Bell Training at 8 weeks of age?

[aj_blade]

Hello Everyone,

One week until our little guy arrives! You have all sold me on the idea of bell training, so I plan to move full speed ahead! My question to you is, would 8 weeks be considered too young to start? I've ready many posts where puppies tend to be afraid of the bells when they are that young. Any puppy success stories at ages would be appreciated!

Thanks a lot!
Aj

 

[gmacleod]

I don't think it's too young to start at all - in fact, it will probably be less confusing for him if he's ringing bells before he goes out from the outset.

It's still likely to take him a while to catch on though. And a long time to be reliable (as in, asking every time he needs to go). But still, the sooner you start, the sooner he's likely to get the idea

 

[Titansdad]

I'm gonna try too..

Sounds good. GMac your wisdom, as always, is appreciated sooooo much. I thought it would be too early too. But now I'm confident it'll be o.k. :D

 

[SILLY6PAK]

It is never too young to start teaching anything. The younger they are the more patience you will need. I am amazed at how quickly the puppy picks things up.

 

[Biff]

I swear by the bell training, and if I'd known how reliable it was when we first got Biff, I'd have started it right away

As GMac says though, patience is the key

Good luck!

 

[aj_blade]

Alright! Thanks all, I'm going out today to buy a bell and have it hanging and ready for Kalel when he gets home! I'll be sure to keep you all posted! I'll keep saying 'patience' over and over in my head until he gets it.

Aj

 

[evjm472]

We started our pup at 7 weeks as soon as we got him home. It took a couple days but he started to get it quickly. Now he hit's it about 90% of the time, still the occasional pee mistake, but never poop.

 

[maceylb]

I can't remember exactly when we started Enzo with the bell, but I know it was right around 8 or 9 weeks. We previously had paper trained him and were starting to block off that area to completely house train him, but he was confused and had accidents all over the house. Almost immediately, when we showed him how to use the bell (2 or 3 times,with treats) it was like giving him a purpose- he stopped going anywhere else in the house and rings the bell everytime he has to go out. I

 

[aj_blade]

Well, an update! We've had Kalel for 2 weeks now, and I can proudly say he rings the bell 80 - 90% of the time! I can even predict when he needs to do a number 2, because he wacks the bell incredibly hard with his paw! For number 1, he nudges the bells with his nose. Patience paid off!!!

Thanks all!
Aj

 

[MonkeyLove]

Congrats!

In the 4 days we've been trying the bell, Monkey has used it succesfully once. hehe it's a start!