Inquiry about Bell Training

[MyGirlLayla]

Im thinking of going to this. I have read a lot of posts about it but none that really tell me how its done.

I know the idea is to get them to ring it when they need to go, but how do you go about getting them to realize this? If you ring it with their paw then take them outside and the only thing they do is play, wont they think that bell ringing means playtime? How do we get them to associate bell ringing with pottying?

Thanks!

 

[Lolas_Daddy]

Our Lola figured it out in about 4 days or so. We took her paw and tapped it on the bell and said " Going Potty" as potty is our command for her to go. After about 4 days, she lightly hit it with her nose and she waited for us to open the door and take her, and she went. That was pretty much it from then on, she kept using it, few accidents here and there, but about 97% on point. When it started snowing, she hit it every 40 minutes to go play, so I had to keep her on the leash and if she didnt go potty right away we brought her right back inside. She might hit it now and then for attention, but if she needs to go she will hit the bell and wait at the door. Definately takes knowing your baby and repetition but worth it!

 

[Jill's boxer]

bell training

my experience with the bell was about the same as Lolas_Daddy. I would take Gracie to the door and take her paw and make her ring the bells while saying "potty outside" and then "good girl" after I made her ring the bell and as I was opening the door. I would only open the door after I lifted her paw to ring the bell--always saying "potty outside" as I made her ring them and "good girl" as soon as I rang them as I opened the door. It took about a week for her to start to catch on, and then Gracie would go to the door, sit and barely touch the bells with her nose--I would immediately say "good girl" and "potty outside", then make her ring them again and open the door...after about a week or so of this she began ringing them on her own! Now she rings every time she has to go out--and poor does she get impatient if I do not jump on the first ring! She will bang those bells! heehee! I am not sure if anyone in the other threads addressed what kind of bells they use--I bought a cheap xmas strand of bells on sale at Kmart--its 3 large jingle bells in a vertical row--I think it is meant to hang over a doorknob, but I actually taped it flat against the sliding glass door to the backyard as that is where she goes out--that way no scratches on the wall--just pawprints on the glass! Good luck with your puppy--just be consistent and she will catch on, sometimes it seems like they will never understand but then suddenly overnight, the "lightbulb" will magically go on and they act like they were born ringing bells to go outside!

 

[Pearlywhirly]

When I got Pearl I hung a couple of large bells on a string on the back door. Every time we went out that door I would take a treat and hold it behind the bells. When she nosed the bells out of the way to get the treat I would let her have it then we immediately went out. Now it did take her a while to get it but in hindsight, I would be taking her out a lot initially. Now I feel that I can trust her and that I don't have to be constantly taking her out. Now she goes and noses the bells when she wants out. She is deaf so she can't hear them but she knows that that's what she needs to do to let me know she wants out.

 

[agilityboxer]

I was super lazy when I "bell trained" mine. I just hung the bells on the door knob. The bells rang every time we open and close the door. After a couple of days they just figured it out and started ringing the bells with their nose.

 

[spartans]

Doorbell

We got a doorbell instead of bells because we live in a pub and it means if i go downstairs i can take the chime and hear it if it goes off. Sasha has to hit like a giant dog paw and it goes "woof woof". It took her a while but now she hits all the time. We just used to hit it everytime we took her down for the toilet and if she did something she got a treat and gradually she realised that if she hits it we take her out. One problem - she gets spoilt rotten by everyone in the pub and the staff bring dog treats for her so when she realises which girls are working she rings her bell so many times to go down for a treat. I am now banning the treats so after a week she'll realise and just use it for the toilet. You have to laugh though. As i am writing this the woof woof has sounded because on eof the staff has given her a treat about 5 minutes ago after going in the garden. Typical!!

They do soon pick it up though.