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Need HELP potty/litter training a 3 year old rescue Chihuahua
Bugsy is a 3 year old recently neutered rescue Chi. Somehow, in his former home full of mostly ignored animals, he went 3 yrs. without being house-trained AT ALL. He has no clue that he is supposed to go outside; he refuses to go out when it's chilly or raining; and he quietly creeps around the house leaving little piles of poop in corners, and most recently, in daddy's shoe. He does better w/ peeing, but absolutely will not poop outside. He is very timid and scared most of the time, and often cringes and cowers even when you're trying to reward him with a treat. He's so quiet that I've never been able to 'catch him in the act', so gentle persuasion at the time of the accident is out...so is rewarding with treats... So is crate training.
I've done animal rescue for over 25 years, and have never seen a dog this hard to potty train. Does anyone have experience with litter training a 4 lb. Chi? I need to do something before cold weather sets in, because I know he won't go outside then.
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Answers
Wow, that’s tough. Sounds like his former home was an animal collector and he got no care and attention. This is going to be a long hard project. How about spending some time with a clicker. If you can load the clicker and make him understand the click is praise, you will be able to click him for going potty outside or in a box special area. As shy as he is, I don’t know if I would even say “bad dog” when I catch him inside, just get him out or where he needs to be and click for finishing the deed.
I think you will need to work on keeping him in sight, even if you need to tether him to you so you can run him outside or to his spot every time he looks like he is thinking about doing his business.
It will help if you can find a treat that he really likes, maybe chicken hearts or cooked chicken breast cut up into little pieces.
You would get more suggestions if you posted in the training and behavior forum.
The material atwww.dogster.com can be applied to older dogs too. Biggest difference is the longer time after eating or drinking before they are ready to relieve themselves. If a dog has been living where it could keep its living space clean, it should quickly catch on. The important part will be teaching it that if it goes to the door, you will let it out. It will be much more difficult if the dog was forced to live in its filth. You will need to learn to read the dog and learn its schedule, and when it needs to go out. Keep it in sight, closing doors and setting up gates. Some people even leash the dog to themselves. I have used a tie down at my computer desk.
Take it out on leash. Walk around. They can only walk and hold it so long. When it finally has to go, lavish praise on it.
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