We have a 1-year old chihuahua that is 95% pad trained, but refuses to pee outside. We also have a dachshund (they're exactly the same age and we got them on the same day) who took to going outside right away.

We take our chihuahua out 2-3 times a day, and he has never peed outside. We've never crated, since we both work at home and rarely need to leave them alone.

We live on the 8th floor of an apartment building, so going outside requires an elevator ride. This works fine for our dachshund, who pees about 3 times a day. Our chihuahua will watch him pee, then randomly pee on a pad when he gets back upstairs (he pees 6 times a day probably). He's never got the hint!

I just don't know how to encourage him to pee outside. He'll poop outside occasionally, but usually goes on the pad.

Even when we've been outside for a couple of hours at a time, he'll still wait to go inside. The only idea I have is to take a pad outside and put it next to our dachshund. Any other ideas?

Thanks!

Instead of fighting the elevator ride and fighting with your little dog to go potty outside, why not bring the outside in?

There is a device that was created specifically for small dogs in apartments. Its called a Potty POD. It has artificial grass on the top of a grid which drains onto a potty pad.

That might be an easier option for you. Chihuahua's can be VERY difficult to house train... Switching from paper to the great outdoors can be even more challenging. These little guys find what they like and stick to it.