How to House Train Chihuahuas
House training a chihuahua is not particularly difficult. The goal is to establish a routine for your puppy that will help him to develop the good habits necessary to leave him on his own. Puppies will go to the bathroom all the time and there will be accidents. The important thing is not to get frustrated. Dealing with accidents comes with owning a puppy. Establishing a consistent routine is the best way to successfully house train your chihuahua. If your chihuahua is an adult you may have more of a challenge.
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Instructions
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Take charge. Let your puppy know that you are his master. He will be happy to comply with the rules if he knows what they are. The most important element in house training a puppy is consistency. Your puppy will develop the habits that you desire if you set up a consistent routine for him to follow.
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Designate a bathroom site. Using the bathroom and sleeping are the two primary activities of a puppy's life. Chihuahuas can be fastidious about their bathroom habits. They don't like using the bathroom near where they sleep. This makes your job easier. Have a specific sleeping area and a specific bathroom area. In the morning take him from his bed to his bathroom area and leave him there until he does his business.
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Stick to the routine. In addition to a specific bathroom site, set designated times for your puppy to go to the bathroom as well. Take him first thing in the morning and two hours after that and so forth. Use one key word as a signal. It will help avoid confusion and eventually he will understand it in the form of a question. "Do you have to use the bathroom?"
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Reward good behavior. Puppies will urinate and defecate frequently and, unless you are able to watch him all the time, there will be accidents. Don't reprimand him unless you catch him in the act. A better strategy is to praise him for good behavior. This reinforces the behavior that you desire and helps to build good habits in your dog. Praise him with a warm voice and warm gestures. When you do catch him in the act reprimand with an authoritative voice.
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Gradually increase the time between his bathroom breaks. Increase the time from two hours to four hours to six hours. The goal is to teach him to go in the morning and wait until you come home. If he does need to use the bathroom he will have a designated area where he knows he can go.
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