Chihuahuas take longer to housetrain than larger breeds, but consistency and patience work

Chihuahua puppies have smaller bladders and less control than bigger dogs, so they need to go outside more often—roughly every two hours when awake, and once during the night until they're four to six months old. The good news is that chihuahuas are smart and eager to please their owners. The challenge is that their size makes it straightforward to miss accidents, and missed accidents teach them the wrong habit. Success depends on taking your puppy out on a strict schedule, watching for signals, and never punishing accidents after the fact.

Most chihuahua puppies can be reliably housetrained by six to eight months old if you start at eight weeks and stick to the routine. Some take longer—up to a year is not unusual. The breed's stubbornness and the fact that owners often carry them instead of letting them walk and sniff (which triggers the urge to go) can slow progress. But the method itself is straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Take your chihuahua puppy outside every two hours while awake, when ready after eating, after play, and right before bed, because their bladder cannot hold urine for long.
  • Choose one outdoor spot and use the same command ("go potty") every time so your puppy learns to associate that place and phrase with relieving themselves.
  • Praise and reward with a small treat the moment your puppy finishes going outside, not when they come back inside, so they understand what earned the reward.
  • Clean accidents with enzymatic cleaner, not ammonia-based products, because ammonia smells like urine and can teach your puppy that spot is a bathroom.
  • Never punish or scold your puppy for accidents, even if you see them happen, because fear and confusion make housetraining take longer.

Set up a bathroom schedule and stick to it

The foundation of chihuahua housetraining is taking your puppy outside at the same times every day. Start by taking them out first thing in the morning, after every meal (usually 15 to 30 minutes later), after playtime, after naps, and right before bed. This means you will be going outside 8 to 12 times a day with a young puppy—that is the reality of the breed's small bladder.

Write down the times you go out and note whether your puppy went. After a week or two, you will see a pattern. Most puppies need to urinate within 30 minutes of eating and within an hour of waking up. Once you know your puppy's pattern, you can predict when accidents are likely and prevent them by being outside first.

As your puppy gets older (around four months), you can gradually stretch the time between trips. Move from every two hours to every three hours, then every four. By six months, many chihuahuas can hold it for four to six hours during the day. Nighttime is separate—puppies cannot control their bladder at night until around five to six months old, so expect one nighttime trip until then.

Choose one spot and use a command

Pick a small area of your yard or a specific spot on the sidewalk and take your puppy there every single time. Dogs naturally want to go where they have gone before—the scent triggers the urge. By always using the same spot, you are building that association.

Use the same phrase every time, such as "go potty" or "do your business." Say it as soon as you arrive at the spot, before your puppy goes. After a few weeks, your puppy will hear the phrase and know what is expected. This is especially useful later when you are traveling or in unfamiliar places.

Let your puppy sniff and walk around the spot for a minute or two. Do not rush them. Sniffing is how they locate where to go, and it also calms them enough to relax their bladder. If your puppy does not go within five minutes, bring them back inside and try again in 15 minutes.

Reward the moment they finish, not when you come back inside

The timing of your reward is critical. Your puppy needs to understand that going to the bathroom outside is what earned the reward, not coming back inside or sitting calmly. The moment your puppy finishes, say "yes!" or "good potty!" in a happy voice and give them a small treat—something the size of a pea, not a full biscuit.

Keep the treat in your pocket before you go outside so you can deliver it when ready. If you wait until you are back inside, your puppy will think they are being rewarded for coming in the door, not for going outside. After a few months, you can phase out treats and switch to praise alone, but in the first weeks, the treat makes the connection clear.

Do not make a huge fuss or play with your puppy right after they go. A calm "good job" and a treat is enough. If you get them excited, they may need to go again in five minutes, which defeats the schedule.

Clean accidents with enzymatic cleaner

Accidents will happen. The way you clean them matters. Do not use ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, or vinegar. Ammonia smells like urine to dogs, so it can actually teach your puppy that spot is a bathroom. Instead, use an enzymatic cleaner made for pet urine—brands like Nature's Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, or Sunny & Honey break down the uric acid that causes the smell.

Spray the enzymatic cleaner on the spot, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then wipe it up. The enzymes need time to work. If you clean too quickly, the smell remains and your puppy will be drawn back to that spot. For large accidents, you may need to explore the cleaner twice.

