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I have a 9 weeks old Chihuahua boy, he already knows his...

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Question by Lana
Submitted on 9/12/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Chihuahuas Breed-FAQ
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I have a 9 weeks old Chihuahua boy, he already knows his name and where his food is, but he refuse to go in his litter box. He went there in the first couple of days after we bought this box, but now he ignores it. And for two days on the row he peed in his bed!! I don't know why he did that and how to teach him to litter box. I tried to keep him in the cage but he cries terribly. I don't know what to do. This is my first dog and I really need advise.
Thank you very much.
Lana.  


Answer by chimama
Submitted on 9/15/2003
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1) Is the box clean?  I use clumping cat litter which is very comfortable for them and easy to keep clean.  In fact, my alpha (3 pounds female) has her own litter tray which she will not share.  I started her with that second nature brand of dog litter, but she really didn't like it.  When I gave it some thought, it would be like a human walking barefoot on big tree branches, not comfortable.  Once I switched to cat litter, she loved it, but she is still very fussy.  If there are more than two pee pee clumps, she will go to it, look up at me as if to say "You want me to go in there?  It's dirty!"  Once I remove the clumps and smooth the surface, she happily hops in and does her business.  My beta (5 pounds) was much easier to train, she did what her sister did, but she's less reliable about using her own litter tray, likes to keep me in sight all the time and seems to think that carpet hides all pee pee (sleeps in bed with me, litter tray two rooms away).

2) 9 weeks is very very young, most dogs no matter what breed don't consistently go only where they should until they are around 6 months old.  Males are harder to train than females as a generalization.  Getting him neutered will help with the 'marking'.

3) Is his bed near his litter box?  Or, is his bed way too big?  Chihuahuas are small, so a foot away from where they sleep is at the other end of the house for us.  Dogs don't like to soil where they sleep, so something is going on with that.  

4) Do you take him outside or to his box as soon as he wakes from a nap, before he eats, after he eats, after he plays, if it's been an hour since he last went?  Put him in the box, tell him "Go Potty", take him out if he doesn't go after a few minutes, praise him to the heavens if he does go.

5) He cries in his cage.  Well, so would you at first.  You'll just have to put up with it for a few days, just like training a human infant to sleep alone in his/her own crib.  When you are home and with him, he should be with you.  Chihuahuas bond with "their humans", their whole existence revolves around making their humans happy.  He should be sleeping in his cage, put his bed in the cage, and a few toys.  Don't make a big deal about it, just tell him "night night" and that's that.  It works especially well if they are nearly asleep anyway.  I used my bathroom, tile floor, as a puppy-proof room.  She had her bed, her litter box, her food and water dishes and a few toys.  Messes were easy to clean up, soon she got used to going to "her room" when I went to work or to bed.

I suggest the book "Chihuahuas for Dummies", by far the best I have ever read on the care and training of these adoring creatures.

 

Answer by patti
Submitted on 9/16/2003
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I have a 4 month old male,he sleeps with me and he has been great about not going to the potty!!!!I work about 8-9 hours a day and he is good in his crate,not making a mess try letting him sleep with you and doing what i do. It might work.

 

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 9/17/2003
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The voice of experience, wonderful.  I only know what worked for my two, both female.  You must be a very good parent to have him so well trained at 4 months, congratulations.

 

Answer by Shannon
Submitted on 1/15/2004
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I have a 9 week old male chi. He sleeps with us and we have not had any problems with him making a mess in bed. I'm also litter training him and found giving him a little treat every time he relieves himself in the  box to help! Every once in a while he will slip up and go on the carpet, but for the most part he does his business where he's suppose to!  Hang in there!

 

Answer by Wiggles
Submitted on 6/10/2004
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I have a 13 week old male chihuahua, and Im pretty sure he knows hes supposed to go outside but i dont know how to get him to tell me, i tried scratching his feet on the door every time we go out but it doesnt seem to be doing anything what should I do?? also would it work to start litter training him now after hes semi-used to going outside?

 

Answer by new proud owner
Submitted on 6/28/2004
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Just from a personal opinion... I don't think that's it's right that an animal is kept in a crate for 8 to 9 hours while you're gone at work. On top of it, they have to sleep there at night, so if you think about it, your chi is kept in the crate for about 18 hours a day. I like Chimama's idea of keeping the chi in the bathroom or kitchen where there's no carpet, with his litter,toys, a blankie, food & water. I do this with my chi when I'm gone to work then he sleeps in his kennel t night. I use baby gates to block him off from leaving the kitchen. He has enough room to play, but not enough room to get himself into troube. Think about it, could you sit on your bed for 18 hours everyday alone and be happy?

