How to Teach a Chihuahua Dog to Use the Bathroom in the Right Place

For many people, the Chihuahua breed is known for being hard to train to use the bathroom in the right spot. However, that’s not necessarily true. They are actually quite intelligent and can be trained. The biggest challenge in training a Chihuahua to use the bathroom is their small size, which makes it hard to notice when they squat down to go. As long as you stay observant, consistently take your dog outside, and train them step by step, your Chihuahua will learn how to use the bathroom properly.

Use Reward-Based Training Method Dogs are very motivated to repeat behaviors that they are praised for. So, if you command your Chihuahua to 'sit down' and reward them when they do it correctly, they will learn that even natural behaviors can lead to rewards. This is also true when teaching a dog to use the bathroom properly. If your dog goes to a specific spot (whether for urination or defecation) and is rewarded, it will strive to 'try' to go to the designated bathroom area in order to earn the reward.

• Reward-based training requires you to be present when the dog exhibits good behavior, meaning you need to be home and regularly take the dog to the bathroom spot.
• Find a type of reward that your Chihuahua loves, one that it will work hard to achieve. You should try different treats, from commercial dog food to chicken, cheese bites, sausages, hot dog buns. If your dog has health concerns, make sure to consult with a vet before selecting any treats to ensure they are safe.

Start Training Your Chihuahua When They Are Still a Puppy. You can, and should, begin training when your Chihuahua is around 8 weeks old. Training takes time, so start slowly and be patient. Remember, the older your Chihuahua gets, the harder the training will be, so starting when they're young will be much more beneficial for you.

Set a Specific Bathroom Spot Right from the Start. You need to decide where you want your Chihuahua to use the bathroom. As soon as you bring your dog home, before they enter the house, take them to the designated bathroom area. Even if they try to play with you, ignore them and let them focus on sniffing and getting familiar with their new environment.

• If the dog goes to the bathroom, praise them and reward them.

Take Your Dog Outside Frequently. You need to give your Chihuahua (whether a puppy or adult) plenty of chances to go to the bathroom. Even if you have a doggy door, you should still take them outside and guide them to the designated spot. Your dog won't automatically know where you want them to go, so they need guidance.

• For puppies, take them outside every 20 minutes after they wake up. If they go to the bathroom, praise and reward them. If not, bring them inside and take them out again after another 20 minutes, but be sure to monitor them closely to prevent indoor accidents.
• Using a crate is also helpful in potty training because it serves as their personal territory, and instinctively dogs avoid soiling their space. However, don't leave your dog in the crate for extended periods. Remember, the crate is a safe space, not their permanent home, so balance crate time with playtime and walks.
• For adult Chihuahuas, take them outside once every hour. You can set an alarm to help you remember.

Take Your Dog Outside Immediately After Waking Up and After Eating. The food in their stomach will trigger a reflex, making your dog want to go to the bathroom within 15-30 minutes after eating. Use this reflex to your advantage by taking your Chihuahua outside after every meal and waiting for them to relieve themselves.

• Don't leave your dog alone at the bathroom spot, or you might miss the perfect opportunity to praise and reward them.

Train your dog to go to the bathroom on command. Choose a specific command, like 'bathroom,' to train your dog. Make sure everyone in the household uses the same command to avoid confusing your Chihuahua. After your dog goes to the bathroom, remember to praise and reward them. This helps the dog associate bathroom time with a specific spot and encourages them to return to it.

• Use a clicker when your dog goes to the bathroom. The sound of the clicker will help the dog connect the behavior with a reward. When you click while the dog is relieving itself, you mark the exact moment you want to praise. At the same time, say the command 'bathroom.'
• Every time your dog goes to the bathroom, click the clicker and say 'bathroom.' Gradually, the dog will associate the word 'bathroom' with the act of urinating or defecating, recognizing it as a desirable behavior.
• The final step is to take your dog to the designated bathroom spot and use the command 'bathroom.' Your dog will understand that you're asking them to go, and they'll try to do so to earn the reward. If they don’t try, it means you haven’t reached this step yet, and you should go back to waiting for them to relieve themselves, clicking the clicker, and using the command. Try again after a few days.
• Training your dog to go to the bathroom on command is incredibly useful on rainy or cold days.

Let your puppy out for bathroom breaks at night. Puppies can't hold their bladder through the night, so you'll need to take them out for bathroom breaks every 4 hours at night. However, be gentle when picking them up, and avoid lifting them too high to prevent them from becoming alert and wanting to play with you.

• Simply lift them up, say nothing, and take them to the bathroom spot. At this point, it’s likely your puppy will go. Once they're done, return them to their crate or bed and go back to bed. Throughout this process, avoid interacting with the puppy so they understand it's bathroom time and not playtime.

Keep an eye on your dog when indoors. To speed up training, closely monitor your dog and look for signs that they need to go to the bathroom and might do so inside. Watch for behaviors like sneaking near furniture, sniffing around, or sniffing carpets and preparing to squat. When you notice these signs, quickly pick up your dog and take them to the designated bathroom spot.

• You can use a leash to keep your Chihuahua in one area to prevent them from wandering into hidden corners and finding a comfortable place to relieve themselves.
• If you can’t keep a constant watch on your dog, consider confining them to their crate. However, make sure to take them out for bathroom breaks every 20 minutes for puppies and every hour for adult dogs.
• The goal of teaching your dog to go to the bathroom in the right place is to help them learn to ask you to take them out. This way, you can confidently take them anywhere without worrying about accidents.

Handle accidents gently. If your Chihuahua has been trained but still has an accident indoors, don’t scold them. They’ll only understand that you don’t like them going to the bathroom, and punishing them could make them sneak off to do it somewhere else. This will ruin your training efforts as your dog will fear going to the bathroom in front of you.

• Instead, remain calm, wait until your dog finishes, then clean up the mess using an enzymatic cleaner. This type of cleaner removes all traces of urine and feces, ensuring your dog won’t return to the same spot. Avoid using cleaners with bleach or ammonia, as these ingredients are found in urine and will intensify the smell, attracting your dog back to that spot.
• If your dog has established a particular bathroom spot, clean it with enzymatic cleaner and place their food and water there. Dogs typically avoid relieving themselves where they eat, so this will help correct the habit of going to the bathroom in the wrong place.

Always be patient. Never scare or scold your Chihuahua. Instead, show love and encouragement. Chihuahua dogs need time to learn to go to the bathroom in the right place, so continue to train them consistently without getting angry if they haven't mastered the command yet.

• If your dog goes to the designated area, remember to reward them to reinforce the behavior.
• Avoid changing the bathroom spot every week so as not to confuse the dog.
• If your Chihuahua is still a puppy and makes mistakes, handle it gently without getting upset with them.

Consult a professional trainer. If the training is not effective after a long period, it may be time to reach out to a professional dog trainer. You can find a training program that suits both you and your furry companion. Getting professional help is the best choice in this situation.

• You should not train puppies to go to the bathroom in the right spot before they are around 8 weeks old. Until 8 weeks, they are still nursing from their mother. Begin training once they have weaned.
• Using puppy pads for bathroom training is convenient at night or on rainy days, but it comes with some downsides. If you choose to use puppy pads, you will find that dogs can become very attached to them. You'll also need to replace the pads frequently. Dogs don't like to go in places that are too messy with feces or urine.