Recently I got a female Chi that is almost 6 months old....

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Question by Leo from Florida
Submitted on 1/3/2004
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Chihuahuas Breed-FAQ
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Recently I got a female Chi that is almost 6 months old. I've been trying to potty train her. I use a crate (which she has no problem going in and staying in; she can hold it so that she won't go in her crate). But the thing is that she's not comfortable pooping outside. If I take her out in the morning after she spend the entire night in her crate, she'd pee outside right away. But she refuses to do the large business no matter how long we stay outside. so I got a litter box for her to go inside. She shows no interest in it even when I know she wants to go. I tried one of those drops with the smell that stimulates dogs to eliminate, but she doesn't show any interest checking it out. I don't know how she was trained before she came to me, but can anybody give me any advise?

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 1/5/2004
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If you want to encourage her to use the tray, try taking one of her poops and put it in the tray. Put her in the tray and praise her for being in the tray with the poopie. Since she goes pee pee outside without a problem, using a litter tray may not be the way to go. I never tried to change an outside trained to use a litter tray I live in MN). Maybe she is shy about pooping with an audience? Both mine are like that and FYI both were litter box trained from day one but will go outside in the warmer months if that's where they are when the need arises. They want privacy for pooping although my alpha will finish pooping if she's already started before I see her, but my beta actually would rather you didn't watch her pee either. If she sees you looking at her doing either she'll 'abort the mission' and come back to the box later. My friend's dog will go poop outside just fine if he lets him out to go, but if his mother (who actually owns the dog) takes him out he won't go (she has to use the leash because he won't obey her (long story)). I hope this is some help to you, good luck.

Answer by Leo from Florida
Submitted on 1/5/2004
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Chimama, Thank you so much for your comment. I have her poop in the box as we speak, and I've started to do this exercise a couple of days ago where place her in the box and praise. So far, no luck. She won't pee or poop there. Do you think I should continue? I think you are right that she's too shy to do her business with an audience. Even when she's inside, she won't go if I'm watching. She starts to make me nervous for holding it so long time, so that I give up and let her run the house (usually she's in a crate or in the room with me watching, so that she can't go). This is making it difficult to catch her in the action to praise or correct. How did you train yours when they don't like you seeing them pooping?

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 1/7/2004
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When I trained both of mine, their litter box was in the bathroom. When I wanted them to go, into the tray they went and I shut the door most of the way. I could watch them in the mirror over the counter without them knowing. I also used the bathroom rather than a crate to restrain them when I was gone, but it shouldn't make much difference. I started with 2 month old pups, that may have made a big difference. Giving her the run of the house is just what you don't want to do. If you can't see her go where she shouldn't, you can't correct her. She must learn to go either outside or in her box. Since she already pees outside, you may end up having her poop outside too. Relax though, she won't hold it so long that she does herself an injury, no need to get nervous about that, when she has to go badly enough, she will. If you continue with a litter tray, you can put the litter tray in the same room with you or use the bathroom trick, so you can keep an eye on her. Now, if she goes near the box, you can watch her out of the corner of your eye, but do not make eye contact or look directly at the box. That's what throws mine off, as long as it is not obvious that I am looking at them and at the box, they're both fine doing their business. If you want to aim for everything outside, do the same, get a good long lead (retracto leash is my first thought) so she can go quite a way and pick her spot. Again, watch out of the corner of your eye, if she catches you looking straight at her, she'll likely get spooked. I'm going to recommend you get the book Chihuahuas for Dummies. There's lots of good information, my advice is often a mix of personal experience and what's in that book. Good luck.

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Answer by Anna
Submitted on 2/24/2004
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Is there a way that I could train my dog to come get me when he needs to do his business? Like my friends dog pulls on her shirt or scratches the door. How can I train my dog to do that?

Answer by Lisa in Dallas
Submitted on 3/10/2004
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Since you're all talking about training...I got a terrier-mix puppy about a month ago. She's now 3 months and is crated during the day. I never leave her more than about 4 and a half hours, and she soils her crate EVERY DAY! I know it's not due to inadequate bladder control b/c she has slept through the night since the day I got her. Lately, she's even started pooping in her crate (just twice) -- but the crazy thing is that one time, she actually pushed the poop out of the crate after she went!! When we're home, we take her out after meals, after naps, after play, etc...She goes everytime we take her out, but can't make it a whole day in the crate. Help!!

Answer by jessy1988
Submitted on 5/26/2005
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hi my dog is a year old and she is a chihuahua.i do not know how to get her to do her buisness in this crate.can someone give me some pointers on how i can get her crate trained.everytime she does her buisness on the carpet i bring her back to the crate but she just does not understand .someone help me

Answer by Cujo
Submitted on 5/16/2006
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I have just about given up on potty training my chahuahua. She does really well for a while and then she goes pee on the floor. We know she doesn't like her crate so we put her up in our room inwhich she usually never goes pee in and she went pee on my bed. I raise my voice like bad and she squats and pees again. What is wrong with her or is it me? I am so frustrated, I love my dog, but I can't have her peeing all over my good couch and bed. What can I do?

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 3/18/2004
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When he has to go, before you take him out, take him to the door, pick up his paw and scratch the door frame with it. Tell him "Good puppy tell me you have to go out", then take him out. Repeat and with luck he'll get the idea. Remember to praise him when this happens.

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