an enclosed pen so they're safe, but none of them have any problem holding it when they're crated, either overnight or when they're on road trips showing, but they're adults. Expecting them to be able to hold it for much more than 4 hours right now is unrealistic.



Also, 3 lbs is hardly small for 10 week old puppies that you should be concerned about hypoglycemia and have to leave food with them

Answer 3

I have a old cage that has no top or bottom that I use for a area for my pom who is 4 months. There is room in there for a doggy bed, puppy pad, food, and toys. 90% of the time she uses the pad while in there. When I am home she goes outside to the bathroom before she is let out of her area.



I take her out when home every 2 hours, when she whimpers I take her out even if I know she doesn't have to go just to let her know that is her signal to go out. So far its going pretty good.



I am not a fan at ALL of puppy pads but because these guys do have small bladders I feel like it was a must. I work about 8 hours a day come home and maybe once every two weeks she has a accident. When I go outside now (this just started this week) I say go poopy and she goes. You want to keep using the same commands saying the same thing.



I wouldn't recommend at tiny crate for these guys. They do need to eat a every few hours also so enough room for all those things is okay.

Answer 4

Potty training? I wish. I think you mean housebreaking. I would never tell you to get rid of your dog because you are having a hard time training her. It takes a while. You have to be patient. I hope that you are crate training her. That is the best way to housebreak. You should keep her in there at this stage unless you can constantly supervise her. Put her out every couple of hours. Take her out first thing in the morning and last thing at night, around midnight. Put her out between 6 and 7 am. Put her out about 20 minutes after she eats or drinks and after playing. Just stick to it and in the long run it will pay off. Stay out with your dog until he goes.

Answer 5

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://bitly.im/aMw4K



A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 6

That could work as long as it is big enough. If you want your pups to eventually always go outside though I would use one of those inside potty areas that are made of grass and an X-pen might be better then the crate.