Weewee pad train an old chihuahua

Question
Hi Jo Ann, I adopted a chihuahua 2 days ago from an rescue group. They said she was probablly abused before and police report said she was toss out of a moving veichle. She doesn't bark at all. Extremely scared and tense but seemed to be getting better after 2 days.
Vet said she is around 7 years old.

She seemed like she need to re learn everything. She goes to the bathroom on the wood floor in the living room only. And i have weewee pads in both living rooom and kitchen.
I would like her to learn to go on the pad in the kitchen.. How should I approach this?
I didnt cconfine her yet cuz I want her to feel comfortable first.

Thanks so much!
Irene

Answer
Hi Irene...

Well, that's very sad that she was tossed out of a moving vehicle like that.  Her behavior certainly indicates abuse in the past, don't you think?  I don't know if it's a case where she needs to learn things all over again or if she will be learning them for the first time...

I have no doubt that dogs learn better when they are confined to smaller areas.  I think it's confusing for her to see piddle pads in the living room and the kitchen.  I like to treat older rescue dogs just as I would a young puppy when I'm potty training them.  Dogs feel more secure in small spaces and will branch out when they feel more comfortable.  Small spaces allow a dog or a pup to "remember" better - as in remembering that they need to use the piddle pad only.  If you put piddle pads in too many places, I think you're complicating things for them.

If you want her to learn to use the piddle pad in the kitchen, then put the piddle pad in there and secure the area with a baby gate or x-pen so that she can't get out unless she's invited.  And those times when she's invited, she must be 100% supervised.  If she's in the kitchen area for a period of time and using the piddle pads constantly, she will LOOK for her piddle pad in there when she needs to do her business and is out and about beyond the kitchen. I have three Chihuahuas and they use piddle pads inside of a doggie boxes.  I have the dog box at the back of the house and my dogs have NO problem going back there and using it.  It did take time and it took work and it took confining them to that one area at the beginning. When your dog uses the piddle pad in the kitchen, smother her with kisses and positive reinforcement (treats, kind words like what a good girl she is, etc.).  Believe it or not, she really wants to please you and she's just waiting for you to show her how to do it.  I would give her a reasonable amount of time being confined to the kitchen and then allow her out in the house for small periods of time to test her ability to remember to use the piddle pad in the kitchen.  I think she'll do fine if you're consistent, positive with her and don't expect too much too soon.

Has she wet on the hardwood floor in the living room?  If so, you will need to clean that really well so that she doesn't smell where she went before and return back there to do her business.

Let me know what you think and if I can help you any further.  And congrats on your new Chihuahua and my sincere compliments for opening your heart to a rescue.

Jo Ann