I just got my first chihuahua, he is 8 weeks old, I am...

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Answer by chimama
Submitted on 10/28/2003
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Sandy, He's 8 weeks old, that's like a human baby the same age. If he's on the paper when he has to go, he goes there. If he's not on the paper when he has to go, he goes wherever he is. You wouldn't hit your baby with a newspaper for soiling his diaper, don't do it to your puppy. It won't work for either situation. You are doing absolutely the right thing by taking him to the paper and praising him when he goes. It's going to take time for him to really grasp what you want, and longer for him to be able to hold it until he gets to the paper. A puppy isn't usually reliably trained until it is around 6 months old. What you can do to help him is take him to the paper and praise him when he first wakes up. Take him to the paper and praise him 5 - 10 minutes after he's eaten or had a drink. Take him to the paper and praise him before he goes to sleep. Take him to the paper and praise him after he's had vigorous play. Take him to the paper and praise him if it's been an hour since he's peed or pooped. Noticing a pattern here? If you catch him as he's about to 'go', or in the act of going, scoop him up and say "Puppy, No". Take him to the paper and tell him "Puppy Yes, Good Puppy go potty on the paper." If you find it after he's done it, all you can do is clean it up and make sure you use a deodorizer specifically made to remove pet odors (your local Petsmart or Petco can recommend something), Febreeze won't cut it. There's no point in yelling, hitting or rubbing his nose in it. Dogs live in a state of perpetual Now, they don't remember that they peed somewhere 10 minutes ago. He doesn't understand what's wrong, all he knows is that suddenly for no reason you went nuts, yelled and then hit him. What you can do is confine him to an area where it's easy to clean up, and watch for signs that he's about to go. I do recommend that you have him neutered, which will cut down on marking when he matures. There are other questions here like "I see I'm not the only one who's tried litter box ..." which contain more answers and options. My concern about him using the paper is that you have to make sure there isn't any paper available except the ones he's supposed to go on. Paper is paper to him, whether it's last Saturday's classified ads or today's Super Bowl Preview.

Answer by Tamara
Submitted on 3/3/2005
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Hi, I have a 4 month old long haired chi. We just got her about a month ago. Forgive, me but sometimes I can be a bit concrete. We are trying to train her, but we mix both paper and outside training. Is this a problem? Should we stick to just one. I take her out in the morning and when I return home from work. She usually goes outside with no problem. However, we want her to be able to run around the house freely (when we are home) and go to her pad when she needs to go. When we are not home we put her in the bathroom with a baby gate and a pad. She goes on the pad when we are not home. How do we get her to go on the pad when we are home and when she has free run of the house? I have tried keeping her on a leash with me and taking her to the pad every ten minutes or so, but she does not stay on the pad long and still ends up peeing or pooping whereevr she wants. Please let me know step by step what I should be doing. Thanks

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Question by sandy watters
Submitted on 10/27/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Chihuahuas Breed-FAQ
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I just got my first chihuahua, he is 8 weeks old, I am training him for the paper, when I get him up the first thing I do is put him on his paper, he pee's , but then I have to follow him around to try to catch for the number 2.When he does his job I tell him he is a good boy, but he will still pee other places, does it just take time, everyone says I should use a newspaper to discipline him,I disagree, I just want know if I am doing the right thing by always taking him to the paper. How long does it take to train them. Thank You Sandy

Answer by Ken
Submitted on 4/28/2004
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Right, what the person above me just said is right. My mother knows a lot about dogs and i do too. the puppy is just a puppy, he doesnt understand what to do, he is nervous and exploring the world right now. if he has to go, take him to the paper and say his name and then say Good Boy, his name...Good boy. Then thats good. take him to the paper and tell him good boy, after so long, he will get the idea and take that that this is the right thing to do. then he will know what to do.

Answer by LISA
Submitted on 1/3/2005
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I have the same problem with my 13 week old chihuahua. I am using puppy training pads. I keep her on her harness and lead and keep a close watch on her. Now and again i take her to the pad or when she shows signs of going and put her on there. She normaly pees first and then tries to go somewhere else to poo. all you can do is keep picking them up to go where they are supposed to. And when they do really praise them. good luck

Answer by billy
Submitted on 7/12/2005
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i love chihuahuas they are so cute

Answer by billy
Submitted on 7/12/2005
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aplee headed chihuahuas are so cute

Answer by ChiOwner
Submitted on 12/13/2005
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so true about accidents, chimama. all your recs are great. any advice for feeding them when they are little and if they really need all those shots?

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