Any one out there using bells for potty training? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Izzy Princess · 09-06-2007, 12:50 PM

OK - long story short - I purchased a set of Poochie Bells that you can hang on your patio door to train your puppy to ring to let you know when they have to go outside potty the first week I got Izzy (Memorial weekend). You first get your puppy used to the bells, then start to introduce the same line, "outside potty ring the bell"; then after a couple weeks you take their paw and hit the bells as you say the phrase. The instructions say it can take a couple days to a few months and you must say/do every time you go outside with them. My husband laughed and laughed because he never thought Izzy would do that - he said I was wasting my money and our time. Ha! boy did she prove him wrong because the light bulb must have went off in that pretty little head of hers and just this past weekend she started to ring the bells not with her paw but with her cute little nose. OK - you say - how exciting and wonderful.

Yes, it is and I'm so proud of her but she's using the bells to go out to chase mice and squirrels.

Yeah, she rings to go do her business at times but not always.

For those of you who have trained your furbabies to ring any type of bell to let you know that they have to go outside potty - have you experienced anything like this? I don't want to derail the training - so if she rings the bell to go out when I know she doesn't have to do anything I'm still letting her out. Last night she rang that crazy bell at least 5 times in 20 minutes. Help - she's becoming a bell ringin Diva!

Lexi Rae · 09-06-2007, 01:31 PM

i taught lexi how to ring the bells too,, my b/f said she would never do it.
sorry charlie,,, she now rings it and i let her out , whether she pottys or
not. smart cookie i have... i dont have the poochie bells, i rigged up
a small chime i had to the door,, its louder than the poochie bell i thought.
i could here them from my bedroom at night or in the early morning if she
has to potty.. she also goes on her wee pads in the house and i walk her
and she pottys too.... she knows it all

Erin · 09-06-2007, 01:51 PM

Yes we have a love/hate relationship with bells. It will take time. Give her an awesome treat when she goes outside to actually pee. Otherwise, just be like - oh well, back inside. Sammy likes to go outside and chase bugs and Loki will just go lay in the yard. The problem? We don't have a fence! So when they get annoying with the bells - going outside every 5 minutes - we either give them sticks or take them for a walk or otherwise distract them.

Loki is smart. He knows that if I'm busy I will ONLY get up for the bells. So he rings them, waits until I get up and then runs to whatever he wants (like the treat can) and sits there.

By the way - if you KNOW she is empty it IS OK to ignore her. But be sure... and if she rings them and then pees on the floor it is your fault! HA. But no seriously, there truly are times when I look at them and say "No you just went out" If they try again in 10 minutes or they are relentless, I let them out.

Isabel · 09-07-2007, 02:26 PM

Oh yeah!!! With two dogs, I am like the door-woman here... sometimes I have to just take the bell off the door... they would drive me crazy!!!
And sorry, I have to cut the post here, somebody is pulling the bells!!!

kalina82 · 09-07-2007, 02:32 PM

i have poochie bells too and morgan sometimes does the same thing. however if i know she just went out recently and did BOTH pee and poop then i know she doesn't really have to go outside so i ignore it or tell her no we were just out there (which i know she doesn't understand LOL)

otisblue · 09-09-2007, 04:23 PM

I just recieved our bells yesterday, and Otis isn't too sure about them! At first he was barking at them and knocking them with his nose to play. Anyways, I was wondering, how long did it take for your little one to get the concept of the bells??

Thanks,
Nicole

Dior'sMom · 09-09-2007, 04:29 PM

I bought poochie bells 6 months ago and they are 99% trained. It took a week of constant training to get them both to ring the bell. $20 well spent

kalina82 · 09-09-2007, 04:38 PM

took morgan a week to learn the bells. she only rings them to go potty. she doesn't play with them thank god.

AprilLove · 09-09-2007, 05:07 PM

AprilLove played with the bell at first just to get me to jump up every time

but, she also used them to go potty so I just kept rewarding her when she DID go potty after ringing them, and did not reward her if all she did was run outside look at me and come back

I don't remember how long it took, but she doesn't do that anymore and now she also uses them alert me when my non-bell trained older dogs need to go in and out!!!

bebeyorkie · 09-09-2007, 05:37 PM

how did you train them? I've tried but they just don't get it.
They are both 99% potty trained they use pee pads and go outside.
I'm tired of using pee pads and would like them to let me know when they need to g. The problem is they won't let me know when they need to go out. I usually just take them out every so often.

