I’ve got an adult female chihuahua mix that’s been a bit inconsistent with going outside to potty. She’s got full access to a doggy door, but sometimes she just won’t go out at all, especially when it’s cold. I’m tired of blocking off parts of the house to keep her in, especially with winter coming up. Has anyone dealt with this? Any suggestions would be great!
I had the same issue with my rescue dog! I started taking her outside on a leash every time, and that seemed to help. A little treat after she goes potty works wonders too.
SHAWN said:
I had the same issue with my rescue dog! I started taking her outside on a leash every time, and that seemed to help. A little treat after she goes potty works wonders too.
Same here! But I was wondering, do you use a specific command for them to go? I’ve heard that helps too.
@Pupp
Yeah, I say ‘go potty’ while she’s going. It helps keep her focused, and she knows what’s up. I do it even when she’s in the middle of going so she associates the command with potty time.
One thing I found helpful was hanging a dog bell by the door. I rang it every time we went out, and eventually, she started ringing it herself when she needed to go. It took a while, but it worked!
Gianna said:
One thing I found helpful was hanging a dog bell by the door. I rang it every time we went out, and eventually, she started ringing it herself when she needed to go. It took a while, but it worked!
That’s a great idea! I’ll have to try that. Does the bell confuse them at first though?
@Oliver
Not really, it’s just about consistency. I started ringing it first, then gave her a treat when she went out. After a few weeks, she started ringing it herself! Pretty cool, honestly.
Definitely try a small playpen around the doggy door. My dog wouldn’t go potty in the house, so I made sure to keep his space really small and added his bed and food nearby. They usually don’t like eliminating where they sleep.
@Paw
Oh, that’s an interesting idea! I’ll see if that works. I think I’ve just been letting her roam too much. Thanks for the tip!
Just a heads-up—if she’s not going outside during cold weather, it could be that she’s not a fan of being out in the cold. Some dogs are like that. Maybe try making the potty area more inviting or warm?
@Mason
Yeah, that’s a good point. She does get super picky about the cold. I’ll have to figure something out to make her more comfortable outside.
You might also want to clean up accidents with a pet-safe cleaner that gets rid of smells. Otherwise, she might just keep going in the same spots. It’s a pain, but it can help a lot!
LillyGrace said:
You might also want to clean up accidents with a pet-safe cleaner that gets rid of smells. Otherwise, she might just keep going in the same spots. It’s a pain, but it can help a lot!
Thanks! I’ll grab some cleaner. I’ve been using regular stuff, but maybe that’s why she keeps going inside. Appreciate the advice!