How do you potty train a tea cup poodle?

Very small pups can be difficult to housetrain, for three main reasons. First, they physically have much smaller bladders, so will need to eliminate more frequently than larger breed pups. Second, small breeds like Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers take longer for their muscles to develop, so they can't hold it until they're at least 20 weeks old. Thirdly, very small pups can be sensitive to the cold, which can make their bladder muscles freeze up and stop them going outside (that's why they look like they need to go, then when you take them outside, they don't go, then five minutes later they're asking to go again!).

My advice is to train them to go in a particular spot indoors. Many people use pee pads, but I'd recommend a special indoor dog potty system - my chihuahua uses an Ugodog, but I'm sure other ones are good too. This is a good idea because very small dogs won't ever be able to hold it for more than three or four hours maximum. If you ever need to leave them that long, especially at short notice, it's good to know they've got somewhere to go.

Don't ever get angry with them for making a mistake, and keep them under constant supervision. Take them to their spot when they wake up, after a drink, after a meal, after playtime and whenever they start to sniff the floor and look distracted. Give lots of praise and treats for getting it right!