I see I am not the only person who has tried to potty train...

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Answer by chimama
Submitted on 10/1/2003
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If he is less than six months old, he's not reliable anywhere, it just takes that long for most puppies to have the control necessary. Does he go on the floor near the litter box, or on the floor wherever? If he goes by the litter box, he may just not be able to hold it long enough to make it all the way. Here's my experience, with two females a year apart in age, the beta acquired when the alpha was a little over a year old. My alpha will not share her litter tray with her sister, and she is very very picky. If there are more than three pee pee clumps, she will go to her box, stand there and look up at me as if to say "You want me to go in there, it's Dirty!" Once I remove the offending clumps and smooth the litter, she happily hops in and does her business. If I ignore her, she will go as close to the box as she can, she wants to be good but "The litter tray is just Disgusting!". My beta doesn't seem to care if I ever clean out her box. I do know that when my alpha is upset with me, she will go to her box and pee or poop right next to it (it's in the bathroom so the floor is tile, easy cleanup). She may even make sure I'm looking and stare right at me. It's one of the few ways she has to tell me she's upset. I don't encourage it, just pick her up and put her in her litter box and tell her "Pee pee litter tray good girl". But I do then look around and see if I can figure out what's wrong. I would continue to praise him when he uses the box, if you catch him in the act of going where he shouldn't tell him "No", pick him up and put him in his litter box and tell him "Pee pee litter box good boy". If you don't catch him in the act, then just clean it up and use an odor neutralizer (your local Petsmart of Petco can recommend something) so he doesn't go back to the same spot again. Don't yell at him, don't rub his nose in it, it doesn't work. Dogs don't remember what they did a minute ago, he doesn't understand why all of the sudden you've gone nuts. He may look guilty, but he's picking up on your anger, he doesn't really know what he's done wrong, just that for some unknown reason you are unhappy with him. I always recommend to new chi owners the book Chihuahuas for Dummies, it's by far the best I have read on the care and training of these adorable little creatures.

Answer by too cool
Submitted on 1/12/2004
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Any puppy can be trained to go in the litter box. I have seen many dogs do it. It is similar to paper training. You should like after thirty minutes after eating take her to the litter box and praise her if she goes. You should leave a littlebox of her stool in their so she could smell it. Never ever hit your dog and all it learns is to fear you and to go when you are not watching in a hidden spot which makes it even more difficult. If you follow a regular schedule of food and water and supervise her at all times, then she can be full litterbox trained in about a week or two. Remember though even though she knows to go in the litterbox, that does not mean she gets the run of the house.

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 1/13/2004
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Too Cool is right on! When she first wakes up, take her to the tray. After she eats, I'd try at 15 minutes and again at 30, take her to the tray. After she plays, take her to the tray. If she hasn't been there for an hour or two, take her to the tray. Before bed, take her to the tray. I also agree, full run of the house is a privilege she'll earn. Even now, my two are not allowed in the living room, nor are they allowed in the bedroom unless they are with me. Only until you are 100% certain that she has not gone anywhere except the litter box for at least 3 weeks should you consider letting them anywhere without an easily cleanable floor. Chi's can be sneaky, check under every piece of furniture you have.

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 3/16/2004
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Willa, I remember little Chalupa. Do the cats actively get in the way when she tries to use the box? You might try setting up her box, and putting used papers in it so it smells like dog. That may make them less apt to get in her way. Or, sprinkle just a little litter on her paper,just enough to soak up the pee. Or, just paper in a tray for her, which would not attract the cats 'cause there's no litter, but it would contain the spills. Zoe, my suggestion is to never allow her to be in a room where you are not. She should only be able to get into the bedroom when she's going directly into her crate. Also, make sure you're using cat litter. I tried that Second Nature stuff, but it was so big it was like us walking on logs to tiny little chihuahua feet. Once I switched to cat litter, my Gremlin took to it right away, and my Nixie has never known anything else. Another thing, no puppy less than 6 months old is reliable. You're going to have to invest some time. Please look for other threads about potty training, where I describe the process of setting your little one up for success.

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Question by Cristina
Submitted on 9/30/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Chihuahuas Breed-FAQ
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I see I am not the only person who has tried to potty train in a litter box. I have just started, and things seem to be going well, although he uses both the floor and the litter box. Is this something he will eventually get out of. I praise him when he uses the litter box. Any suggestions?

Answer by ulgy ke ke and saide
Submitted on 12/2/2003
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If people will leave ameancias alone then we will leave you alone but we have to do what we got to do like try to get that man in what evry that place it the who kill thousand of pepole but now they war and like last my teaher huashand is war then she try to clam her self down she miss he and her kids miss their daddy.

Answer by Willa
Submitted on 3/7/2004
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Well my problem is I have multiple cats and I've tried to leave a litter box for little Chalupa but my cats keep using it instead. Lupa is a year old mow and her urine puddle has gotten larger. It sometimes roll off the paper. I would prefer Lupa use a litter box but my cats won't let just her use it.

Answer by Willa
Submitted on 3/16/2004
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Great suggestions Chimama:)I'll start trying them as soon as possible. Chalupa is sooo small and fiesty. She tries to stand up for herself but it like she is fighting mountain lions (my cats are bigger than her). They don't hurt her and they usually let Lupa have her way. The cats don't bother Chalupa's paper but when I bring a litter box(with clumping cat litter) in the room my kitties will inspect it then use it immediately. I'll try putting just newspaper in Lupa's potty tray. Hopefully the cats will let just Chalupa use it. THANKS!

Answer by doglover4ever
Submitted on 11/16/2004
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yes i am trying to litter box train my 2 female cocker spaniel/beagle mixed puppies but how do i recently they have been going on newspaper in the floor now i want to go to the litter box PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Answer by Zoe
Submitted on 3/16/2004
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I just got a little chi puppy and she is about 14 weeks old. I live in an apartment so I decided to litter train her and I am having the worst time with it. I have the box in my bathroom and her crate and all of her toys are in my bedroom. She tends to pee and poopy where ever she feels like it (even on my bed). I watch her at all times and when I see she is about to go I take her to her tray, she will jump out almost the second I put her in and either not go to the bathroom or find a new place. Please help!

Answer by baby_gurl
Submitted on 7/17/2005
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i have a problum what do i do to teach my dog how to pee outside not in side and what do i do when he dose pee what kind of punish ment do i give him

Answer by kati
Submitted on 8/8/2005
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I'm thinking about getting a chihuahua, but I don't know if it would get along with my other pets. I have a cat and an african grey parrot. Does anyone have any experiences they'd like to share?

Answer by roudy
Submitted on 12/16/2005
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do you have to use cat litter for your chihuahua? i don't like cat litter because it gets all over and i don't like the smell.

Answer by J&KsMom
Submitted on 8/11/2006
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I don't use cat litter. I use pine wood pellets. They turn to sawdust when the puppy pees on them. So when I see a lot of sawdust, it's time to change the litter box.

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