Disciplining Chihuahuas. (for all you Chihuahua owners out there)

spiritdogs

IMO, the old "nose in the pee" method is abuse.  If the human is there to supervise the dog indoors, there's never any need to resort to that.  "Accidents" happen because people give their dogs freedom in the house before they are ready, then they are surprised when they find the "presents".  Not all punishment is bad, but unnecessary punishment certainly is.

Amen. I've got a 10 week old hound puppy who is house trained. Punishment not needed.

A dog who pees in the house is the owner's fault, medical issues exempted. It would be gross and wrong to rub your nose, Pomeranian, in the dog pee for failing to train your pup. It isn't nice for the dog, either.  

I don't personally know any Chihuahua owners who use a litter box with actual litter in it, but I do know some who place pee pads inside the litter box instead, which I guess would help for a dog who is prone to "missing" the pad sometimes.  Beau has always gone outside to do his business, because I have that option.  But as Ottoluv pointed out, it's not so easy for everyone, depending on where they live, and pee pads are a perfectly fine solution IMO.  I think that as long as a dog is trained to use a designated spot, and uses only that spot, then it does not matter so much whether it is inside or outside, even if outside might be considered ideal.

As far as actually house training a small dog, I agree with the others that it is no different than training any other dog...and positive methods are by far the best, IMO.  With Beau, I simply picked him up if he started to pee/poo inside, carried him outside right away, and waited for him to finish outside.  As soon as he did, I would praise him like crazy.  He caught on very quickly and started going to the door to let me know when he needed to use the bathroom.  I did not punish him for any accidents, because they were not his fault, he did not know any better.  That is what housetraining is all about, teaching them what you DO want, i.e. praising them when they go OUTSIDE, while trying to prevent inside accidents from happening in the first place, by supervising very, very closely.

And while well-bred Chihuahua's are naturally bold and saucy, they can still be sensitive little dogs, so it is important to use positive methods so that you DON'T end up with a cowering, shivering dog who is afraid of you.  :)

Both chihuahua foster that I have had have been full of spunk, and quite snuggly. I have a back yard, and they pottied outside. The one I have now is only an 8 week old puppy, but she understands we don't go inside, we go out! I think litter training would be neat, easier to clean up if you live in an apartment or work longer hours. I think they make special litter for dogs, but I have always just seen a potty pad in there.I don't think any dog should be yappy - that is not tolerated in my house. Shelly, the foster I have now, is a very sweet girl - full of personality. She loves Casey and my cats (much to their dismay). She loves to snuggle at night, but will play all day long. She walks on a leash, and acts just like any other dog - big or small.

Dog_ma

A dog who pees in the house is the owner's fault, medical issues exempted. It would be gross and wrong to rub your nose, Pomeranian, in the dog pee for failing to train your pup. It isn't nice for the dog, either.  

Nope that's your opinion. People have been using the "old" method for years (hense the name old method). I only had to do it twice and she made sure to hold her pee. I take my dog outside every 4 hours, if she can't hold it she's marking or just being stubborn. She sure holds it now! I know my dog and she'll try to get away with anything, punishment was deff necessary and I don't regret doing it.

I used the so called "new method" untill she was 10months old & had a trainer for house breaking issues. Finally I fired the trainer and said screw it when she screws up she's going to know it. And oh wow magically she never pees inside any more :o) I know my dog and she needed to have a little bit of a punishment

Dog_ma

A dog who pees in the house is the owner's fault, medical issues exempted. It would be gross and wrong to rub your nose, Pomeranian, in the dog pee for failing to train your pup. It isn't nice for the dog, either.  

Thank you Dog_ma, very well said.

I treat my dogs the same way that I would want to be treated.  I can assure you, that if someone tried to rub my face in pee, I'd some out swinging.  The "Old Method" seems cruel & barbaric to me.  I prefer use methods that will not leave my dog fearful & confused as to what is being asked of them. 

Dog_ma

spiritdogs

IMO, the old "nose in the pee" method is abuse.  If the human is there to supervise the dog indoors, there's never any need to resort to that.  "Accidents" happen because people give their dogs freedom in the house before they are ready, then they are surprised when they find the "presents".  Not all punishment is bad, but unnecessary punishment certainly is.

 

Amen. I've got a 10 week old hound puppy who is house trained. Punishment not needed.

Agreed.  My pups were trained at a very young age.  Never had to resort to these "old" methods but I wouldn't go so far as calling them abuse just not the most effective or pleasant method.

They caught on after about a week or 2 but I never tested their limits to see how long they would hold it.  I kept a regular schedule taking them out.

Just wanted to say that I watched a Chi for a week or so.  I treated her just like I treat Xerk.  She thrived under those conditions. 

Pomeranian <3

Nope that's your opinion. People have been using the "old" method for years (hense the name old method). I only had to do it twice and she made sure to hold her pee. I take my dog outside every 4 hours, if she can't hold it she's marking or just being stubborn. She sure holds it now! I know my dog and she'll try to get away with anything, punishment was deff necessary and I don't regret doing it.