Izzy Princess · 09-09-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AprilLove

AprilLove played with the bell at first just to get me to jump up every time

but, she also used them to go potty so I just kept rewarding her when she DID go potty after ringing them, and did not reward her if all she did was run outside look at me and come back

I don't remember how long it took, but she doesn't do that anymore and now she also uses them alert me when my non-bell trained older dogs need to go in and out!!!

It took Izzy about 3 months to get it...at first she was afraid of the bells and then she got used to them. Now the problem is ringing them just to goof off outside. But I do not reward her when she comes into the house just because she was on squirrel or mouse patrol!!

Only reward for actual potty business only.

Don't give up - use the same command all the time for every time you take them outside (even if you take them out 10 times a day - keep saying the phrase the same) - first I just said the command and took her out, then I progressed to actually taking her paw and taping the bells while saying the phrase. Now she rings with her nose and when I don't get up and let the princess out immediately....she progresses to actually banging them against the glass. geesh!

See my husband never thought she was do it and told me I was wasting my time and money. Guess who's laughing now? lol.

paulapoo · 09-09-2007, 07:12 PM

I tried this with mine, but, like the others, Otis rang it alllllll the time. He would rather be outside than in, so he was constantly standing at the door, ringing the bell, staring at me. Needless to say, the bell was removed. They are so smart!

countrygirl_247 · 09-12-2007, 05:47 AM

Where can i get the potty bells? I've been wanting to get them.

Erin · 09-12-2007, 07:36 AM

http://www.poochie-pets.net/

I made mine with some ribbon and bells because I wanted 4 sets of bells so it would be louder. I can hear the bells anywhere in the house. I spent about $6 to make them.

Shadow · 09-12-2007, 08:16 AM

I don't use bells, Sissy would drive me insane,she wants outside evey five minutes.

09-06-2007, 12:50 PM	#1
Izzy Princess Therapy Dog Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,576 Blog Entries: 1	Any one out there using bells for potty training? OK - long story short - I purchased a set of Poochie Bells that you can hang on your patio door to train your puppy to ring to let you know when they have to go outside potty the first week I got Izzy (Memorial weekend). You first get your puppy used to the bells, then start to introduce the same line, "outside potty ring the bell"; then after a couple weeks you take their paw and hit the bells as you say the phrase. The instructions say it can take a couple days to a few months and you must say/do every time you go outside with them. My husband laughed and laughed because he never thought Izzy would do that - he said I was wasting my money and our time. Ha! boy did she prove him wrong because the light bulb must have went off in that pretty little head of hers and just this past weekend she started to ring the bells not with her paw but with her cute little nose. OK - you say - how exciting and wonderful. Yes, it is and I'm so proud of her but she's using the bells to go out to chase mice and squirrels. Yeah, she rings to go do her business at times but not always. For those of you who have trained your furbabies to ring any type of bell to let you know that they have to go outside potty - have you experienced anything like this? I don't want to derail the training - so if she rings the bell to go out when I know she doesn't have to do anything I'm still letting her out. Last night she rang that crazy bell at least 5 times in 20 minutes. Help - she's becoming a bell ringin Diva! __________________ Cynd, Izzy (Yorkie) & Cosmo (Biewer)(Secwetary & Charter Membwer of the Dirty FurKids Cwub)-Jusz say NO ta bein' cwean!)proud member of the *CrAzYcLu*B! ~The PINK club~SRC

09-06-2007, 01:31 PM	#2
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,340	i taught lexi how to ring the bells too,, my b/f said she would never do it. sorry charlie,,, she now rings it and i let her out , whether she pottys or not. smart cookie i have... i dont have the poochie bells, i rigged up a small chime i had to the door,, its louder than the poochie bell i thought. i could here them from my bedroom at night or in the early morning if she has to potty.. she also goes on her wee pads in the house and i walk her and she pottys too.... she knows it all __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