If you catch your puppy in the act, calmly pick them up (if they are small enough) or gently interrupt them and take them outside to finish. Do not yell or scold. Once they finish outside, reward them. Then clean the indoor spot with enzymatic cleaner. Punishment teaches fear, not bladder control.

Watch for signals that your puppy needs to go

Even on a schedule, learn to recognize when your puppy is about to have an accident. Common signals include sniffing the ground, circling, whining, scratching at the door, or suddenly stopping play. Chihuahuas are small, so these signals can be straightforward to miss if you are not watching.

If you see any of these signs, take your puppy outside when ready, even if it is not time for a scheduled trip. The more accidents you prevent, the faster housetraining goes. Prevention is more effective than correction.

Some chihuahuas will go to the door or make a specific sound when they need to go out. If your puppy does this, reward it heavily. You are teaching them that communicating with you gets them outside, which is the goal.

Crate training supports housetraining

Dogs naturally do not want to soil their sleeping area, so a properly sized crate can help. The crate should be just large enough for your puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down—not so large that they can go to the bathroom in one corner and sleep in another. A crate that is too big defeats the purpose.

Use the crate when you cannot watch your puppy, such as when you are cooking, showering, or sleeping. Take your puppy out of the crate and directly outside on schedule. Do not leave your puppy in the crate for longer than they can hold their bladder—a general rule is one hour per month of age, so a three-month-old puppy should not be crated for more than three hours.

Never use the crate as punishment. It should be a safe, comfortable space. If your puppy has an accident in the crate, it means the crate is too big or your puppy was left in too long, not that your puppy is being stubborn.

Expect setbacks and adjust your expectations

Chihuahuas are prone to what is called submissive urination—they may leak urine when excited, scared, or greeting you. This is not a housetraining failure; it is an emotional response. If your puppy does this, stay calm and do not scold them. Excitement and fear make it worse. Over time, as your puppy matures and gains confidence, submissive urination usually stops.

Illness, stress, and changes in routine can also cause setbacks. If your puppy was doing well and suddenly has accidents, check for a urinary tract infection by seeing a veterinarian. If there is no medical cause, go back to the frequent outdoor schedule for a week or two until your puppy is back on track.

Some chihuahuas are stubborn about going outside in bad weather. If your puppy refuses to go in the rain or snow, try a covered porch or a dog umbrella. Make the outdoor spot as appealing as possible, and do not force them. A puppy who is scared of weather will take longer to housetrain.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old should my chihuahua be before I start potty training?

You can start introducing the routine at eight weeks old, but puppies cannot physically control their bladder reliably until around four to six months. Before that, accidents are normal and not a sign of failure. Consistency from the start still helps—your puppy learns the routine and the expectations even if they cannot always hold it.

Why does my chihuahua keep having accidents even though we go outside often?

The most common reasons are that the puppy is not staying outside long enough to go, the reward is not happening at the right moment, or the indoor accident spot was not cleaned with enzymatic cleaner. Also check that your puppy does not have a urinary tract infection by seeing a veterinarian. If the vet rules out illness, go back to basics: longer outdoor time, when ready rewards, and enzymatic cleaning.

Can I use puppy pads to housetrain a chihuahua?

Puppy pads can confuse the process because they teach your puppy that going to the bathroom indoors is acceptable. Most trainers recommend skipping pads and going straight to outdoor housetraining, even though it requires more trips outside. If you must use pads, place them in one consistent spot and gradually move them closer to the door and outside over several weeks.

What should I do if my chihuahua will not go outside in cold or rainy weather?

Some chihuahuas dislike wet paws or cold. Try a dog raincoat or sweater, a covered porch, or a dog umbrella. You can also create a small indoor potty area (like a litter box with pellets) as a backup for extreme weather, though this may slow outdoor housetraining. Be patient—as your puppy matures, they often become less sensitive to weather.

Is my chihuahua too small to housetrain?

No. Size does not prevent housetraining, but it does make accidents easier to miss. The smaller your puppy, the more carefully you need to watch for signals and the more often you need to take them outside. Chihuahuas are intelligent and can be housetrained just as well as larger breeds—it straightforward takes more vigilance on your part.