Educating a Chihuahua puppy: 5 tips for almost certain success

Training a Chihuahua puppy is challenging in part due to the nature of your pup. Chihuahuas are very weather conscious and your pup may not like going outside. Also, the very small size of your pup, especially a teacup Chihuahua, can make the pup feel vulnerable and scared outside. The following are 5 tips to help you quickly train your pup.

1. Don’t start too early.

Make sure your pup is able to control the elimination before attempting potty training. The best age to start varies with puppies, but is often around 12 weeks. Consult your puppy’s breeder for ideas.

2. Physical punishment is not the answer.

Never physically punish the puppy for accidents. This is confusing and will encourage aggression in the dog. Instead of a negative reaction, emphasize generous praise when your puppy does what you want.

3. Routine is key.

Establish regular routines for feeding and maybe even water. Your pup will eliminate shortly after eating and drinking. So establish routines for feeding and watering and then watch closely for signs that the pup needs to go. Also after naps and of course after a night’s sleep, take your pup wherever you want the elimination to occur.

4. Papers will work.

If you can, take your pup outside to a designated disposal location. If that doesn’t work right away, use some papers as a place for disposal. Then start gradually moving the papers out before removal and then remove the papers over time.

5. Use the box.

If your pup is confined to a crate part of the time, he won’t want to make a mess in that area. Watch closely and you will be able to get the pup to the right spot before the crate gets dirty. Most puppies will quickly learn to let you know when it’s time to get out of the crate.

Constancy and routine are the keys to educating a Chihuahua puppy. Stick with it, and in most cases you can train your dog in no time.