09-06-2007, 01:51 PM	#3
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,227	Yes we have a love/hate relationship with bells. It will take time. Give her an awesome treat when she goes outside to actually pee. Otherwise, just be like - oh well, back inside. Sammy likes to go outside and chase bugs and Loki will just go lay in the yard. The problem? We don't have a fence! So when they get annoying with the bells - going outside every 5 minutes - we either give them sticks or take them for a walk or otherwise distract them. Loki is smart. He knows that if I'm busy I will ONLY get up for the bells. So he rings them, waits until I get up and then runs to whatever he wants (like the treat can) and sits there. By the way - if you KNOW she is empty it IS OK to ignore her. But be sure... and if she rings them and then pees on the floor it is your fault! HA. But no seriously, there truly are times when I look at them and say "No you just went out" If they try again in 10 minutes or they are relentless, I let them out. Last edited by Erin; 09-06-2007 at 01:52 PM.

09-07-2007, 02:26 PM	#4
Isabel Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 1,010	Oh yeah!!! With two dogs, I am like the door-woman here... sometimes I have to just take the bell off the door... they would drive me crazy!!! And sorry, I have to cut the post here, somebody is pulling the bells!!! __________________ Isabel T., Don Juan and Luna's momma. Got Bows? www.bowsandtails.com

09-07-2007, 02:32 PM	#5
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 8,498 Blog Entries: 1	i have poochie bells too and morgan sometimes does the same thing. however if i know she just went out recently and did BOTH pee and poop then i know she doesn't really have to go outside so i ignore it or tell her no we were just out there (which i know she doesn't understand LOL) __________________ Kellie and Morgan Girls Soccer Team Goalie!!!!

09-09-2007, 04:23 PM	#6
otisblue YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Beach Cities, CA Posts: 5	I just recieved our bells yesterday, and Otis isn't too sure about them! At first he was barking at them and knocking them with his nose to play. Anyways, I was wondering, how long did it take for your little one to get the concept of the bells?? Thanks, Nicole

09-09-2007, 04:29 PM	#7
Dior'sMom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,863	I bought poochie bells 6 months ago and they are 99% trained. It took a week of constant training to get them both to ring the bell. $20 well spent __________________ Proud Mom 2 Dior

09-09-2007, 04:38 PM	#8
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 8,498 Blog Entries: 1	took morgan a week to learn the bells. she only rings them to go potty. she doesn't play with them thank god. __________________ Kellie and Morgan Girls Soccer Team Goalie!!!!

09-09-2007, 05:07 PM	#9
AprilLove My Three Hearts Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wrapped around their paws :-) Posts: 5,197	AprilLove played with the bell at first just to get me to jump up every time but, she also used them to go potty so I just kept rewarding her when she DID go potty after ringing them, and did not reward her if all she did was run outside look at me and come back I don't remember how long it took, but she doesn't do that anymore and now she also uses them alert me when my non-bell trained older dogs need to go in and out!!! __________________ MaryKay AprilLove Wubs Moosie R.I.P. Bailey Last edited by AprilLove; 09-09-2007 at 05:08 PM. Reason: spelling

09-09-2007, 05:37 PM	#10
bebeyorkie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: california Posts: 611	how did you train them? I've tried but they just don't get it. They are both 99% potty trained they use pee pads and go outside. I'm tired of using pee pads and would like them to let me know when they need to g. The problem is they won't let me know when they need to go out. I usually just take them out every so often. __________________ Bebe Toby Apple Our Beautiful Shells We will forever Love You 1994-2009

09-09-2007, 07:12 PM	#12
paulapoo Blessed by Otis & Ollie Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Plainfield, Indiana Posts: 2,883	I tried this with mine, but, like the others, Otis rang it alllllll the time. He would rather be outside than in, so he was constantly standing at the door, ringing the bell, staring at me. Needless to say, the bell was removed. They are so smart! __________________ ~Paula~ proud mommy of ~Otis (yorkie) & Oliver (shih-poo)

09-12-2007, 05:47 AM	#13
countrygirl_247 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 139	Potty Bells Where can i get the potty bells? I've been wanting to get them.

09-12-2007, 07:36 AM	#14
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,227	http://www.poochie-pets.net/ I made mine with some ribbon and bells because I wanted 4 sets of bells so it would be louder. I can hear the bells anywhere in the house. I spent about $6 to make them.

09-12-2007, 08:16 AM	#15
Shadow No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: California Posts: 5,368	I don't use bells, Sissy would drive me insane,she wants outside evey five minutes.