[Priscill Foster]

I have a 5 month old Chihuahua (a girl)! I have used everything to stop the smell. She takes a bath like twice a month and don't go outside that often. I have cleaned the carpet and it still smells like her. Help me its my first puppy and I'm going crazy! We love her so much I wouldn't give her up for anything! Oh yeah can you please help me to potty train her please...

[Alty]

The first step to potty training would be to take her outside. Why doesn't she go outside that often? Where is she pottying now? At five months she should be potty trained.

Potty training is all about consistency, praise, and diligence. Around 30minutes to 1 hour after she eats or drinks, take her outside. Choose a potty word. I use "Potty time". Say your potty word, and wait until she potties. When she does you give her tons of praise. Act like she's just won the lottery, lots and lots of praise, and a treat. If she potties inside, it's a firm no, and then take her directly outside, use the potty word, wait for the potty, and praise and treat. If you catch her mid stream or mid poo, no, grab her, and take her directly outside, interrupt her pottying inside.

She's already 5 months old, so it may take a while longer for her to catch on, her behavior has already been taught, and you have to un-teach it.

As for the smell, I'd recommend a visit to the vet. It sounds like you're bathing her too much, which can actually make her smell worse. A dog isn't meant to have a bath more than twice a year, more if he/she rolls in the mud, is attacked by a skunk, etc. etc. But a normal pet, especially one that rarely goes outside, shouldn't be bathed as often as you're bathing her.