Some chihuahua knowledge needed here, PLEASE!1 (Re: housebreaking)

[UTUSN]

O.K., we were doing really well into 7-8 months. I keep her on the bed and take her out 1-2 times per night. If I left her ground level she would crap/piss on the floor.


So. as I said, she's been doing really well.


Of course, it was a SURPRIZE to me that she had her first period 6 months on. I thought it would be a year. Well, THAT's over.


So this past week, ALL of her housebreaking has gone to the toilet, so to speak. At least once daily she is doing one or the other inside.


I saw a girl with a Chihuahua in her purse and asked her about the age/housebreaking. She said, "She's seven months, and she's doing well, is TRYING."


I've had other dogs and never had this trouble. I mean, she's lovable. I've got another dog (mini-Daschund) who wouldn't dream of doing it inside.

Is this breed etra difficult?!1 Anybody?

[LeftyMom]

1. Putting the two together

The housebreaking issues seem to be following hard on the heels of her going into heat? Likely the two are related. Is there a medical reason you haven't had her altered yet?

[UTUSN]

2. How young can the spaying be done? I really wasn't expecting ANYTHING until a YEAR!1 n/t

[LeftyMom]

3. Generally it should be done before the first heat cycle, if possible.

The old advice to wait a year or more or to do at least one heat cycle first is outdated, most animals can go in after eight weeks if they're healthy. Your vet may prefer to wait a bit longer (12-16 weeks) but it's not wise to push it much longer than that because allowing sexual maturity to occur increases cancer risk, as well as risk of uterine infections in female dogs.

[UTUSN]

4. Thanks. With a previous (male) dog, I had him neutered YOUNG

and I thought I noticed that he never really MATURED. It was like he stayed frozen in time, was immature.


Well, it's too late for this girl, but she's lovable so I'll be hers for the next 15 or more years!1 Thanks!1

[LeftyMom]

5. No harm done. Just get her in ASAP

and in the future make sure you discuss the timing of, or go ahead and schedule, the spay/neuter when you go in for puppy shots. Your vet should be able to give you more individualized advice on the best timing.

[RebelOne]

6. I have a Chihuahua that is a year old.

I have not had success housebreaking her. I even sent her to Man's Best Friend for training. But she will use the puppy pee pads. I just leave one of those down on the floor and she always uses it. At least, the poop and pee are all in one place and I only have to pick up the pad and throw it away. And they are not all that expensive. I buy them at Walgreen's 50 for $10 and I only use one a day.

[kaiden]

7. We have a 5-year old chihuahua we adopted a year ago.

He is not totally housebroken. He goes outside to pee, but runs in the house to poop -- sometimes we catch him, sometimes we don't. Since we have a fully tiled house and chihuahua poop is small, it's not really an issue -- we just have to be very vigilant.

[GaYellowDawg]

8. But they're so easy to care for!

You don't have to walk a chihuahua. You just hold 'em out the window and squeeze!

[UTUSN]

9. Thanks, All. Great advice on all scores. Here's a pic:

That's here on the left. Both pics are from their puppy days, almost a year ago for her, three for him.

[seemunkee]

10. My iggies are like that

One is almost 5, the other is 3. We use puppy pads, but even so they don't always go to the pads. I'm going to clean the carpets this weekend.