train him to give signs to go potty? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

brneyegrl · 10-14-2009, 12:46 PM

Hello All,

I have had bunn since he was 8weeks old and newly removed from his littermates and mom (that was many nights of fun!).

He didn't take to the pee pee pad and walking was more of a fun pounce through the grass activity then a relieve yourself training exercise lol. Alas! We found a solution, he likes to pee on the concrete patio (which is still yuckie, but easier to clean then carpet) - however, he will literally hold it until I take him outside.

He lets me know when he is ready to come in, but is there a way I can teach him to let me know when he has to potty?

When he is crated he will even bark or scratch at the handle to let me know he has to potty... just not when he is roaming free in the house.

Any assistance would be great! Im trying to cut back on the accidents.

daylee · 10-14-2009, 06:32 PM

Have you tried hanging a bell on the door?Just ring it yourself really excited and repeat outside outside the take him out .I taught one of my girls to ring a bell when she has to go out.I have yet to get the others to do it yet.You can also pick up a bell that sits on the floor(service bell) and ring it too. I have both.

Yorkiemamma78 · 10-26-2009, 04:54 PM

OMGoodness! This is brilliant!

Buster Bailey · 10-26-2009, 05:55 PM

I bell trained mine. Before opening the door we would always say "Bonk It!" and make them hit the bell with their nose (I have 2 yorkies). I have several bells hanging on one string about nose height for them. Now they go and bonk the bell each time they need to go outside, therefore I can hear them & let them outside.

edumma · 10-26-2009, 06:33 PM

Yep! I got the poochy bells and had Remy bell trained in about three days. Yorkies are very smart.

Eileen

ZoeyGirlsMoM22 · 10-27-2009, 06:58 PM

Our lil girl is also bell trained as well as potty pad trained.

We would walk her to the bell next to the door, take her paw, ring the bell with it, praise her then take her outside and praise her again. Whether or not she did her business didn't matter. We did this for almost 2 months. One day, she rang it 20 times...not a joke!

The funny part is, she thought that outside meant seeing people who wanted to play with her. She eventually realized you go outside to do your business and if you see people then that was a bonus.

When we are at work during the day, she goes on the potty pad!

It is amazing!!

Nascar Fan · 10-28-2009, 01:58 AM

I have had dogs all my life, big and small. Now, I can understand the pee pad when you are at work, and I love the bell idea - I agree - Yorkie's are very smart. But we always taught our dogs when they had an accident that -by our tone of voice - they were bad dogs - and would immediately put them outside. It didn't take long for them to learn to let us know when they needed to go out. With Smokie, when we first got him, I took him out regularly until we got our system down. I would sit outside with him, and when he pee'd, he'd come by me and sit - knowing I had that treat for him. Now, several months later - he will scratch at my arm, or bug my husband and not let up pestering us until he goes outside. When he comes back inside, the first place he goes to is the corner of the bed and stares down that treat bag until he gets his treat. He knows when he has done good, he is rewarded. He also knows if he is bad, he is punished. We love Smokie very much. He was a god send to us. But being a Yorkie is no excuse in our book for putting up with bad behavior. What would you do if it was a big dog? Would you let them get away with "accidents"? That would be quite the mess to clean up. Yorkie's are no different. With patience, understanding, firmness, and rewards for good behavior, they learn. At least Smokie did. Now if we can just teach him to use his "inside voice" when he barks! LOL Reva ~ Smokie's mom

dtrahan511 · 10-29-2009, 09:05 AM

Sophie is bell trained also, and uses the pee pad when we are not home! Isn't it cute when they ring it again if you don't get there quick enough!!! Luv it!

Reese1 · 10-30-2009, 04:55 AM

We did the bell training when Crosley was a puppy and it works great!

The funny thing is we have had Camden for 1 1/2yrs and she just recently started ringing the bell! She does it softly, it's so cute!
Be prepared though! This week since Camden starting ringing it, she will ring it over and over! Sometimes it's just a few minutes after she's been out! I think she just rings it when she hears noises and wants to go and investigate!
Also with Crosley, sometimes if you don't get up fast enough, she slings the bells back and forth! lol!

hudson · 11-01-2009, 02:54 AM

I bought sleigh bells on a leather strap for hanging on the door knob. I painted puppy feet between the middle few bells. It is so cute and costs less than half what retailers sell those designed for training dogs cost. You have to be aware of their claws possibly getting caught in the slits of the bells, however.

