Real Dog Mom Life ✦ Chiweenie Owner
6 Things That Finally Helped Potty Train My Chiweenie (Who Still Can’t Make It All Night)
Honest products and hacks I actually use — no fluff, just what’s working for us right now.
Let me be real with you: potty training a Chiweenie is not the same as potty training a Labrador. These tiny, stubborn, lovable little dogs operate on their own schedule — and their bladders? Even smaller than their attitude.
My boy can’t always make it through the night. So after a lot of wet mornings, ruined rugs, and late-night Googling, I’ve put together a system that actually works for us. These are the 6 things I genuinely use every single day (and night).
No sponsorships here — just a Chiweenie mom sharing what’s in our house right now.
🧺 Washable Pee Pads
I used to buy disposable pads — and the guilt of throwing away stack after stack every single week finally got to me. It felt so wasteful. Switching to washable, reusable pee mats was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made as a dog mom.
I keep a few rotating so there’s always a clean one ready, especially for overnight in his pen. They wash easily, hold up great over time, and have a non-slip backing with a waterproof inner layer that actually works.
But here’s my favorite part — they come in seasonal designs. I have a Christmas one I swap in every December and it matches my holiday decor perfectly. It sounds silly but it makes me so happy. 🎄 Who says your dog’s pee pad can’t be cute?
→ Shop Christmas Pad on Amazon → Shop Everyday Pad on Amazon → Shop on Chewy
🗑️ The Litter Pail Genie Hack
Okay, this one is a little unconventional — but hear me out. Since I use washable mats, my problem isn’t disposing of the whole pad. It’s the poop he leaves me on his pad overnight. I needed somewhere to put it that didn’t stink up the whole room until morning trash time.
Enter: the Litter Locker / Diaper Pail Genie. Drop it in, twist the lid, odor sealed. Done. My house actually smells normal now. 😅
If you use disposable pads instead of washable ones, this works perfectly for those too — just drop the whole pad in and twist. Either way, it completely solves the overnight smell problem.
→ Shop Litter Pail on Amazon → Shop Refill Bags on Amazon → Shop on Chewy
🛏️ Chew-Proof Bed by Kong
Let me tell you how bad it was before this bed: Boomer can put a hole in a regular dog bed in minutes. Not an exaggeration. He chews, he digs, he destroys. I went through two beds in a single month before I finally found the Kong Chew-Proof bed.
I’ve had this one for almost a year. No holes from chewing. No holes from digging. Still completely intact. The reinforced ripstop material is seriously tough, and somehow it’s still genuinely comfortable — he curls right up and goes to sleep.
It’s so comfortable, in fact, that my cat has claimed it as her own spot too. I have pictures of her stretched out in it like she paid for it herself. 😂 When your cat is jealous of the dog bed, you know you picked a good one.
Here’s my favorite part of this story: I found mine at Goodwill for just a few dollars. When I searched Amazon afterward, the same bed was $160. Always worth checking your local thrift store for high-end dog beds — people donate them when their dog outgrows them or they upgrade!
→ Shop Kong Bed at PetSmart → Similar Style on Amazon
🔲 The Overnight Night Pen
This was the thing that changed everything for our nighttime routine. Instead of giving free range of the house (disaster) or crating him super tightly (he hated it), a small foldable pet pen gives him just enough space to have a bed area AND a designated pee pad area.
Small dogs often won’t potty where they sleep — so having that separation in the pen actually helps reinforce the habit. He goes to his pad, not on his bed. We’ve had way fewer accidents since making this switch.
→ Shop on Amazon → Shop on Chewy
🍗 Ollie Dog Food
I know this one sounds like a stretch on a potty training list — but diet genuinely affects digestion, and digestion affects accidents. Since switching my Chiweenie to Ollie fresh dog food, his bathroom schedule has become so much more predictable.
Less filler, better ingredients = more regular, manageable bathroom trips. But there’s a bonus I didn’t expect: his poop is noticeably smaller and way less smelly. I know that’s not glamorous to talk about, but honestly? For those of us cleaning up after a dog every day, it matters a lot. Better food in = less nasty cleanup out.
I can actually predict when he needs to go now, which makes the whole overnight routine so much easier to manage. When he eats consistently good food, his body runs on a more consistent clock.
Ollie offers a starter discount for new customers and delivers right to your door. He goes absolutely wild for it — which is saying something for a picky Chiweenie.
→ Try Ollie (get a discount)
“Want more information on exactly what I feed both my dogs and why? Check out what I feed my dogs for the full breakdown.”
🧴 Enzyme Cleaner Spray
No potty training list is complete without this. Even with the best system in place, accidents happen — and if you don’t clean them up with an enzyme-based cleaner, your dog’s nose will find that spot again. Regular cleaners mask the smell to humans but dogs can still smell it, which basically sends them an invitation to go there again.
An enzyme cleaner actually breaks down the odor at the source so it’s completely gone. I use it on any accident that happens outside the pen, and also do a regular wipe-down of the pen area to keep things fresh.
My go-to is Rocco & Roxie — it works on carpet, hardwood, and fabric, and it doesn’t leave any residue or strong perfume smell behind. It’s one of those things you don’t think you need until you have it and realize you’ll never go without it again.
→ Shop on Amazon → Shop on Chewy
Reusable Male Wraps — My “Just in Case” Backup
There are times when I want him in my room with me but I don’t fully trust his bladder. My bedroom is the only carpeted room in the house, so the stakes are a little higher in there. That’s where reusable male wraps come in.
They’re not a replacement for training — they’re a management tool. Think of them like a belly band that wraps around his midsection. If he tries to mark or has a small accident, it’s contained instead of soaking into your carpet.
I use them during regression phases, when guests are over and he’s more excited than usual, and when he’s out of his pen but I’m distracted and not watching him closely.
They wash easily and have saved my rugs more than once. And here’s my secret weapon for keeping it on: I put him in his pajamas over the wrap. He can’t wiggle out of it, and honestly he looks ridiculous and adorable at the same time. 😂 You’re welcome for that tip.
→ Shop Reusable Male Wraps on Amazon
The Full System That’s Working for Us
Washable (sometimes Christmas-themed 🎄) pad in the corner. Chew-proof bed across from it — that even the cat approves of. Litter Pail Genie right outside the pen. Ollie dinner at the same time every night. Enzyme spray on standby. And male wraps with PJs for carpet adventures. That’s the whole system — and it’s working.
Chiweenies aren’t the easiest to potty train, but they’re absolutely worth it. Hopefully one of these things helps make your nights a little less… soggy. 🐾
Questions or have a product that worked for your small dog? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear what’s working for you!
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