Training and a bell

[Chato's Mama]

I have seen in petsmart lessons that the instructor plays with a bell . Also I heard that you can train the dogs to sound the bell when they want potty. Well today at big lots I found a bell in the dogs section for 2 dls. I bought it BUT...............! now what! lol please any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.


Erika

[alaskayorkie]

I've never done this, but I've heard it discussed. Here's what I'd try. Hopefully others will offer more practical tips.

* Hang the bell over the doorknob low enough to where the dog could ring it.
* Every time you let him/her outside to do their business, ring the bell.
* Then follow the regular potty-training procedures: Praise, praise, praise and treat when they get it right.
* Keep it up every day. They should catch on in a couple weeks.
* When they do get it right, go nuts with praise and the best treat yet.

Good luck. I've heard from a number of people that it works well. One person I know did it successfully is FirstYorkie, but I haven't seen her around much lately. If you still have questions, you might PM her.

[Sherryabear]

I go by the instructions that came with the bells I ordered:

Hang bells on the inside of the door(s) that your pet typically exits your house from. Your dog only needs to nudge any part of the ribbon to ring the bells. The bells should stay on the door or next to the door on a small hook at all times , so that your pet can access whenever he/she needs to.

Each time you take your pooch outside state a simple command phrase, we suggest " Outside....Ring the Bells"
All member of your household should be consistent and use the same wording and actions with your pet.

Start stating your command phase, ring the bells in front of the dog. The dog should see AND hear the bells.

After ringing the bells and saying the command phase, follow through with praise to your pet and allow him to go outside.

(You should not reward your dog with a food treat otherwise your pooch will start to ring for those treats)

Do this everytime your pet is to go outside , Consistency is Key.


After several weeks of this conditioning , start just using the phase each time your dog wants to exit . Tell him "Outside ...Ring the Bells", wait for is reaction . Point to the bells. If he rings the bells ....praise him and allow him to go out. If he does NOT ring the bells......ring the bells for him, restate your command phase and then allow him outside.

Each week that follows , repeat this conditioning until your dog starts to ring the bells on his own. It is critical that you praise the dog on his newly learned behavior to reinforce this action.


I have been working with my baby (Gordon) for about a week and a half......my phase is (Go Potty.....ring the bells). He is now ringing them when I say .....Ring the bells He hasn't rang them on his own. I did find him this afternoon sitting in front of the door , looking at the bells ...so I gave him the command and he rang the bells, I told him Good boy and clapped and then took him out.......he potty as soon as I took him out.

I can't wait till he learns to ring them himself without me telling him. Before the bells , he had know way of letting me know when he wanted out......he never barks. Before I started using the bells....I did find him sitting infront of the back door and I said Potty? ....he started jumping on the back door ....i took him out and he potty.

I hope this helps......
Let me add.....when I first hung the bells and I rang the bells....Gordon was scared of them.....so I took them off the door and sat on the floor and played with him , leaving the bells on the floor next to me. Every once in a while I would gently ring the bells.......he would stop and look..gradually he got over his fear of them.......but I didnt let him play with them....just did it calmly so he would get over his fear.

[Chato's Mama]

thank you very much for the tips. I will certainly use them. I will let you know how this goes!

Thank you!

Eri

[Isabel]

Luna is trained to ring a bell to go outside... I started her by bringing her to the bell, making her move the bell either with the muzzle or the paw, and then letting her out... I swear it took like 4 times before I were opening the door for the missy to go even potty, or have a walk, or look for a squirrel, etc... This is by far the best method I have found to potty train outside, as even if I am upstairs I can hear them

Little stinkers, they are just TOO smart.

[Bnot]

Originally Posted by Isabel

Luna is trained to ring a bell to go outside... I started her by bringing her to the bell, making her move the bell either with the muzzle or the paw, and then letting her out... I swear it took like 4 times before I were opening the door for the missy to go even potty, or have a walk, or look for a squirrel, etc... This is by far the best method I have found to potty train outside, as even if I am upstairs I can hear them

Little stinkers, they are just TOO smart.

Venus didn't learn that fast, lol. But once she learned that I'd let her outside when she rung it, she rings it all the time!