10-14-2009, 12:46 PM	#1
brneyegrl YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fort lauderdale, FL - USA Posts: 3	train him to give signs to go potty? Hello All, I have had bunn since he was 8weeks old and newly removed from his littermates and mom (that was many nights of fun!). He didn't take to the pee pee pad and walking was more of a fun pounce through the grass activity then a relieve yourself training exercise lol. Alas! We found a solution, he likes to pee on the concrete patio (which is still yuckie, but easier to clean then carpet) - however, he will literally hold it until I take him outside. He lets me know when he is ready to come in, but is there a way I can teach him to let me know when he has to potty? When he is crated he will even bark or scratch at the handle to let me know he has to potty... just not when he is roaming free in the house. Any assistance would be great! Im trying to cut back on the accidents.

10-26-2009, 05:55 PM	#4
Buster Bailey Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southwest MN Posts: 167	I bell trained mine. Before opening the door we would always say "Bonk It!" and make them hit the bell with their nose (I have 2 yorkies). I have several bells hanging on one string about nose height for them. Now they go and bonk the bell each time they need to go outside, therefore I can hear them & let them outside. __________________ Buster & Bailey's Mom

10-29-2009, 09:05 AM	#8
dtrahan511 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Iberia, LA, USA Posts: 434	Sophie is bell trained also, and uses the pee pad when we are not home! Isn't it cute when they ring it again if you don't get there quick enough!!! Luv it! __________________ Donna, Cassie & Sophie

10-30-2009, 04:55 AM	#9
Reese1 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,365	We did the bell training when Crosley was a puppy and it works great! The funny thing is we have had Camden for 1 1/2yrs and she just recently started ringing the bell! She does it softly, it's so cute! Be prepared though! This week since Camden starting ringing it, she will ring it over and over! Sometimes it's just a few minutes after she's been out! I think she just rings it when she hears noises and wants to go and investigate! Also with Crosley, sometimes if you don't get up fast enough, she slings the bells back and forth! lol! __________________ Crosley Wrigley Camden

11-01-2009, 02:54 AM	#10
hudson Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Leesburg, FL Posts: 12	train him to give signs to go potty I bought sleigh bells on a leather strap for hanging on the door knob. I painted puppy feet between the middle few bells. It is so cute and costs less than half what retailers sell those designed for training dogs cost. You have to be aware of their claws possibly getting caught in the slits of the bells, however.

10-14-2009, 06:32 PM	#2
daylee Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: OHIO Posts: 152	Have you tried hanging a bell on the door?Just ring it yourself really excited and repeat outside outside the take him out .I taught one of my girls to ring a bell when she has to go out.I have yet to get the others to do it yet.You can also pick up a bell that sits on the floor(service bell) and ring it too. I have both.

10-26-2009, 04:54 PM	#3
Yorkiemamma78 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Berea, Ky, USA Posts: 21	OMGoodness! This is brilliant!

10-26-2009, 06:33 PM	#5
edumma Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: British Columbia , Canada Posts: 201	Yep! I got the poochy bells and had Remy bell trained in about three days. Yorkies are very smart. Eileen

10-27-2009, 06:58 PM	#6
ZoeyGirlsMoM22 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 29	Our lil girl is also bell trained as well as potty pad trained. We would walk her to the bell next to the door, take her paw, ring the bell with it, praise her then take her outside and praise her again. Whether or not she did her business didn't matter. We did this for almost 2 months. One day, she rang it 20 times...not a joke! The funny part is, she thought that outside meant seeing people who wanted to play with her. She eventually realized you go outside to do your business and if you see people then that was a bonus. When we are at work during the day, she goes on the potty pad! It is amazing!!

10-28-2009, 01:58 AM	#7
Nascar Fan Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Andover KS USA Posts: 39	I have had dogs all my life, big and small. Now, I can understand the pee pad when you are at work, and I love the bell idea - I agree - Yorkie's are very smart. But we always taught our dogs when they had an accident that -by our tone of voice - they were bad dogs - and would immediately put them outside. It didn't take long for them to learn to let us know when they needed to go out. With Smokie, when we first got him, I took him out regularly until we got our system down. I would sit outside with him, and when he pee'd, he'd come by me and sit - knowing I had that treat for him. Now, several months later - he will scratch at my arm, or bug my husband and not let up pestering us until he goes outside. When he comes back inside, the first place he goes to is the corner of the bed and stares down that treat bag until he gets his treat. He knows when he has done good, he is rewarded. He also knows if he is bad, he is punished. We love Smokie very much. He was a god send to us. But being a Yorkie is no excuse in our book for putting up with bad behavior. What would you do if it was a big dog? Would you let them get away with "accidents"? That would be quite the mess to clean up. Yorkie's are no different. With patience, understanding, firmness, and rewards for good behavior, they learn. At least Smokie did. Now if we can just teach him to use his "inside voice" when he barks! LOL Reva ~ Smokie's mom