Why won't my chihuahua poop when I know he has to?

I have a chihuahua mix that will pee outside and poop outside sometimes but there are other times when he eats and you can tell he needs to go to the bathroom but he just pees and then stands there we tried staying out there and waiting but he just sits down and stares at you, then when you bring him in he sneaks off and will find some where to poop in the house! I dont know what to do to get him to want to poop outside all the time not just when he absolutely has to go and I dont know how to get him to understand he doesnt need to go in the house

Well... my chihuahua was scared of grass when he was a puppy, he didn't like the feeling of it and didn't like walking on it either. That could be a reason. The only way we ever got him to go outside was to just leave him out there until he went. It's not a cruel thing to do... the dog just needs to know that once he does his business outside then he can come inside. Usually after he went outside we told him good boy and gave him a small treat like a cheerio. It helped a lot. There are times where he won't go outside because it's raining or snowing so we let him out in the front yard to go and that helps. If our dog pee's in the house we rub his nose in it and tell him "no" and "outside" then put him outside.

Katydid's advise is good...at least the part about giving them time to go...for us going potty is just that...for a dog, it's got a whole gammit of "meanings"...they are into scent, territory, etc...so the place they choose has to be perfect in doggie terms.

SKIP the rubbing the dog's nose in it...they don't have a clue what your problem is, just that they've done unknown something, and you're angry! If you catch her in the act of peeing inside, pick her up quick...(you can say "No"...take her immediately outside...there's shock value in that, but no punishment...

TRAIN yourself...TO ALWAYS WATCH THE PUPPY WHEN IT'S IN THE HOUSE...if you are not in a position to watch her, crate her! Train yourself to always take her out the instant she wakes up...the instant she's done eating...and several times during play...She will get the idea quicker than you could imagine...I always plan on DEVOTING (and that's in caps because it's my ONLY project) 2 weeks to housetraining a pup...I keep slip-on boots by the door, I don't set the pup down, when I put them on...I'm half dressed 24/7...just to train the pup. I never punish a pup for going in the house...I consider that MY FAULT...for not watching close enough.

phrannie