Dealing with a dog that urinates can be a delicate matter. For the most part most pets do not want to do this. They usually have a good reason for urinating where they are not supposed. Usually they are anxious, fearful, and sick or it could be you forgot to take him or her outside and you are being left a big hint.

Here are some times for dealing with a dog that seems to be piddling for no reason.

Never physically discipline a dog by sticking its nose in the puddle of urine. You are simply triggering messages in the doggie brain that mean, “this is the place to do my stuff. A dog associates smell with locating or tracking and he may think it is okay to go there again. You are giving him permission to go in the same spot because the dog does not find the smell of urine unpleasant.

Never punish a dog with any type of spanking, hitting, choking or name-calling. The dog will simply become more anxious and more than likely repeat the offense. Dogs piddle and urinate. It is a fact of life. If you can’t handle it, than you don’t deserve to own a dog. Hitting a dog is childish and it will just make the dog more anxious and fearful. Dogs that are scared of their own become submissive urinators.

Take your dog for regular walks. Don’t lock your dog inside the house for hours or neglect taking him out regularly. A dog doesn’t have any more control over his or her urge to urinate than you do. Hitting a dog that you have neglected to walk is a lousy thing to do. In fact accidents that result from neglecting to walk the dog are totally your fault.

If you know you have an alpha dog, then know that it will take months and months to potty train him. Alpha dogs will resist you by urinating on items to mark their territory and show you whose boss. If this type of dominant alpha dog behavior is the real cause of accidents in your relationship than dog-training classes can help your dog recognize who is boss.

If you know that you are the owner of a submissive dog then be aware that he may piddle when excited or intimidated. There may be nothing you can do to correct this as such a dog is not easily trained out of submissive behaviors.

Don’t clean your home with ammonia-based cleaners. This smells like the urine of another animal to some dogs and they may lift their leg to mark their territory.

There are other alternatives to cleaning urine that do not attract dogs and make your home smell really high. The baking soda based ones are good. Try to get the odor out so that your dog does not identify it as being a safe place to go in the home.

Part of being a responsible pet owner is to make sure you can afford the pet’s vaccinations as well as be attentive to the schedule for shots. If you ignore this, then you are putting your dog’s life at risk.

As discussed in earlier chapters, the idea age to socialize your dog with other animals is between three and twelve weeks. It is also at this time that you want to introduce your dog to as many new experiences and people as possible. Unfortunately introducing your puppy to the world also puts him at risk of virus, infection and disease. This is why it is absolutely crucial that you keep the Chihuahua puppy’s vaccinations up to date.

You must avoid accidentally introducing your puppy to animals that may have not been vaccinated. Many irresponsible pet owners casually lie about the state of their pet’s vaccinations because they are too embarrassed to admit that they don’t want to go to the time trouble and expense. By vaccinating your dog you prevent him from coming into contact with dogs and cats that have not been inoculated and that carry highly contagious and often fatal diseases.

Ideally, your Chihuahua puppy should start receiving vaccinations at about 8 weeks of age and continuing receiving them until he or she is 16 weeks old. The vaccinations should include Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, Rabies and Hepatitis.

Most veterinarians recommend getting five shot at once at periodic times. However other vets believe this is too hard on a tiny pet’s system and recommend that your pet be brought in several times to receive each inoculation separately.

All rabies vaccines, regardless of age first given, are followed by a second vaccination a year later, plus booster shots every three years.

Of course before starting any type of vaccination schedule you should consult with the breeder first (to see what shots the puppy has already had) and the veterinarian second (to see what shots the puppy will need on what dates.)

Below is a rough guideline that indicates the timing of vaccinations.

Vaccination Schedule

6 weeks

Have a thorough exam for overall health.
Vaccinate for Distemper, Parainfluenza and Hepatitis – no Parvo.

7-1/2 weeks

Vaccinate for Parvo only (killed vaccine.)

10 weeks

Second Parvo vaccination (killed vaccine.)

12 weeks

Thorough exam.
Vaccinate for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis.

If you suspect that your pet is stolen it is crucial to take immediate action. Here is a list of immediate steps you should take in order to try and ensure a speedy return.

1. Begin the search for a missing dog immediately. Enlist friends and family members to start searching your local neighborhood. Start your search on foot first. Circle around you block and then widen the circle to include the next block and the block around that until you are reasonably sure that you are including neighboring areas. Be sure to have a friend or family member wait outside your home in case your dog returns to your building or doorstep. Also make sure that you check all local parks and any of your pet’s favorite places.

2. Answer your telephone twenty-four hours a day in case someone contacts you with news about your missing dog. Keep the telephone line free!

3. Put together a clear, bold, easy-to-read “lost chihuahua” poster, The two- line, bold headlines should read: “REWARD: LOST DOG.” The flyer should also your pet’s general physical description and temperament, the date and location of where your pet was lost and two or more phone numbers that people can call if they find your pet. While the flyer should offer a reward for the safe return of your pet, it should not specify the amount of the reward.

4. To prevent con artists from scamming you for the reward money and cruel pranksters from falsely raising your hopes, leave one or two physical characteristics off the description you offer on your missing poster. That way if somebody calls, you can ask if the dog has any other marks besides what was described.

5. Contact all local animal shelters, humane societies, veterinary hospitals, and animal control officers immediately and ask them if a pet that meets your description has been reported or turned in. Also contact your local police, sheriffs’ office, pet supply stores, groomers, boarding kennels, and training schools. This makes it harder for your lost pet to be sold to a buyer.

7. Contact agencies like Petfinders (1-800-666-5778) that specialize in recovering lost pets.

8. Place “Lost Pet” ads (with your pet’s photograph) in the “Lost and Found” and “Pet” sections of all local newspapers. Many times local community papers will run these types of ads free. Make sure you include your dog’s picture if possible.

9. The Internet is also a good place to let lots of people know about a lost pet. Send emails, complete with a picture of your pet, to everyone you know in your neighborhood and surf around to see if there is a localized “Lost Pet” broadcast alert you can post your notice on.

10. If a caller claiming to have found your pet tells you to meet him at a strange or dangerous location, or to send him money in order to get your puppy back then chances are very high that you have been conned. Call the police immediately and they will deal with it.