A few questions for a new Chihuahua owner.

[mamabearof3]

Hey,

So we are new owners of a 10 week old baby Chihuahua. He was (supposed) to be potty trained when we got him but that was not the case. So now I want to so right by him and our family and train him right. I have a kennel for him cause I want to Kennel train him. So we are doing what I've heard to potty train him. Say NO and let him outside. His little self doesn't have to go by that point though cause he is done. Lol. Is he still going to learn that way? He hates outside. I was told by a friend of mine to keep him outside a lot and then he won't want to go in the house anymore. But I don't want to do that if it will be torture to him. Do you have any input? I want to do this right. I have tons of other questions but I can't think of them right now. Thanks though

[lexy]

Well, I maybe not the best adviser on this, but both mine are good trained by me. First - I think you must understand the times when your dog need to wee and then show him where to do that! And when he does it in the right place - give him something delicious and show him how satisfied and happy you are! Usually puppies do everything the seconds after sleeping. Hope you will understand me and sorry for my bad English

[gillykat]

The last puppy I housetrained was my crossbreed Tara in the 1990's but I'm sure the same principles apply now

Puppies will want to empty themselves as soon as they wake up and as soon as they have had something to eat/drink. So what I did with Tara was take her out into the garden every hour (or as soon as she's woken or eaten) without fail and carried her to the same patch each time. I'd stay with her and the second she squats I'd praise her with a ''Goooood girlie'' and give her a tiny treat (piece of chicken) and then let her continue to sniff around. Usually if she was going to poop (or pee) she'd let me know by her behaviour of sniffing and/or circling. As soon as that was done (more praise!) I'd carry her back indoors and we'd have a gentle not-too-excitable game as a reward.
Tara was a gsd-crossbreed and I got her at 8 weeks old and she was clean in the house and asking to go out by the time she was 11 weeks old.
Yes, we had the odd accident but that was usually MY fault if I wasn't watching her properly and ignoring the signs I NEVER scolded her though as she was only a baby I just concentrated on showing her where the GOOD place was to go for her toilet and also, I would set my alarm clock for 5am so I could take her out for a quick pee and then we'd go back to bed

Puppies ARE exhausting and hard work in the early days but it's amazing just how quickly they learn if we give them a simple but consistent routine and the work we put into them in the early weeks will pay off as they grow

[gillykat]

Just a thought: I suppose you COULD also use a litter tray and take him to that every hour. Especially if he hates outside with him being just a wee baby (and it being wet or windy or cold!!).

I use World's Best Cat Litter for my two cats as it's very fine and soft on their feet AND, best of all, it absorbs everything and there's no trace of a smell at all. Plus it clumps together in a small ball that can be flushed down the loo. Perhaps that might be an idea for your puppy?