How to Potty Train a Chihuahua in the Winter
Jump to section
Introduction
If you live in a cold weather climate and don't enjoy exercising out in the snow, you may have chosen to get a small breed so that you could both get your exercise inside. The Chihuahua is a charming, personable, loyal little dog who comes in a variety of colors, coat lengths, and shapes. The Chihuahua is an ancient breed that suffers few health problems and is intelligent as it is charming. Your Chihuahua puppy will readily learn potty training but during a cold winter, you may face a new problem. While your Chihuahua may be willing to go potty where you would like her to, she may not be willing to face the freezing temperatures outside. You can certainly potty train your Chihuahua in the winter, but be willing to make some compromises.
Top
Defining Tasks
Chihuahuas weren't made for the cold. They come from Mexico, and their years becoming popular and changing shapes all over America have not made them much more cold-hardy. While long-haired Chihuahua have some advantage in the cold, their coats are single layered, not thick like the spitz type dogs bred for the snow. All Chihuahua must be protected from the cold even for short periods. Heavy fuzzy jackets that don't restrict her delicate throat and weather-proof booties for her feet can help keep your Chihuahua comfortable in the cold.
Top
Getting Started
Whether your eventual goal is to have your Chihuahua go potty outside, or if you intend for her to use an indoor pad or litterbox all her life, it is best to train inside for some time in the winter before moving to outdoors training. Your Chihuahua puppy should know what she has to do, and not have to do it so often, before being asked to do it outside in the cold. In time you will develop a routine with your Chihuahua puppy, and it will be easy to know when she needs to go out and to keep the outside time to a minimum. If you decide that you would rather have her continue doing her business inside, she will always be small enough that it is not too much of a mess.
Top
The Gradual Paper Method
Effective
0 Votes
Effective
0 Votes
Set up a pen
Set up a pen for your Chihuahua puppy that is large enough to have a sleeping and eating area and a bathroom area. Bring her here to potty every half hour or so when she is out with you.
Cover with paper
Newspaper is the traditional choice but training pads are made that are scented to encourage peeing and have removable adhesive so that your puppy won't disturb the paper. Whatever you choose, be thorough and cover every inch.
Wait for potty area
Soon your Chihuahua will establish an area she wants to use more than others, probably farthest from her bed.
Reduce paper
Reduce paper every couple of days until only one paper remains. Use some urine from the dirty paper to scent the new paper each time. If there is an accident, add more paper.
Move paper to desired location
Move your Chihuahua's paper to where you would like her to go potty. If it is outside, make sure you dress her warmly, and remember that she can't hold it for more than a few hours while she is young.
The Crate or Watch Method
Effective
0 Votes
Effective
0 Votes
Set up a crate and potty pad
Set up your Chihuahua's crate to be just big enough for her to comfortably stand, turn around, and stretch out. Any bigger and she may try to potty in her crate. Set up a potty pad across the room from the crate.
Crate if not watching
If you can't watch your Chihuahua closely, put her in her crate. Make sure she has plenty of chews and toys to entertain her, and never leave her for more than an hour or so.
Bring to potty pad
Every hour or so, bring your pup to the potty pad and encourage her to go potty. Reward her with praise, treats, and toys when she goes. If she goes anywhere else, clean if thoroughly and ignore it.
Watch for signs
Watch for signs that your Chihuahua understands that she should go to the paper. She may strain to be put down and then go there, or she may look around for somewhere to pee and then go there.
Build trust and go outside
Begin allowing your puppy free for longer periods with you in puppy-safe rooms. Let her tell you when she needs to go out. Put the pad outside if that's where you would like your Chihuahua to finally go.
The Tether to You Method
Effective
0 Votes
Effective
0 Votes
Keep your pup close
Keep your pup with you constantly, tying her to you with a harness and leash, carrying her, or else keeping her by your side.
Frequent breaks
Take your Chihuahua to the potty paper every hour or so and encourage her to go potty.
Reward every potty
Reward your Chihuahua when she goes potty, especially when she goes right away.
Build trust and communication
Begin letting your Chihuahua decide when she wants to go to the paper. Watch her closely to make sure she doesn't go anywhere else.
Let her ask
Let your Chihuahua ask to go outside or to her potty paper. At this time you will know that she understands the concept.
Written by Coral Drake
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/09/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Kheeko
Chihuahua
Two Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
He has a spot where he goes potty, which he uses but only for a little while like 2 or 3 weeks then he starts going in places he knows he is not supposed to, is there a reason he does this?
Dec. 10, 2022
Kheeko's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Dogs usually don't like going potty in an area that's too dirty. If the area he is going potty in becomes overly soaked with urine or isn't being scooped of poop often, the area being dirty can discourage pup from using it for a while. It might be worth having two areas he can use so he can rotate the areas every couple of weeks while the other area gets cleaned up again. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Dec. 12, 2022
Pistache
Chiwawa
8 weeks
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Hi my chiwawa comes up to play with us but when holding him he all of a sudden growls, tries to bite and is agressive and dosen't want to ne held. He becomes agressive, unpredictively and i'm scared he will hurt my daughter. What to do when he does it, why does he do it and how to prevent it? Help please
Oct. 28, 2022
Pistache's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Some puppies aren't used to being held and touched if they weren't handled often when younger or were handled too roughly by anyone. A puppy might feel defensive and start biting hands to get free or might be trying to play roughly with your hands - biting them as if they were another puppy or a wiggly toy. If you are using any methods that involve physical roughness with your hands, then I would switch to a different method also, as that can make the biting worse. To address the behavior, work on getting pup used to touch and handling by making touch more pleasant for pup. Use puppy’s daily meal kibble to do this, or lots of very small favorite treats if pup isn't motivated by their kibble. Gently touch an area of puppy's body while feeding a piece of food. Touch an ear and give a treat. Touch a paw and give a treat. Hold his collar and give a treat. Touch his tail gently and give a treat. Touch his belly, his other paws, his chest, shoulder, muzzle and every other area very gently and give a treat each time. Keep these times calm and fun for pup. Start with areas he tolerates already and work up to more sensitive areas gradually, until he is okay with being touched anywhere. When he can handle touches, then place your hand under his chest and abdomen, supporting him well and start to get him used to being picked up - begin by just rewarding him for letting you have you hand there, then for lifting him up just enough for a couple of paws to leave the ground, then adding an inch at a time to height off of the ground that you lift him as he improves with practice. Practice these things daily as much as possible. When he tolerates your touch well, have your daughter sit with you and gently practice touches with treats, with you there to help him be gentle with her. She can gently touch while you feed a treat to him at the same time, to help him associate her touches with good things and keep his mouth busy eating while she is touching. Stop the touch as soon as he finishes that treat until you give the next treat. If things get worse or you feel your family is in danger, I would hire a professional trainer to come to your home and oversee the training in person. Make sure the trainer you choose has experience with puppies and aggression, and comes well recommended by their previous clients, so they can accurately assess what's going on, and whether this is normal puppy mouthing or something more serious. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 28, 2022