buzzle

That's a good idea BC. Took away the puppy pad last night and I stitched a jumper so it fits her a little better and I have her outside wearing that today. Fingers crossed she'll get the hang of it! Will let you know when we have success.

1959 - thanks for the tips! It's great to hear from another chi owner. That is reassuring that your pups are ok outside in Melbourne weather as it can get pretty nippy down there. Sometimes when you research things on the internet you get so many different bits of advice it can be hard to know if you are doing the right thing... Now i know just to come straight to this forum! From all the advice everyone has given I will lose the pee pad and keep her outside during the day (quick smart!). Anyone have a good knitting pattern for a tall skinny chi?

I didn't expect it to be so wet constantly for so long and i also planned on buying her a jumper. unfortunately everything I have bought her falls off as she is quite long and skinny and the jumpers that fit in length are too loose. i am trying to find someone that can knit a jumper to fit her but in the mean time she is not benefiting from the situation i have created with the 2 toilet areas.

Unfortunately i rent so a doggy door is not an option and my house is too small to have the pet loo anywhere inside. I am happy for her to go inside on the pads when she is inside but I can understand that having 2 options may be confusing her so in the long run i would prefer her to go outside all the time. I do treat her like a normal dog but i wouldn't leave any size dog outside when it is storming and 12 degrees. I think you are right though... the problem is that she can't understand that a particular area is ok inside but another separate area is ok outside. In the breed book it mentions that as she is a (very) small breed she will need to go more frequently than larger breeds and that they are very sensitive to cold weather (making the current situation quite tricky!)... I guess the best option is to wait for this weather to clear up a bit and start from scratch again with her outside. And no more puppy pads. Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

oops... pressed the wrong button above... She was outside when it was warm but as it has been so cold and wet in Sydney lately I haven't wanted to leave her outside... it's a shame because when she was outside she was using the pet loo quite regularly. Hopefully the weather will clear up soon and she can go back out! I do stay with her outside but she is so cheeky she will usually force out a bit of a wee and then run back inside. At least she understands where to wee I guess... I don't have any grass in the courtyard but that is a good idea to take a bit of the puppy pad to the park and see if she figures it out. That's true... only little 'bundles' to pick up!

I have a gorgeous 9 month old female chihuahua who is proving to be quite difficult to house train. I have a 'pet loo' in the courtyard but as I work during the day she is left inside with access to puppy pads. She never wees in the house any more (always on the pet loo or the pads). She sometimes poos on the pet loo (or around it) but only about 50% of the time. I am always watching her and praising her for doing the right thing when I am around but obviously can't be there during the day. I think she understands 'toilet' is the command but associates this more with doing a wee than a poo despite my constant reminders. She also refuses to go to the toilet outside on the grass - although I have spent many hours with her at the park reminding her of 'toilet' when she is sniffing around but she doesn't seem to put two and two together. Because of this it is usually difficult when we visit friends houses as she will usually make a mess inside in some hidden corner. I understand that toilet training takes time and patience but thought some of you might have some tips so I can help her to be 100% house trained. Also, if you have any tips for getting her to go on the grass it would be much appreciated. Thanks!