 

Answer by chimama
Submitted on 7/2/2004
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Wiggles, he's three months old, you're expecting a lot from him.  You could certainly litter box train him, he might even like that better.  Then he can go when he needs to and doesn't have to think 1) gotta go  2) where am i supposed to go  3) outside  4) gotta get mom to let me out  5) now how do i tell her again?  6) too late.

When he's six months old is about the earliest you can reliably call him trained, by then he has both the mental capacity to understand and the physical maturity to hold it.  You can also ask him "Go Potty?" and if he gets excited, that's your cue.

 

Answer by kurrazie
Submitted on 10/11/2004
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hey um.. how do u post on this site ha ha.. i have a question..

 

Answer by newchiowner
Submitted on 10/31/2004
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I just got a 9 week old chi and I want to know how much he should weigh?

 

Answer by cutie
Submitted on 1/25/2005
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well i am going to get a chihuahua, and my parent won't let me but i really want one, how do i get the parent to get me one? Also what times do you have to let them go out to go potty? like before and after bed, after they're done eating, also do they sleep in their crates?
thanks from Cutie

 

Answer by NAT
Submitted on 2/20/2005
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I have 2 chihuahuas one is 7 months old and the other is 7 weeks old. They both sleep in bed with us at night and are never in a kennel.They are both trained to go outside to do there buisness. My 7 week old has messed in my house a couple of times but he does ask for the door. It takes time alot of patience and alot of love and praise. I love my chihuahuas like I do my kids.

 

Answer by vinny's momma
Submitted on 3/23/2005
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well vinny is 4 months old. we got him two weeks ago. he seems to dread his litter box. i use the litter that is like little grey pellets. thanks for the advice about using regular kitty litter instead. i was just told that it would clump to their little feet and not to use it. but i will try it now with your experience in mind.  ps. do puppy pads really work? i was considering those

 

Answer by Vinita
Submitted on 7/12/2005
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I have a question. Tedo my chihuahua is only 3 months old and I am trying to litter box train him for when I have school or work. But he won't use the litter box. I don't know what to do when he goes to the "potty" I will pick it up and make him watch me put it in the box, or when he "tinkles" on the floor I will immediately pick him up and put him in his box but it seems not matter what I do he won't us the box!! I need help please!!

 

Answer by chihuahua mama
Submitted on 7/29/2005
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Hey I have a 17 month old chihuahua her name is coco We have to try to keep her OUT of her box can any1 help?
chihuahua mama

 

Answer by daisy & ema's mom
Submitted on 4/1/2006
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Just a little helpful hit for those of you trying to crate train, or work all day. I have found it successful to make a pen for mine, this gives them enough room to run around, have their litter box and a place to sleep. Simple and cheap. Go to Home Depot and buy 4 sheets of peg board. Make a square out of them zip tie the corners and away you go. Enough room to run, not stuck in the crate. I put the crate in mine so they can go in and out as they wish, have a pay area and their litter bx, IT works wonderful

 

Answer by new chihuahua owner
Submitted on 5/7/2006
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My male chihuahua is 4 months old and i have been training him to go outside. But i have to watch him very carefully and take him out all the time i've been trying to get him to ask for the door. But it just doesn't seem to click. Does anyone have any tips for teaching him to ask for the door?

 

Answer by chihuahua sarah
Submitted on 8/4/2006
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i am at college for about 4 hours a day but only go 4 out of  5 days a week and my mum works so noone is in the house. however i am longing for a chihuahua as i hear they can be as independent as cats, and i have weekends to look after and spend time with my chi. i would be buying during the summer and will have 3 months to train and spend time with him/her anyway


1) should i have a chihuahua or would i be cruel to have one?
2) would it be better to have 2 Chihuahua'sor am i asking for trouble?


i hope you can answer my q's

thanks

 

Answer by Cat
Submitted on 9/17/2006
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I'm interested in getting a chi and wondering how long can I leave him/her alone at home for?

 

Answer by Cat
Submitted on 9/17/2006
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sorry ppl, I didn't take the time to reading the other posts forget I asked my question

 

Answer by newchiowner
Submitted on 2/5/2007
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Hey guys, I dont know how to ask a question so I'm just going to add on to this topic. I got a male chihuahua at 7.5 weeks two weeks ago and I've newspaper trained him (for now) as he hated his litter box. He's been great at it, with only one accident, however, in the past two days he's completely fallen off the wagon. He's had two accidents on the couch and he keeps doing his business on the floor and just now, even in his bed. I would really appreciate some feedback as I'm really not sure what could have caused this sudden change. Thanks a lot in advance for your ideas.

 

Answer by bellas Mommy
Submitted on 6/17/2007
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My pug keeps eating the second nature litter.  Is this dangerous for her?

 

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