I used the so called "new method" untill she was 10months old & had a trainer for house breaking issues. Finally I fired the trainer and said screw it when she screws up she's going to know it. And oh wow magically she never pees inside any more :o) I know my dog and she needed to have a little bit of a punishment

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Well lucky for all of you then, having a 10month old dog who still pees whenever they feel like it, isn't fun. I take her out, like I said, every four hours, sometimes we'd be outside for 15mins, she'll do her thing, then come inside AND PEE ON THE FLOOR! The new method was NOT working what so ever. And rather than having an untrained dog I'll use the "old method" any day. How embarrassing it was to go over people's houses and she'd just pee on the floor to mark... like I said I don't regret using punishment. It only took two times for her to realize okay peeing on the ground makes my mom REALLY mad...

But like I said if the new methods would have worked I never would have needed to turn back to punishment. For people that DID have house breaking issues I'd like to hear what you used for punishment [because most people I talk to openly admit to using old methods]

Xerxes

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If you think "going by the book" for 9months, hiring a trainer when it doesn't work for once a week for another month, taking her to the Vet to see if it had to do with medical issues, and still realizing my dog pees whenever the heck she feels like it ISN'T brains then do explain what is....

Like I said after her being 10months old and being allowed to pee every 4hours (I even wake up in the middle of the night for her sometimes) if that's not fair then what is?

My dog needed punishment, period.

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BUT to be back on topic, aside from judgemental rude people/comments, you dicipline a small dog the same way you want to dicipline a bigger dog. Toy dogs will walk all over you if you don't; their personality can overpower some owners then you have this wild spoiled dog that does whatever it wants. If you are too intimidated by small dogs I say don't get one.

Pomeranian <3

I'd like to hear what you used for punishment [

I used social deprivation for punishment.  That's way more effective than physical abuse.  It's also a direct language that the dog understands, and it's what the sire and dam would do for a serious transgression.   

I often let my dogs out every 4 hours and they are 4 and 1.5 years old.

Shoving their faces in pee would never work b/c they like pee or find it neutral at worse.  I still praise them when they go outside, find their spot, and quickly go. 

Also, unless I turn into Superwoman, I don't see how I could shove a dog's face in pee within one second of the dog peeing there.  If the punishment is not immediately issued, the dogs will not understand... 

Xerxes

Pomeranian <3

I'd like to hear what you used for punishment [

 

I used social deprivation for punishment.  That's way more effective than physical abuse.  It's also a direct language that the dog understands, and it's what the sire and dam would do for a serious transgression.   

Thanks for this input. Since my dog never has accidents it is "too late" now.

But if our second Pom has house breaking issues I will attempt this advice first.

Pomeranian <3

My dog needed punishment, period.

No, your dog needed guidance.  You started punishment right around the time when most dogs are finally housebroken.  Your timing of "begin punishment" and "no more potty in the house" was purely coincidental.

Pomeranian <3

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Pomeranian <3

you dicipline a small dog the same way you want to dicipline a bigger dog. Toy dogs will walk all over you if you don't; their personality can overpower some owners then you have this wild spoiled dog that does whatever it wants. If you are too intimidated by small dogs I say don't get one.

I've had toys before.  Two Pekingnese. I also grew up with 3 Poms at my grandmother's house.  To say you discipline them the same as a bigger dog is correct.  You establish boundaries which are enforced from day one.  Everyone in the household treats the dog the same.  This is what I do with large dogs as well.  I don't need to hit, kick, smack, scream, or otherwise physically or mentally involve my dog in my frustration. 

I actually like small dogs.  One of my next dogs will be a Chihuahua.  And that Chi will be treated as if he's a regular dog.   He'll go on hikes, long walks, swimming, wading, road trips and playtime just like all the other dogs.  I suspect I'll never have to resort to "punishment" to keep him from soiling the house.
 

Liesje

If the punishment is not immediately issued, the dogs will not understand... 

Yes of course. Which is why all of my punishment is done immediately

I still continue to take her our every 4hrs. That is her schedule. But now she actually holds it. I ONLY punished her TWICE and those were immediate. I'm no "training expert" but I know what the heck I'm doing.

If she would pee inside right after we went outside I put put her nose next to the pee and say "NO! OUTSIDE!" then I would ignore her for an hour. After doing that twice she NEVER peed inside again.

I still praise her every single time she goes outside (just like I did from day one) but punishment really did work. Outside of this forum I know many many many people who result to the "old" punishment method. Keyword being result to. No one WANTS to "harm" or "confuse" their dog. I would only do it if I felt it wouldn't confuse her. Letting her know it made me really mad helped.

I'm not sitting here saying oh ya u should just use the old method. I'm saying when everything else didn't work, being stern a couple times did the trick. She's not emotionally scared for life; she loves me just as much; she just KNOWS not to pee inside. I've read every book under the sun that explains why it doesn't work yada yada yada well I don't know it did.