Knowing what kinds of things trigger a Chi’s need to relieve herself can help, too, in knowing whether you crate your Chihuahua or if you need to give her a quick walk. In general, Your Chihuahua will need to relieve herself at the following times:
- Immediately upon waking up
- Immediately upon being let out of her crate (at any time)
- After playing
- Within thirty minutes after eating a meal
- Within an hour of drinking water
- After or during a lot of excitement
- While under stress, such as a ride in the car
- Every four hours during the day (adult)
- Every two hours or less during the day (puppy)
As you can see, if you have a puppy—particularly a young puppy—the need to go is pretty much a regular occurrence. In other words, you can’t give a puppy too many opportunities to relieve herself. As the puppy matures, she will be better able to control her needs. However, always allow a Chi to relieve herself before putting her in her crate for any period of time.
Playpens
When you are confident you recognize your Chi’s call to relieve herself, you can expand the crate-training concept to include a playpen or an exercise pen. Put your dog’s crate in a small playpen that is located on an easy-to-clean floor surface. You can leave out a stable water bowl (one the Chi cannot easily tip over) and a few toys to occupy your Chi in the playpen.
Initially, you’ll only want to use the crate/playpen setup when you can keep an eye on your Chihuahua. You don’t want her to use a corner in the playpen as a restroom. Before you leave the house, allow your Chi to relieve herself, and then put her in her crate.
When she seems to have caught on to the idea that the playpen is an extension of the no-potty zone while you are supervising her, you can begin leaving the open crate in the playpen when you need to step out.
Moving On
If your puppy or adult Chihuahua has been reliable in the playpen/crate setup for a couple of weeks, you might want to increase her space in your home. A good first choice is to expand the Chi’s area to the room in which you currently are keeping her crate and playpen.
You can also use another small room with an easy-to-clean floor, such as the kitchen or breakfast room. You’ll want your Chi’s crate to be open and in this area, just as with the playpen. To block off this room from others, invest in a few dog barriers or baby gates to use in doorways.
Important!
If you don’t want to allow your Chihuahua any more access to your home while you are gone or unable to supervise, it is fine to continue using the crate or the crate and playpen arrangement. If a puppy is teething or an adult suffers from separation anxiety and tends to be a bit destructive, a crate or crate and playpen will keep your Chi safe, as well as limit your rascal’s ability to destroy your home.
As you give your Chihuahua more space, keep the amount of time she spends in that space constant. Increase only one variable at a time. Also, if your Chi has an accident in her current space (and it is not because you left her too long or didn’t first allow her to relieve herself) then reduce the amount of space until she is once again reliable for several days.
How can I tell if my Chihuahua needs to go out or just doesn’t want to be in her crate?
If you just put your Chihuahua in her crate and she relieved herself fully right before she went in, her plaintive whining is most likely due to her confinement. If she’s been in her crate for an hour or longer and then starts communicating with you, she most likely needs to relieve herself.
Over time, you’ll be able to tell what she is communicating by the sound of her bark or whine.
Size and Timing
The crate only works, however, if it is not too large for the Chi and the owner is judicious with its use. For house training purposes, the crate should only be big enough for the Chi to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
This gives your dog a comfortable place to rest or chew on a good toy but is not so big that if the puppy relieves herself she can lie in a clean, dry area of the crate—far away from her mess.
The Chi should only be crated for eight to ten hours maximum in a twenty-four-hour period. The crate is not a substitute for spending individual time with your puppy or adult and the vigilant supervision that is necessary when the Chihuahua is playing in a larger area. It is only intended for use when you can’t keep an eye on your Chi or when you leave the house for short periods of time.
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