Bell Training...cant find a bell!

[Blurrrr]

Ok, so after some reading on the forums, it sounds like training Thor to use a bell may be a good option. I have been working with him for 3 weeks now on potty training and he completely gets the concept. The issue is, he has had free access to outside whenever he wants until this week. The change of weather doesn't allow me to keep the door open all the time. Don't worry, its a fenced in yard

We took a nap on the couch today and when I woke up, there was an accident on the floor. He knew he made a mistake, he tucked his head and went to the door. I felt bad because I just didnt know. So since he is a little genius, he'll abuse the door bell, but I need an audible alert.

So after this ramble, where in the heck did you guys/gals find your bells?

 

[Blurrrr]

OK, so I just went to a craft store and found a package of bells for a couple of bucks. Strung them together with an old shoe string and hung them on the door. He walked right up to them, sniffed and then barked. So I opened the door and we went outside.

Back inside now, so I decide to try again. This time, I walk outside, crack the door and let him smell the treat through the crack. He swipes at the small crack, hitting the bells, so I open the door and treat. Hey this is working and only after a few minutes.

After 4-5 times, he decides he is not gonna swipe at the treat, he is just gonna sit and bark at it. Door opens, treat. (Any audible alert is fine, just need something!)

So at this point, i think he is saying.. "Yeah, I'll bark to get outside and get a treat, but I'm not touching that stupid bell".

 

[entelekia]

Try the bird section at the pet store. They have big bells that parrots like to have in their cages.

--Wendy

 

[Gilbert]

I've thought about training for the bell techinque but like you i know my pup will abuse it an ring the bells just so he can go play outside.

I hope someone chims in that can shed some light on the situation.

 

[RoxiesEcho]

The bell we used was from a craft store. Just a christmas bell tied to a piece of string. And yes, they do learn to abuse it. But I would much rather she ring it just to go play than to not ring it at all! Bella eventually grew out of the whole routine and now won't ring it even if I ask her to. But at almost 5, if she needs to go at a time that isn't in her normal routine, she just paces from us to the back door until we figure out what she wants.

 

[Cami]

The trick is for the bell to ring a split second before the door is opened to go OUTSIDE.
If he barks just touch the bell yourself and then open the door. He will eventually get curious about the bell and touch it with his nose. Be prepared though that you are there as he does it so he puts 2 & 2 together.
Just keep touching the bell yourself as you open the door OR to move things along a bit faster smear just a dab of peanut butter on the bell to tempt him to lick it off thus making the bell make a noise and open the door at the same time.
He will soon get that the bell rings the door opens.

 

[Dell]

I'm bell trained. And clicker trained. Not so sure about the dog, but she sure has me doing a lot of tricks. I sewed some bells (from craft store) to a ribbon and used a suction cup to stick 'em to the sliding door. Hubby and I would jingle them and say "outside" then open the door. Took a couple of days, but she will now either paw or nose the bells to go outside. No differentiation of outside to play vs. outside to potty, but we're working on that (not letting her out if she JUST went out and pottied). I've also heard people teaching the "touch" command then transfering it to a wireless doorbell. You can put the a doorbell inside and outside so they'll "ring" when they want in or out. At our house, I'd probably just end up being a doorman, since the robins are sooooo fun to chase, but it's a little cold and rainy out.

 

[gizmoluvsme]

We stumbled upon this technique thanks to our cat! At Christmas time I had a decorative bell hung on the doorknob. Well, Peanut, our cat, learned that if he rang the bell and stayed by the door, we would come and let him out. So after watching our cat be let outside, our male boxer, Jake, started ringing the bell when he needed to go outside to go potty! It couldnt have come at a better time either since we were having trouble housebreaking him. This did the trick! I went to the dollar store at Christmas time and bought a couple extra bells cuz I knew with our luck, that the bell would break in July and I would be stuck!

 

[Snowdogg]

I'm bell trained. And clicker trained. Not so sure about the dog, but she sure has me doing a lot of tricks.

LOL..hahaha know what you mean

I found some nice bells at the $ store, you can see them especially at Xmas time with rope attached to put over a door knob.

Raleigh, 5 year old Brindle wild boy x

Morrissey and Brooster, Fawn males, 11 years old, always in our hearts, at the bridge xx

 

[way Dash jay]

I saw training bells in the pet aisle at walmart not long ago. Our store has them with the dog washes and the flea and tick stuff.