My Chihuahua is Stubborn

Question
I have 2 Chihuahua's, about 5 years old, one short hair and one long hair - both from same liter. My short hair, Snickers, is the problem. They both are trained to use pee pee pads and have been using them since the beginning.  I have moved their "bathroom" area a few times throughout the years and they have been fine with the change until recently. They have been going in a spare bedroom, but now we need to use that room so I moved them into my bedroom. Snickers refuses to even go near it. If I put him on the pads, he stands like a statue not moving at all. At first he would go on the carpet when we were not looking, now he is holding it until it just comes out. If I lock him in the bathroom area, he is so stubborn he will not go. I am at my wits ends, please help!

Answer

Hi Susan,

I guess you moved your dog's pee-pads once too often. It's best to choose a location, not move it, for this very reason.

The solution to your problem isn't a quick one. It involves the same strict supervision your dog required as a puppy: not giving him the free run of your home (to prevent accidents) and either crating him or containing him to an area with the help of a child gate or two, whenever you're not home or can't be watching him like a hawk. It's very helpful with small dogs, to keep their leash on them in the home and either hold the end, or tie it to your belt loop. It's so easy for them to quietly sneak away and have an accident. Preventing accidents from happing in the first place, is a big point in house training. How quickly you get this under control depends largely on how well you supervise your dog.

Use an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle, or Simple Solution to clean the areas where accidents have occurred, so your dog won't be attracted back to them.

Unless you catch your dog in the act of having an accident punishment is useless, in fact, it's counter productive. Punishment can cause other behavioral problems. If an accident happens, it's usually because the dog wasn't being supervised closely enough, so clean it up without yelling or fanfare, and promise yourself next time you'll watch your dog more closely.

What would be best, is to not allow your dogs to eliminate anywhere in your home. To a dog, whether he uses it's a pee-pad, or behind your couch, it doesn't matter, it's all in your home. Take your dogs outside, on leashed walks to eliminate.

Best of luck,

Patti