How do you potty train a chihuahua?

Question
QUESTION: I am in need of some help.  We have a 5 yr old Chihuahua, we rescued him. We have done everything that we can to train him. He has no trouble peeing in his crate. Is there any hope for him. We are willing to do what ever we need to. I hate for him to try to find a new home for him he has come such a long way.

ANSWER: Hi Chandra!

I'm sorry you're having problems trying to potty train your rescued Chihuahua.  Was he recently neutered (prior to your adopting him or just after) and do you have any "history" on him at all?

Trying to potty train small breed dogs is often a huge challenge without adding the extra complication of that dog being a rescue with an unknown background.  I have faith that it can be accomplished, but it takes LOTS of patience, a total commitment and consistency.  You really must be consistent and all members of the family must agree to what will consistently be done to get this little guy properly trained.

Having said that, have you seen a vet to rule out any medical reason for his indiscriminate urination?  You want to rule out things like bladder or urinary tract infections.  What are you currently doing to have him relieve himself (putting him out in the yard, having him potty on pads, etc.)?  What do you mean when you say that he has no problem peeing in his crate?  How long is he in a crate?  Is he your only dog?  Is he alone during the day?

Answer some of these questions and get back to me so that I can have a better idea of what's been happening.

Jo Ann

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He received him from an individual. He is not fixed I was told that he was to old 5 yrs. But now am told different so I will get that taken care of. I have taken him to the vet and they have said that he was in good health. We do have other dogs and they have no trouble in the house or in the crate. They all get along well also. So I don't think that that is a problem. He does stay in a crate and we have to clean it every day, he will pee and sometimes poop in it. He is in the crate at night about 8 hrs. We put him outside every night last thing before bed and first thing in the morning. during the day he is in his crate no more than 5 hrs at a time.
He will only work with my daughter and I he will have nothing to do with my son or husband. I think a man was the one that abused him.

Answer
Hi Chandra!

I'm not surprised at all to hear that you're having problems potty training him and that he's NOT neutered.  It's a perfectly natural thing for a "whole" dog to want to mark his territory, especially in the presence of other dogs.

Five years old is not too old to neuter a dog.  Many people adopt senior dogs and get them neutered right away.  I can't imagine why someone would tell you that and I'm wondering why your vet didn't discuss having it done with you.

What time do you feed him at night?  I'd feed him earlier so that he can do his "business" outside earlier if he's defecating or urinating in the crate at night.  Personally, I hate seeing dogs crated at night and then again during the day - that's a lot of time spent in a crate and just can't be good for them psychologically.  I have three Chihuahuas (two are males) and when I'm not home, I use a baby gate to confine them to a certain area in the house and I put down a wee wee pad in a dog litter box for them to use.  And they do.  Training takes time, but it pays off, too.  You can also get what's called an ex-pen to confine this little guy to a small area during the day.  

I'm glad you're getting him neutered.  While neutering doesn't always break bad habits that have been formed over time, it will certainly help and be beneficial to him health-wise.

Let me know if I can be of any further help.

Jo Ann