Simple, Proven Methods That Work
Updated April 2026
House training a Chihuahua can feel frustrating—but the good news is, it’s totally doable with the right approach.
The key to success is not using an overly harsh approach when teaching your puppy where you want them to go potty. Also, make sure you are consistent! I can not stress this enough.
Because Chihuahuas are tiny, sensitive, and sometimes a little stubborn, they need a slightly different strategy than larger dogs. Once you understand how they think (and how often they need to go!), everything gets easier.
Don’t let your little one fool you! Chihuahuas are capable of learning how to go potty outside or on a puppy pad quickly and easily. Although Chis are small, some have a stubborn streak that can make house training difficult.
If you want to cut back on accidents, consistency is your potty training BFF!
Make sure that your dog understands you and is actually listening to you when the time comes to housebreak.
The best way to house train a Chihuahua is to follow a consistent schedule, take them out frequently, and reward them immediately after they go potty. Because Chihuahuas have small bladders, they need more frequent bathroom breaks—especially after eating, sleeping, or playing. Positive reinforcement is the key to success.
Step-by-Step: How to House Train Your Chihuahua
1. Pick One Potty Spot
Always take your Chihuahua to the same area.
Why it works:
- Familiar smells trigger the urge to go
- Builds a strong habit quickly
2. Use Positive Reinforcement (This Is KEY)
The second your Chihuahua goes potty:
- Praise them enthusiastically
- Give a small treat
- Use a consistent phrase like “Good potty!”
👉 This helps them connect the action with a reward.
3. Watch for Signs They Need to Go
Look for:
- Sniffing the ground
- Circling
- Whining
- Suddenly wandering off
👉 When you see these signs, act FAST.
4. Limit Their Freedom Early On
Too much space = more accidents.
Use:
- A crate
- A playpen
- Baby gates
👉 Learn more about this method here:
➡️ crate training tips for Chihuahuas and small dogs
Indoor vs Outdoor Potty Training
Not every Chihuahua owner trains the same way—and that’s okay!
Indoor (Pee Pads or Potty Tray)
Best for:
- Cold climates
- Apartment living
- Senior dogs
Outdoor Training
Best for:
- Long-term consistency
- Avoiding pad dependency
Hybrid Method
Many owners use:
- Pads when they’re away
- Outdoor training when home
👉 If your dog struggles when you’re gone, also read:
➡️ how to help Chihuahua separation anxiety at home
How to Handle Accidents the RIGHT Way
Accidents will happen—it’s part of the process.
✔️ Do this:
- Clean immediately
- Use an enzyme cleaner (removes odor completely)
❌ Don’t do this:
- Don’t yell or punish
- Don’t rub their nose in it
👉 If your Chihuahua is having frequent accidents, it may be linked to behavior or stress.
➡️ Why Chihuahuas develop behavior issues and how to fix them
Advanced Potty Training Tips
Once your Chihuahua is getting the basics, you can level up:
- bell training to teach your Chihuahua to signal potty time
- using a consistent potty command for faster training
- feeding schedules to regulate your Chihuahua’s bathroom habits
Nighttime Potty Training
Young Chihuahuas can’t hold it all night at first.
- Expect 1–2 nighttime potty trips
- Gradually increase the time between breaks
- Keep things calm and quiet (no playtime!)
Common House Training Mistakes
Avoid these, and you’ll save yourself a LOT of frustration:
- Inconsistent schedule
- Not rewarding immediately
- Giving too much freedom too soon
- Switching methods too often
- Expecting results too quickly
👉 Many of these overlap with general training struggles.
➡️ common Chihuahua behavior problems and how to solve them
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Chihuahua?
Most Chihuahuas take:
- 4–8 weeks with consistent potty training routines
- Longer if schedules are inconsistent
Remember: progress > perfection.
Why Chihuahuas Can Be Hard to House Train
If your Chihuahua is struggling, you’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.
Here’s why this breed can be tricky:
- The small size of chihuahuas can make them difficult to house train. They can easily slip off to do their business without being noticed, unlike larger breeds.
- Chihuahuas were developed as a breed in a part of the world (Mexico) with a warm climate. They don’t care much for outdoor conditions that involve rain, cold, wind, or snow.
- Chis evolved as household pets rather than as outdoor dogs.
- Their small bodies may need to undergo the process of elimination more often than those of their larger counterparts, so make certain that you provide your puppy or dog with the opportunity to relieve themselves often.
- Although they may not always show it, small dogs feel vulnerable when faced with the great outdoors. If your neighborhood is a typical one where children are playing, dogs are barking, and traffic is going by, your Chi may not feel comfortable going out into that world.
Be sure to check out this other post about how I trained my chihuahua. Actually this was a guest post, but it has some really good info in it.
