Bell Training????

[whiteshadow1]

Hello all I have a question concerning bell training. I just got my boxer he is six months old now. I got some bells and hung them by the back door(which is the door I always take him out of). I ask him if he has to go out and then i put the leash on him and take his paw and hit the bells. Then i take him out through the door and straight to his potty area. Is this sufficient for him to learn to use the bells to let me know when he needs to go or should i be doing something differently? Please let me know.

 

[trc4941]

The bell method has sure worked for us. When Rocky was a little less than a year old (he's 3 now), I hung a bell made for a canary/parakeet cage on the door knob. I showed him one time how to ring the bell and he has done it ever since. He uses his nose to hit the bell. It's funny to watch, because if you don't respond right away he'll come and look at you and then go ring the bell again. We taught him the bell thing because when he wanted to go out, he would never bark or whine (he's not much of a barker at all) - he'd just stand there. If we weren't close by we'd never know he needed to go out. Then he started to scratch at the door, which I didn't want him to get in the habit of doing. The bell works great for us. Good Luck!

 

[ReggieJames]

Bell Training

Bell training worked great for Reggie. He was scared to death of the bell at first so we gave up but left the bell by the door. One day he just got it (without us showing him) and has rang it ever since. It's funny 'cause there are two different levels of ringing. He just taps it if he needs to do #1, if he's waiting to go out for #2 watch out! He swings at the bell like he's trying to knock it into next week! Oh yeah, and he thinks it's hysterical to ring it as soon as we sit down to dinner. He knows he'll get our attention! Little Booger!

 

[Pearlywhirly]

When I was training Pearl to this I used a really good treat and held it right behind the bell. In order for her to get it she had to move the bell aside with her nose thus ringing it and then we immediately went out. I didn't want her to scratch the door frame up using her feet. I think if your dog associates it with something really great he will be more motivated. What if you're not standing right there to ask him if he needs to go? There needs to be a way for him to alert you, hence the bell. Since Pearl is deaf she can't hear it ringing but she does it anyway thank goodness!

 

[Gingersmama]

I first tried belltraining with Ginger when she was about 3 months, but she was really scared of the bell sound. I gave up for awhile and tried again at about 6 months. It's worked wonders!!!!! No more accidents.

Just keep having him hit the bell before he's allowed out the door every time and he'll get it. They're such smart dogs!

Just remember, when your baby goes to stay with Grandma, the bell has to go, too! Otherwise, you get to clean the carpets and Grandma's house yourself:-(

 

[SorcasMa]

I just received my sets of bells so I will have them when I pick my baby up next week. I am putting one on the back door, one set on the front (the door I will use for the middle of the night potty breaks, don't want to walk down all the stairs in the dark) and the last set for downstairs when I am down there working out. I am going to train him this way, even though the breeder just told me he barks now to go outside. I was hoping he'd come home mostly housebroken!

 

[kpowell]

I was hoping he'd come home mostly housebroken!

I hope you're really kidding, because they aren't really able to be housetrained until about 5 or 6 months!

 

[SorcasMa]

I hope you're really kidding, because they aren't really able to be housetrained until about 5 or 6 months!

Oh no! :eek: Kidding, that's why I am going to train him with the bells. The breeder is saying that he barks to go outside and potty, he did when we were there. But I have to work, so there will not be anyone to let him out whenever he wants. Our Boxer now was housebroken around 4 months as were the Goldens we used to have. I have actually been kind of suprised that it seems like everyone else's babes take so long. I'll see with this one, starting to wonder if it's crate training, which I will do until he's trained. We have never done that with our dogs before, so I'll see.

 

[skorp]

oh yeah ... the bell training is a godsend for most of us if not all..... it took me all but twice to show Abbey that she needed to ring the bell if she has to go out , she took to it like Mike Tyson taking to a Starbuck's white chocolate mocha..... But sometimes of course, she also rings the bell if she wants to go outside to play.... so you could just imagine ., it sometimes sounds like Santa's reindeer are at the door.
anyway try it boxerbabies are pretty darn smarter than you think....

Abbey's Daddy,
Eddie

Floppy and Docked,
Abbey~5-30-06

 

[Furmomma]

Well we went to Puppy obeidience class yesterday and the trainer said the bells work for some pupps and not for others....
So good luck... I havent yet tried this with Stella as I am picking up the signs on when she needs to go, plus after she has a nap, eats, drinks, we take her out.
I have to leave her 5 hours when I work in her crate, I make sure she goes potty before she goes in...and so far so good.....

Oh the trainer also said to have the bells near the door that you will always use to go out to go potty!!!

Good Luck