Luckymom, good luck! Almost everything I've read says a good treat is essential, and a "special" potty treat is a good idea too. Nikko has a super special treat (Kona's Chicken Chips) that he only gets if he pees or poops in the right place, and I give him one immediately after he's done with his business, while we're still outside, along with a little party of praise and verbal happiness. He seems to be coming along... we haven't had an indoor accident in a few days, and earlier today I knew he wanted to poop because he very subtly (around the same time he normally poops, so I was already clued in a little) stopped playing with me and walked halfway over to the door and the bell.
BTW, Nikko seems a little freaked out about the bell too, and I do the same thing with ringing it with his paws right before we go out. He's rung it a couple times totally on his own, but with no relationship to needing to go out. But I took him out for a minute or two anyways - he's gotta learn that bell-ringing = going outside!
My fingers are crossed for both of us, and all the other people who are attempting the bell training. I sounds like such a good idea in theory - I just can't wait to see it in practice here at our house!
Lauren & Nikko |