❤️ Final Thoughts
House training your Chihuahua takes patience—but once it clicks, it gets SO much easier.
Stick to a routine, reward the good behavior, and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Your little Chi will get there!
❓ FAQ: House Training Your Chihuahua
Are Chihuahuas harder to potty train?
Yes, they can be—but mainly because of their small bladder and sensitivity. With consistency, they learn just fine.
Should I use pee pads for my Chihuahua?
Yes, especially for small dogs in apartments—but consistency is key.
Why does my Chihuahua keep having accidents in the house?
Common reasons:
- Inconsistent schedule
- Not fully trained yet
- Anxiety or stress
👉 This can also be related to:
➡️ signs of separation anxiety in Chihuahuas and how to help
What if my Chihuahua refuses to go outside?
This is VERY common—especially in cold or rainy weather.
Try:
- Using a covered potty area
- Clear an area for them if there is snow
- Going out with them
- Rewarding them heavily when they go
Cathy Bendzunas
Pet Blogger
If your looking for something to use inside the house for your dog to potty on try this,it’s called the “PET PARK” & I bought it at a shop called “THE REJECT SHOP” here in Sydney,Australia,I have one in my bedroom for my chihuahua to use when she sleeps up in my room with me,she got trained to it straight away & has never done a putty any where else,I’ve attached a picture of it.
They have it on Amazon too: http://amzn.to/1TQFdwQ (affiliate link).
I was just consistent got up with my boy’s every couple of hours even at night with heaps of praise when doing wees or poos,and good boys for going toilet,then it was go toilet now they go out the cat door by themselves NEVER had an accident.just consistent took a couple of weeks but well worth it.
Consistency is the key!
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I want to unsubscribe to ilovemychi.com
I just checked our newsletter subscribers and your email isn’t there. Could it be under a different email? I also checked our Facebook group and you aren’t there either. What are you wanting to unsubscibe from? If it’s the Facebook page, all you need to do is unlike it.
Thanks for the paper towel tip. I’m going to try it. Is this likely to stop my anxious chi peeing 4-6 times an hour. Could my chi have an underlying problem?
Yes, if they are peeing that much, there could be an issue. Is your chi drinking a lot of water?
Not at all. Far less than I’d like despite encouragement. Problem is vets here are totally closed and not doing house calls….
Is this a male chi or female? If it’s a male, is he just trying to mark and not much is coming out?
No, not trying to mark because it’s not in any key locations and he only does it when over-excited or being lifted. When I ask about ‘underlying problem’ I mean mental health because I think his lack of control is emotional, rather than physical. However, I’m no expert of course. I appreciate your responses – it’s all a bit overwhelming tbh.
Yeah it definitely could be mental. It just seems 4-6 times an hour is a lot of peeing.
I’d let your vet know to rule out a physical cause.
Sorry I don’t have any good suggestions on how to stop this.
You could get him some belly bands for him to use when he’s in the house.
I enjoy reading your entertaining, informational posts. I live with my two adult daughters. They have a Chorkie, and a Chiweenie, both adorable chihuahua blends. I’m a proud grandma to my two granddogs. My little Chorkie boy looks for me when he’s frightened. Somehow I make him feel safe. I’m very grateful for these two sweeties who were both rescued off the street.
I’m glad they have you and your daughters to love and take care of them Cj. My Lucas is a Chorkie too.
Yes, Cathy, I know how it feels to have to wait in the car now. As I had mentioned before about my 18 year old Maine Coon beauty had to be put down. I went to the Small Animal Emergency Clinic (didn’t want to go to vet cause that has been a happy place and this was not a happy time) I took her in her soft carrying case inside and told them what I needed and they gave me a clip board with the info paper on it and then had to wait in the car with her until they came out for the clip board, then had to wait longer again in the car for a room to be available and they came out to my car again and then we could go inside. I forgot a mask but they gave me one and I had to wear that while inside. It is a very crazy time that Americans have not had before.
I’m so sorry you lost your kitty Dixie!
OHMYGOODNESS…….once again your three sweet fur babies look so beautiful. I love them so much, their expressions are priceless.
Also loved the two chis of the day, beautiful white babies. They remind me of my Sam and Irene (both passed away 4 years ago. They were both solid white.
They were so pretty Dixie! I love when they are all white. Or all black too.
I trained my two chihuahuas to be taken outside and to go to cat litter inside when they were really young.
And the cat litter doesn’t bother their paws at all? Do you have cats too and if so, do your chis try to eat their poop?
@Cathy, Yes out little chi used to eat the cat poop in the litter box. Had a hard time training him to stop. It took several weeks, but by using a firm voice to tell him no, it finally worked.
