Bell Training

[kayboxer]

Well, I bought a bell today and I'm going to attempt bell training my dogs. My method is when they go to the door I say out, ring the bell, then open the door. This is what I was told by someone to do. Another person said to take their paw and ring the bell with it. I don't like doing that though, because it kind of scares them. Does anyone have any other suggestions to add to what I'm doing? Today was my first day. Buster was kind of afraid of the bell, but Olive was intrigued. I hope this works, and I hope I can hear the bell (I wear a hearing aid as I have significant hearing loss).

 

[TwoDogs]

Both my guys are bell trained--my female since she was a pup, my male when I adopted him as an adult. If I were you, first I would teach the dogs to whack something with their paw, or touch with their nose completely separate from the bell. Then I would transition that behavior to the bell.

If the bells are not loud enough for you with your significant hearing loss, you can get a battery operated door bell at most hardware stores. The button gets mounted with a couple of screws anywhere you want it (right at doggie height, or even on the floor), and the chime portion gets plugged into an outlet within a certain distance of where the button is installed. Provided that you choose a style button that a Boxer's paw can push, you can train them to ring the doorbell to go out. Many will also have different sounding chimes and buzzes to choose from. I'm sure you'd be able to find one in your hearing range.

 

[kayboxer]

Both my guys are bell trained--my female since she was a pup, my male when I adopted him as an adult. If I were you, first I would teach the dogs to whack something with their paw, or touch with their nose completely separate from the bell. Then I would transition that behavior to the bell.

If the bells are not loud enough for you with your significant hearing loss, you can get a battery operated door bell at most hardware stores. The button gets mounted with a couple of screws anywhere you want it (right at doggie height, or even on the floor), and the chime portion gets plugged into an outlet within a certain distance of where the button is installed. Provided that you choose a style button that a Boxer's paw can push, you can train them to ring the doorbell to go out. Many will also have different sounding chimes and buzzes to choose from. I'm sure you'd be able to find one in your hearing range.

Good idea about the door bell, if I can't hear the bell I'll look for one of those. I got a cow bell that has a lower pitch range, since it is usually the higher pitch range I have the most trouble with. They both open the sliding door with their nose, so I was hoping they would just ring the bell with their nose. This is day two, no luck yet, but we are still going at it.

 

[TwoDogs]

They both open the sliding door with their nose, so I was hoping they would just ring the bell with their nose. This is day two, no luck yet, but we are still going at it.

If the door you want them to use is a glass slider, obviously, they can see what's on the other side. You can use this to your advantage. After you've taught them a nose touch, give this a try. In full view of the dog, place a favorite toy or nice food reward outside the door. Make sure they see it out there and that it's something they really want. Close the door and cue them to touch the bell. When they do it, reward them by opening the door and granting access to the toy or treat. Do this exercise in addition to cueing the bell touch before you take them out to relieve themselves and in no time you will have a dog that rings to go out.

 

[RoxiesEcho]

When I trained Bella I would take her to the door and say "ring the bell" then point at it. As soon as she stuck her nose towards it I would tap it hard enough to ring, tell her good girl, then let her out. I've haven't used in it quite some time but I put it back on the door a few weeks ago, just to see what she would do. It took about 30 seconds for her to ring it so she could go out and do nothing! Needless to say it got put right back on the shelf

 

[KWilson]

If the door you want them to use is a glass slider, obviously, they can see what's on the other side. You can use this to your advantage. After you've taught them a nose touch, give this a try. In full view of the dog, place a favorite toy or nice food reward outside the door. Make sure they see it out there and that it's something they really want. Close the door and cue them to touch the bell. When they do it, reward them by opening the door and granting access to the toy or treat. Do this exercise in addition to cueing the bell touch before you take them out to relieve themselves and in no time you will have a dog that rings to go out.

That is a very good idea.

 

[TwoDogs]

I've haven't used in it quite some time but I put it back on the door a few weeks ago, just to see what she would do. It took about 30 seconds for her to ring it so she could go out and do nothing! Needless to say it got put right back on the shelf

Oh yeah, that is one side effect. Dogs are smart and once they learn the ring opens the door for one thing, they will ring to open the door so they can go out and do other things. Since you can never absolutely know for sure if they are ringing to go out to relieve themselves or not, you do end up letting them out and reinforcing rings to go out and do other stuff too. And I swear, in the beginning, mine would ring the bell just because they thought it was cool that they could make me do something just by ringing.

BTW, My male has taken bell training to the next level. He's rung the bell on the back door and then run to his crate wanting me to open the crate door. Of course I opened it each time. I wonder who's really trained--him or me!

 

[bmwinter]

bells

I use a childs plastic tamborine.... It works for me. I couldnt hear the bells with my fan on at night - so I went to the store & was jingling around all the tamborines to find the loudest one!
To get her to ring it I lifted her paw, she was a bit scared at first but she got the hang of it. She either paws it or nudges it with her little head. Ahhhh. My friends laugh at me when I tell them Jasmine plays her tamborine in the night.

 

[kayboxer]

I use a childs plastic tamborine.... It works for me. I couldnt hear the bells with my fan on at night - so I went to the store & was jingling around all the tamborines to find the loudest one!
To get her to ring it I lifted her paw, she was a bit scared at first but she got the hang of it. She either paws it or nudges it with her little head. Ahhhh. My friends laugh at me when I tell them Jasmine plays her tamborine in the night.

What a fabulous idea! I would have never thought of that! I bet that is adorable to watch her play her tamporine to go out.

 

[Epilogue]

BTW, My male has taken bell training to the next level. He's rung the bell on the back door and then run to his crate wanting me to open the crate door. Of course I opened it each time. I wonder who's really trained--him or me!

Too Funny! That just goes to show how well our dogs think on their feet...