OK, first of all Loki does target training at obedience class, so that's why he learned so quickly. I don't have a genius dog, just a well trained one! :-) I just said "Loki, TARGET BELL" and pointed to it and he understood. He is so used to learning new things it was easy for him, so please don't feel bad if it takes you longer!
shelbysmom, yes he does ring his bell at 2am sometimes, but I'd rather he let me know than pee on the floor! Sometimes he would just sit there and cry and I didn't know if he wanted water or to play or to go out. He also used to stand on me at night, trying to wake me up but I didn't always know why. Now I know there is one signal for OUTSIDE and he's very insistant if he needs to go.
bchgirl, Trace does the same thing Loki used to do. It sounds like he's trying, but doesn't really know how to tell you he needs to go. Loki used to scratch at the door and he thought that was enough. If I didn't come right away, he'd give up and go pee on the floor. It's like they don't understand you can't see them all the time, they don't think like us. So by giving him a bell it's something we both understand! I can respond to it 100% of the time, which doesn't allow for him to fail and need to go pee on the floor. My husband said that one day he was on the phone upstairs and heard Loki's bell ring. He couldn't get off the phone for 3 or 4 minutes, by which time Loki would normally just pee on the floor. He said Loki was just sitting there waiting for him!! I can just tell how proud Loki is that he figured out a way to tell us!!
One other nice thing is that he doesn't go outside as often now. Before if he went anywhere near the door I'd take him out to avoid an accident. Now that we don't have any, I wait for him to ring the bell or I just ask him and he knows how to say YES! |