Hi!

My chihuahua puppy absolutely refuses to go potty outdoors. He went only indoors for about 3 weeks (I couldn't take him out because of his vaccination scheme being incomplete) and now I take him out 5-6 times a day; each time he holds it until we get in the house. I tried everything, from long walks, to just standing beside him, waiting, and praising him when he did go outside (he has had three ''accidents'' outside since we started training- 10 days ago, mostly in the morning when he wakes up). In the mornings he even runs back to the house because it's cold, even though I put a sweater on him. He's not a big fan of spending time outside, anyway.
Every time he does it inside I say NO firmly to him, but no result. I don't know what to do, crate training is out of the question for me, I could not just leave him there for 8 hours while I'm at school.

Any other suggestions, pleeeeease?

Your first mistake was starting him in your home. Paper training puppies first than trying to re train them to go outside is hard and mistakes and problems, such as yours, appear.

Crate training is really your only option. It keeps him in one place.

If you're gone 8 hours a day, than maybe you should rethink the idea of owning a puppy.

If you are gone for 8 hours a day, potty training is going to be difficult. Is there anyone who can take him out during the day?

A big part of training is consistency. Getting them out after eating, drinking and waking up (even after naps) plus at regular intervals during the day. Praising when they go where you want them to go. Not making a big deal when you find a mess. If you catch him the act, getting him outside immediately with as little fuss as possible.

If you don't want to crate him during the day, you can get a doggie play-pen. It would keep him confined and give him room to play.

This may sound strange, but you might think about taking him out with friends or neighbors and their dogs. When their animals relieve themselves, it might encourage him to do the same.

Make outside a good place to be. Provide playtime as well as potty time.

As well as his sweater, you might try putting boots on him.

You haven't said where you live and what the climate is like other than 'cold', but another idea that seems to work for some small dog owners is the Potty Patch (one example of 'toilets' for dogs.) It is something you would have to keep clean.

Frankly, he isn't a bad dog or impossible to train. He is a puppy and needs to be given time, patience and the proper training. Understand that very few dogs are fully potty trained before they are seven months old. Many are over a year old before they are considered 'trained' and that is with proper training.

Dog training in general takes time and patience. It also takes help in the form of relatives, friends, neighbors or hired dog sitters when your time is limited.

Good luck.

You can confine his space with gates and barriers so that he can't go around the house looking for spots to go. Dogs don't really want to go where they sleep and play and eat. Start with a small area around the TV, bed, kitchen table, etc, and widen it as he learns. Take him out at very set times, as dogs like routine and always know what time it is. Try to figure out when he has to go relative to when he eats. My little dog poops the next day after her evening meal, usually mid day, so about 18 hours. Most dogs might be sooner because dog digestion is fast.

Although I do agree with all the training methods provided... Confining him in a certain area of the home still teaches the dog that is OK to potty indoors and not to potty outdoors.

I think I'm going to stand strong on the fact that if you do not have time to do the training properly, than maybe you shouldn't own a puppy.

Older dogs that potty in the house is a real hassle. And if this problem isn't addressed correctly, than you're going to have a 5 year old dog that still poops and pees in the home.

Thank you all very much for your replies!

I did stay by his side 24 hrs a day for 10 days, before starting school, but his behaviour was the same. No matter how much time we spend outside, he would still go potty inside.

And even though I'm gone 8 hrs a day, it's not a continuous absence, I mean I have classes 4 hours in the morning and 2 to 4 in the evening, so I check out on him quite often and take him out at regular times (first thing in the morning, after he eats, after naps, playtime and last thing in the evening) and in the same places. Every puppy owner has to work or go to school, right?:) Unfortunately, I live alone, so I'm all he gets!

I just don't understand what's holding him from going potty outside, it's like he's scared, he just holds it until he's at home. One morning I stayed 5 hours outside with him, and nothing.

I'm doing my best to socialise him with dogs also, but as he is so small he's scared of most dogs around him. Otherwise, he is an amazing puppy, loving, playful and very attached to me. Starting from next week I'll take him to classes with me whenever I can (I go to vet school), so he doesn't stay alone so much.

Try using a puppy pad and then one day put it outside and see if he goes on it

Try using a puppy pad and then one day put it outside and see if he goes on it

Worst advice ever.

Puppy pads were invented to make pet stores and trainers rich. They're the worst invention ever. Training a puppy to potty inside and then suddenly not allowing it, is not wise. It sends mixed messages.

If you want your dog to potty outside, then you train your dog to potty outside. You don't buy puppy pads or paper train unless you're okay with your dog peeing or pooing anywhere in your home, because a dog doesn't know the difference between a store bought puppy pad from a carpet, towel, or any other thing in your home. Training your puppy to pee on a pad and then putting the pad outside and hoping the puppy will understand, is ludicrous.

No puppy pads. Horrible advice!

Firstly don't use puppy pads.
Take him out when you see signs that he needs out such as sniffing around and squating as soon as you see him start to do this take him outside and wait for him to go potty then take him inside.make sure you keep an eye on him if you see him start to wonder off go see where he goes as he may be looking for a place to go potty.if he does go potty in the house say a firm NO and take him outside.whenever he does do the potty outside remember to praise him a lot and say things like good boy and maybe even give him a small treat.sometimes it does take a while to potty train a puppy but be patient and he will learn.