I hung it on the door with a string, and put peanut butter on it. And everytime they'd go to the door and Adonis would bark to go out, I'd tell Venus "if you wanna go out, you have to ring the bell", then I'd take her paw and ring the bell, then praise her, and let her out.

[Crazy4Carlee]

Originally Posted by Isabel

Luna is trained to ring a bell to go outside... I started her by bringing her to the bell, making her move the bell either with the muzzle or the paw, and then letting her out... I swear it took like 4 times before I were opening the door for the missy to go even potty, or have a walk, or look for a squirrel, etc... This is by far the best method I have found to potty train outside, as even if I am upstairs I can hear them

Little stinkers, they are just TOO smart.

This is exactly how I trained Carlee and she learned just as fast too. And like Luna, she uses this little talent to just see what's going on in her yard. We're bringing home her half-brother tomorrow (can't wait!!!) and I hope to bell train him as well!

[Lexi Rae]

lexi is bell trained also,but the bell werent loud enough so i rigged up
little chimes to the door,, works like a charm.

[biewerlover]

I am working on the bells but it is very difficult with my three dogs. I'm afraid if they all start learning to ring the bells that I will never get to sit down as I will be a slave to the bells. Instead, since I do take them out generally all together I am trying to get the puppy to be the only one to ring the bells and then I let everyone out. I started with the treat on the bell, and then realized as well that dogs, being too smart will start to figure out..if I ring these bells I will get a treat..so I am trying to do the physical praise versus and actual treat. We are chunking along on this but I think it will be worth it. I agree with most Yorkie owners that know these dogs seem to have a hard time telling you when they want/need to go outside, but they definitely know how to verbalize wanting to come back in!!!

They are soo smart.

Kathy

[Chato's Mama]

I am trying to teach my baies to ring the bell but nothing!! I ring it everytime I take them outside. one step that I am missing is that I do not praise them when I ring the bell for them before going potty. Well CHato do not know how to let me know that he needs to go. IF I take him out he goes potty but if I am doing something else he wont do anything to get my attention until I start smelling it inside the house. I do not know how to teach him to let me know. The bell is not making much. What am I doing wrong or what do you suggest?

Thank you

[MurphysMom]

Hey everyone! I have the detailed instructions for anyone wanting to teach their dog to use the bell to go outside and potty! As it turns out, I am adopting a shelter dog who is living w/ prison inmates for 10 weeks. He is going through intensive 10 wks of obedience training....which includes being bell-trained. I am very excited about this. Anyways, the inmates wrote out the VERY DETAILED instructions, and if you are interested, please pm me w/ your email address and I'll email the document to you. The inmates GUARANTEE it to work. There's never been a shelter dog they haven't been able to bell-train. Anyways, thanks!

[Yorkiedaze]

I bought the Poochie Bells that hang on the door knob and they were totally afraid of it.........wouln't go near the door. We tried everything to show them it was ok, but nope, not in a million. I gave them away!

[MurphysMom]

Originally Posted by MurphysMom

Hey everyone! I have the detailed instructions for anyone wanting to teach their dog to use the bell to go outside and potty! As it turns out, I am adopting a shelter dog who is living w/ prison inmates for 10 weeks. He is going through intensive 10 wks of obedience training....which includes being bell-trained. I am very excited about this. Anyways, the inmates wrote out the VERY DETAILED instructions, and if you are interested, please pm me w/ your email address and I'll email the document to you. The inmates GUARANTEE it to work. There's never been a shelter dog they haven't been able to bell-train. Anyways, thanks!

For those of you that PM me, please be sure to include your email address, so I don't have to email you back and ask you for it! Thanks!!

[Winston's Mom]

Both my husband and I were so full of joy that Maggie finally learnt how to ring the bell. Potty training has been the pits, Maggie will do what she wants to do. Well, now she rings it all day long... not to go potty but just to go out. They are so smart!!

[Lexi Rae]

yup yup yup. lexi does the same thing now.. the minute you sit down
and relax, she rings the bell.. i dont even think she has to potty, but she
does it to get me up