I will never understand why dogs find cat poop so yummy. Glad you were able to break yours from eating it Jeff.
I have 2 chi cross teacup schnausers that are four and a half months. One has started asking to go out but the other is still going next to the pee pad not on. Both go outside but end up distracted by play and seem to forget about going pottie even after half an hour outside.
When one wants to go outside, I’d hold the other chi until the first one potties, then pick him up and put the other one down near where the first one peed. Usually they want to go near or on the same place other dogs have gone.
When they both have done their business, then let them play together outside for a little while (that can be their reward).
Help! My family and I have our first Chi. She’s positively adorable, and brilliant, and that’s the problem. When we started the potty training process we opted for indoor pads – our yard, while fenced, has gaps underneath so bunnies can come through and drink at our fountain, and it’s be to easy for Pixie to get out as a result. Plus as we live in the high desert our temps can be a bit extreme. We’d been having a lot of success. She quickly figured out where her pad was, and to pee there, but she still would rather poo about 6-10 inches from the pad. She’s food driven, so we started giving treats, but we found she was drinking excessive amounts of water, and constantly going pee, so she’d get treats. So we started only treating when she’d poo, and just praise for pee. She’s now over 3 months and she still occasionally pees in the dog bed/play area, and this morning she actually, for the first time ever, peed on my father! This is her morning nap lap, and she’s never had an accident before. Today she didn’t even seem to make the attempt. Unfortunately I heard the situation second hand, so I’ve no idea if something triggered the behavior, or what. Regardless, how can I get my girl to understand you pee /and/ poo on the pad, not the floor, and that accidents on people are not ok. Just as an FYI – Pixie is current on her vaccines, and when last seen by the vet was found to be in good health.
This sounds gross but pick the poo up and put it on the pad, for a little awhile so the smell of it is there. That will usually attract them to go on or very near the same spot.
If she is suddenly peeing in places she didn’t before, you may need to try the treat incentive again. Just don’t give the treat every time. And you may need to keep her very close to you and watch for signs that she needs to potty, and then set her on the pad just to get it across that is where she needs to “go”.
My 16 month old teacup chi sleeps a lot. He probably sleeps 16 to 18 hours a day. Is this normal?
Most adult dogs sleep between 12-14 hours a day and puppies sleep between 18-20 hours a day. Your dog is just coming out of puppyhood so this may be normal. If he still sleeps this much by the time he is 2, it wouldn’t be.
I am looking for a teacup Chi. I am a senior, looking for companion. Do you have one that won’t sell, that’s the one I would be interested in. Please help. I live in Tyler, Texas. My email, elsiegrogan2010@yahoo.com.Thanks
I’m sorry Elsie, I don’t sell chihuahuas, I just write about them.
I rescued a three-year-old Chihuahua I cannot walk her she goes on the Wii we pad but lately she’s been going on the floor and on my rug my son comes over once a week and takes her out for a walk and she loves it and just have business outside is that confusing her
hi my 2yr old chi keeps peeing on my carpet she as never not once done a poo poo I can take her on walks and she must do about 20 wees sometimes it’s just a little drip hear and there wen at home she can go hours not haveing a pee wen she in her crate she as never weed in her crate so I feel she is all most there I have rescued her she amazing and I love her to bits she my bff but every day she will pee on me carpet and sometimes it’s just a little drip and outher time it’s a normle pee she don’t let me no wen she wants to go I just look for the .sings I have to let her out at least 20 times a day may be moore and there is not much gap between the times she needs to go all so she don’t pee at bed time eather she sleeps with me so she is at least going 7 hours of holding her bladerbut yet she don’t in day time any idea’s on wat mite be going on thanks laura
Yeah chis are notoriously hard to house train.
Is she peeing in the same spot?
First it’s important to clean the areas she’s peeing really well with an enzyme cleaner or white vinegar. If there is any whiff at all of the pee, she will use that area again. It sounds like you are doing everything right. Watching for signals, taking her out multiple times a day.
You could make peeing outside a little more attractive. Buy the tiny liver training treats (dogs LOVE these) and every time she pees outside, give her one and praise her alot. When she goes inside, say “No” in a low guttural tone, and take her outside immediately.
I have a 4 year old boy chihuahua, I have had him sense he was 6 weeks….I house train him..he use the puppy pad. For about 1 in1/2 he has been peeing all over the house including my bed…he as ruined the wood board near the carpet. I have block him from getting on the bed & going downstairs..But when we are home he use the puppy pad….I am tried of me not knowing where he’s peeing in the house and my home smelling like urine. I’m thinking buying a play pen to keep him in there when we leave the house….please let me know your thoughts. Thanks
I think that’s a great idea Kimbie!
Thank you so very much for this post!!
You’re welcome!