We have a two year old Chihauhau mix that insists upon using the bathroom floor or on the mat in front of the door to relieve himself in the evenings. We have a dog door so he has the option to go in and out as he pleases. I can never catch him in the act, so I do not know how to discipline or to prevent. He used to live with our daughter and she walked him at least three times a day and he would use her closet as his night time bathroom spot. Help please! He is the cutest little thing and I adore him, but I can not live with him relieving himself freely in the evenings.
Ok there are several things that need to be done to help him see that reliving out side is better even at night. Make sure you cut off all food and water at least 3hrs before bedtime and don't give him to much water during the day just enough for him to have several drinks remember he has a small blather. Also you need to clean the area where he goes with the right kind of cleaner or he will keep using that spot because he can still smell it. Reinforce his potty training praise him when he goes outside make it a big deal that he went out to go, this way he see's it as a really good thing. One problem with going outside at night for him may be that he is scared to go out alone in the dark especially since he is so small he wouldn't be able to defend himself if another animal tried to get him. (My 35lb dog dosn't like going out at night even with me right next to her)
Another suggestion would be to crate train him, dogs don't like to lie in feces so they learn to hold till morning, but the cage has to fit him just right or he'll go at one end and sleep at the other. A dog should be able to sit up lie down and turn around comfortably. And once he learns to hold it all night you should be able to let him out again.
You might need to crate your little guy at night. He probably will not potty where he sleeps. You might need to start from the beginning and get up every few hours, take him outside, on a leash and tell him to potty. He does his business , a little treat, good boy, and goes immediately back to bed in his crate. Also, during the day repeat the same process every few hours. On a leash, outside and "go potty" give him a treat for doing his business and make a big deal out of it, during the day only, GOOD BOY, VERY NICE, YIPEE!!. And treat everytime, not just once or twice EVERYTIME he goes to the bathroom until he has it down. Don't confuse him by thinking he's got it the first few times and quit treating.
very helpful comments, thank you. It is hard for me because I work all day and am gone up to 12 hours. Day time doesn't seem to be an issue yet. We also have two other dogs (one is his brother, then a 30lb Chih. mix who is 5yr). Neither one of them have potty issues, especially the 5yr old, she is amazingly smart.(I determined it was Loui because for a while we just had Chiquita and Loui, and we had the potty problem. When Loui when to live with his brother, no more potty at night!) I had never thought that he might be scared of going outside at night, he is the more sensitive one out of the three. I am going to try the waking up every two hours to see if this will help, along with the treats. Thank you again for the advice.
