Slowly increase the time gap between “Do you want to go outside?” and ringing the bell yourself to give the dog the opportunity to ring the bell for him or herself. Be sure to listen for the bell once it is hanging, as the dog will quickly (often in less than a day) begin experimenting with the bell. It is imperative that once the dog rings the bell you immediately take the dog outside every time. This is the dog testing to make sure he understands what the bell means. It is imperative that every time the dog rings the bell, the dog be immediately put outside to potty. For a short while your dog will be seeming to see how many times he can get you to take him out each day, but this is just part of the testing process. If it becomes annoying, just take the bell off the doorknob or lock up the dog in his crate for a short time. Remember, if you remove the bell, to replace it within a half hour or so.

 

As for my dogs, I don’t care why they want to go out, whether it is to roughhouse or to eliminate. If you care and your dog is using the bell for playtime, and it is not okay with you, take him out on lead and wait for him to eliminate then bring him in and remove the bell for a half hour or so. If every time he rings the bell he goes out just to eliminate he will get the message (although most dogs like to play outside so if you have a fenced yard this should not be a problem). Our bell hangs above the linoleum so that if I don’t get there fast enough and the dog does have an accident, it is easy to clean up. My dogs actually have different “rings” depending on what they want to go out for—loud repetitive rings are for when they are going to be ill, which I greatly appreciate!

 

Trouble Shooting:

 

The dog rings the bell 300 times a day. Your dog may be using the bell to say “I want…” Some dogs do this to distract other doggie siblings into going out so that they can steal the other dog’s toy. Just make sure that the dog ringing the bell goes outside and this should end the problem. Other dogs are just making it a game. If it gets annoying, just remove the bell for a short time or give the dog a timeout (as long as you know he doesn’t have to go out!)

 

I can’t even hear the bell ring because the dog is too gentle. Work closely to the door and encourage the dog to ring the bell harder by waiting her out for louder, more robust nose or foot touches then say “Yeah!” and open the door. The dog will quickly learn that the bell must be rung loud enough for you to hear.

 

If at any time you have questions or concerns about how to train your dog to do this, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 706-202-5419 or at tina@sithappens.us. Happy Bell Ringing!

 

© August 2004                                           Tina M. Van Why                             All rights reserved.

To contact us:

706-202-5419

tina@sithappens.us

www.sithappens.us

Ring My Bell

One of the simplest tricks you can teach your dog to help with housebreaking is to give them a signal they can use to let you know that they need to go out. Not all dogs figure out how to let us know they need to go out.

Supplies Needed

A small bell

A loop of ribbon

Get a small bell at a craft store (Michael’s has cute brass ones that look like small church bells—approximately two inches long). Run a ribbon through the loop on the bell and hang it at approximately nose height on the door by looping the ribbon over the door handle. The door you should use is the door the dog normally uses to go outside to eliminate.

This is a puzzle the dog can solve in whatever way they see fit. Some dogs ring the bell with their nose or paw, other push their noses behind the bell and “walk” it down their bodies, still others back up to it and ring it with their tails. None of this matters, however the dog wants to play is fine with us.

For the first couple of days, when you approach the door you use to take the dog out say “Do you want to go outside?” in a happy, inviting tone and then ring the bell yourself. Say “Yeah!” and open the door and take the dog out.

Small brass bells hanging from a ribbon on the backdoor knob work best.

Simplest tricks are often the most useful

Firm up that housebreaking with this portable alert

We Speak Dog!

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