Desperately need help please, puppy doesn't 'get' toilet training

[JeffJarrett]

We got a chihuahua puppy almost three weeks ago, she was 16 weeks old when we got her and the breeder assured us she was toilet trained

She isn't toilet trained in the slightest, she's honestly not the brightest of pups (but she makes up for it in other ways, she's very sweet and affectionate). She has had numerous accidents daily since we got her and DP has been off work and watching her constantly and taking her outside when she sniffs the ground but you can't be there 24/7 and she just goes wherever she is standing. On the carpet in a million different places, on our bed twice, in her own bed twice (overnight with a puppy pad a foot away).

I don't think she's incontinent as she will sometimes go outside, and when she does we praise her and give her a treat. But also at times she will go outside then come straight back in and pee on the floor within minutes in another room.

I really don't know what to do. Our other chihuahua was absolutely fine and we had very few accidents. I wouldn't mind if the accidents were getting less frequent but she just doesn't seem to understand that you can't pee anywhere!

Please help me oh wise Mumsnetters before I have a nervous breakdown and have to have all my carpets replaced

Some small dogs in particular can take months to get it , you just need to persevere with taking her out regularly . You obviously got lucky with your other one .

It took my puppy many weeks to get it. Some dogs take a lot longer.

To be honest I ended up living in the kitchen for months until I was sure he was 100% toilet trained.
You need to go back to basics as if your dog was a very young puppy and take her out after every meal, after play, on waking and frequently in between. Get rid of the puppy pads as that is confusing as to why she can sometime go in the house and sometimes not. Also make sure you clean up the accidents thoroughly so she can't smell it which will encourage them to go in the same spot.

There's a FB group called dog training advice and support. They have a great document about this.
Puppies aren't generally toilet trained until they are several months old.
Put pup out when she wakes, after she eats, when she's been playing and at least every 20 minutes. Praise but I wouldn't treat. That will encourage lots of tiny wees for lots of treats. Never chastise for weeing in the wrong place. Watch constantly. Clean up with the proper stuff or they will go back to the same spot.
Why has the pup come to you at 16 weeks? That's quite late.

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I definitely think our first dog has spoiled us being so easy to train.

We do take her outside all the time, possibly not every 20 minutes but definitely a couple of times every hour and on waking/after eating/before bed. The back door is open all the time now too with the nice weather but we still take her out and encourage her to go.

It's good to hear there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I know we'll get there one day, it's just the lack of consistent progress that was making me wonder if she would ever 'get it'.

I will take a look at the fb group Wolfie, thanks. And the breeder had the full litter at 16 weeks. She said she had gotten attached and kept putting off advertising them, in hindsight me and DP are but at the time it sounded believable. She had two each from the past two generations also, so it wasn't an outlandish claim.

Hmm. Not normal breeder behaviour. And it's important they are socialised as young puppies.
That group is great. Lots of advice.

Get rid of the puppy pad. It doesn't matter how little you use them they need to be gone!

Take her out every 20 minutes. Take her out after every drink and after she eats. Also take her out every time she stops playing.

You might be out with her 5 minutes or 30 minutes but the second she wee's or poo's give her lots and lots of praise and a treat! I also kept repeating "do a wee" and now when I say it, nine times out of 10 she pee's!

Also during the night I know it isn't practical but I set my alarm for every hour. I picked her up without talking to her, took her outside until she pee'd, praised her then settled her again. This then went to every 2 hours. Then every 3 hours. She soon went through the whole night.

You will get there if you stick with it

I too think puppy pads are confusing. It's ok to go in the house by only sometimes.
And leaving the door open won't help. You need to be there to praise when she gets it right.

This is the toilet training guide mentioned above by Wolfiefan.

I definitely agree with ditching the puppy pads (they effectively teach the puppy it's ok to go inside) but other than that it sounds like you're doing the right things.

Some dogs do just take longer to get the hang of house training. Keep at it, be consistent and she will get it eventually.

Excellent advice and that link looks great. Thank you all so much. The puppy pads will be gone and we will step up the times we take her out, fingers crossed

Hey I've got a chi too

She's coming up to 15 weeks and is almost fully toilet trained in 3 weeks.

Perseverance is the key. Don't let her go out alone. Physically take her out and make sure she has the toilet.

Do it:-

When she wakes up
During a play session
After a play session
After eating
And every 20-30 mins

Plenty of praise when she goes and use a cue word.

Get rid of the puppy pads and make sure you clean any accidents with proper stuff that breaks down the enzymes and not bleach. Bleach will encourage them to go back there.

You can buy the stuff from most pet stores.

Or distilled (clear) malt vinegar neutralises urine smell. I couldn't cope with the lingering smell of those pet shop sprays but I'm a bit weird and hate strong air fresheners and fragrances

The one I've got is very mild...simply spray I think it's called

If you take her out and she doesn't go pick her up and carry her round inside for a few minutes and then take her straight back outside. If you give her as little chance as possible to get it wrong she will train faster so if she doesn't go first time she doesn't get the chance to go inside when she goes back inside. Leaving the door open for her won't be helping as she needs to see inside and toileting area as completely separate.

Just an update to thank you all for your advice, she's been fantastic and only had one accident in the last 4 or so days I think she's on the side of having cracked it.

Bonus picture, because a puppy thread without a picture is like a parking thread without a diagram

Good news OP, hopefully it will be no accidents soon.

It so is OP!
That face. I bet you forgive it all!!!

What a lovely wee face!!!

They need to develop the bladder control and fully grown bladder too to hold it, which can take time on top of understanding the training.