Chihuahua puppy and rain

[millypeggyandpandora]

Hi all please advise me!
My 17 week old chihuahua ( Mr Pickles) has been hard to house train although lately he has had improved. But, he won't wee in the rain or even when the patio is wet, he just shivers by the back door.
This doesn't bode well for winter .
Would a litter tray help ? Any other ideas?
Thanks x

My chihuahua is the same so I put a coat on her when it’s raining or hold an umbrella over her.

Pink
Thats adorable! An umbrella over her
Did you try with a litter tray Pink?
I think my puppy will be unwilling to venture in the cold too. So I guess I will have to get costs and brollies!

I would litter train if I was you! Makes life so much easier. I have a 12 year old chi and he's the same. It's because the rain is so loud for them.

I have a patterdale x who refuses to go out in the rain without a coat , we keep one by the back door just for the garden . Very strange dog as he will happily wallow in puddles like a hippo but won’t go out the back door if it’s raining .

Chihuahuas are notorious for being bad to house train! I suggest boots, an umbrella, coats and tons of patience

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Chihuahuas certainly are very different to other breeds !
Cheeky
Did you litter tray train? Was it easy?

It isn't just chihuahuas. My staffie hates the rain. Even with a raincoat on this morning, she had to be dragged out for a wee and then she steadfastly refused to go on with the walk and ran all the way back to the door.

I would get a little coat for him, umbrella over him from the back door and put up a waterproof gazebo over your chosen toiletting area. Pup on lead, then it’s a case of the 3 ‘P’s’ Patience, Persistence and Praise. (We have Lurchers and many of them are similarly ‘allergic to rain’. )

Lol my 22kg lab x hates going out in the rain too ( this doesn’t extend to other forms of water ! ) - yes litter tray although I do like the sound of an umbrella …. Chihuahua boots and raincoat ? Dear little thing

In the beginning you just have to go out with them. You just have to...

My terrier won't go out in the rain, he sits by the door looking at it!

A gazebo! I didn't think of that! Not a litter tray then?

I’m having the exact same problem with mine!

Powerball
What are you doing to help them wee in the rain? How old is your chihuahua?

The last message was to Powertothepetal

Only 8 weeks but I can foresee issues…
He stands horrified looking and shakes when it is raining.

In addition to coat, umbrella, gazebo etc, I would gear up and take him out in light rain/drizzle to play or just have lots of fuss and treats, maybe scatter feed under the gazebo. That way he’ll make better associations with rain, even if he never actually likes it.

My old dog used to back up on the back step if it was raining when we opened the door, the big old wuss! He was happy to go for a walk in it with his coat on though, so we made sure he associated going in the garden in the rain with fun stuff too and he was never a fan, but eventually he’d go out for a wee without reversing back up the step and refusing to go out.

Re the litter tray. I think that’s purely a matter of personal preference. I’d rather not encourage toiletting inside in any form, but it seems to work for some people and I know people with toy breeds that live in flats and use them.

My next dog is going to be a toy breed, which is known to not like rain/water (not a Chi) and we will be working on this early on in a similar way to the way we did it with my Lurcher. I doubt they’ll ever love the rain, but I’m hopeful we can come to an agreement that a quick wee outside in wet weather is at least acceptable! I’ve never had a toy breed before either, so am expecting a steep learning curve.

Permanently
Scattering the food under the gazebo sounds a really good idea, thank you.
All tips are very welcome as my puppy is also the first toy breed dog I have owned. Although he is so easy in some ways, such as travelling in the car and happily staying in his crate when we go out. In other ways, such as toileting and lap guarding ... he is a real challenge!

@millypeggyandpandora, make sure the scattering sessions are separate to toilet visits or he’ll be too focussed on snuffling to remember to wee.

Actually, thinking about it, maybe it would be better to do the scattering in random areas, rather than under the gazebo, so he gets used to the feel of the rain and wet grass etc and makes positive associations with them. Then, hopefully, you can ditch the gazebo, as ultimately you want him to be happy weeing anywhere you ask him to and not only under nice dry gazebos.

I am used to large breeds and fully expecting a challenge with my next pup. I’m a member of the breeder’s FB group and learning a lot about the quirks of the breed in the hope I’ll be prepared when the time comes. It won’t be for quite a while though, as I wouldn’t bring a pup into the house with my elderly boy. It wouldn’t be fair on him and I want to be able to fully focus on spoiling him rotten and making sure we make the most of every day we have with him.

Are you a member of the Dog Training Advice and Support Facebook group?

They have a whole section on resource guarding which might help with the lap guarding issue. It’s run by experienced, positive behaviourists and trainers. You have to make sure you read the mandatory sections and any others that are relevant to your problem, then list the ones you’ve read in any requests for support.

Mine has a multitude of coats and jumpers. She’s nearly 4 now and actually will finally go out in the rain without me standing over her 😂

I personally wouldn’t litter tray train as we go away with her to friends and different holiday places, she needs to toilet outside.

I will look up the Facebook page mentioned, thank you for that.
Good point about litter tray being difficult to transport. He does need to go with me everywhere ( one of the reasons I got a toy breed)So I will persevere with having a wee outside, only using the gazebo for a while until he is happier in the rain.
Thank you everyone, much appreciated advise.
He is a delicate, delightful puppy but I do worry about doing the best for him

She’s my best friend

I think you do them a favour treating them as a dog not as a toy breed dog. She thinks she normal sized and has always socialised with much bigger dogs. You’d not have a lab crapping in a box

Harnesses are your friend as collars are too rough in their necks and of course they gave pin heads

Mine has coats that have harness hooks on the back which is handy if you do have to grab them
And move away from bigger dogs etc

Like this one