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pzarat · 11-15-2012, 08:27 AM

I use the tell bell (pretty much just a reception desk bell) with Maxi because I thought its louder and I would be able to hear him if I'm in the kitchen or bathroom or something... According to the tell bell instructions I was to gently grab his paw and ring the bell with his paw every time I took him potty... Well Maxi became seriously scared of the bell and would refuse to let me ring it with his paw... So I decided to first teach him to ring the bell.

I grabbed a few yummy treats and the clicker and would click and reward any time he got close to the bell... Then I progressed to clicking and rewarding any time he touched the bell (with his nose, with his paw, with whatever really at this stage)...and slowly I only accepted him touching it with his paw, whether or not it made an actual ringing noise, I just wanted him to feel comfortable touching... And slowly I became more strict and only gave him a treat if I heard a ring. I also added the command ring the bell.

I did 5-10 minute sessions twice a day and after two days he was ringing the bell like a pro! Then I put the bell by the sliding door and any time I took him outside to go potty I would ask him to "ring the bell" when he rang it I would open the door and give him a treat outside then give the go potty command. I did this consistently for another two days and to our surprise he quickly started doing it on his own in order to go outside. Now he only gets the treat after going potty outside, not when ringing the bell. Lastly, we put another bell by our bedroom door and showed him that it worked the same, because if our bedroom door is closed and he needs to go potty he can tell us by ringing the bell. And now when we go to my parents house we are going to take the bell and show him that he needs to do the same there

A few important things:
1. As with everything, everyone in your house has to be on the same page and consistent. One day Maxi rang the bell and my husband was distracted by the tv, and Maxi couldn't hold it and he had an accident...

2. If possible, use a door that will only be used for going potty and use a different door when taking him for a walk for example.

3. Make a big fuss ad do a happy dance the first time he rings it on his own and goes potty

4. Once he's ringing the bell himself he might do a couple of fake outs and ring the bell without having to potty just to get a treat... If he rings the bell to go outside, and doesn't go potty... No treat

11-15-2012, 08:27 AM	#4
pzarat Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 48	I use the tell bell (pretty much just a reception desk bell) with Maxi because I thought its louder and I would be able to hear him if I'm in the kitchen or bathroom or something... According to the tell bell instructions I was to gently grab his paw and ring the bell with his paw every time I took him potty... Well Maxi became seriously scared of the bell and would refuse to let me ring it with his paw... So I decided to first teach him to ring the bell. I grabbed a few yummy treats and the clicker and would click and reward any time he got close to the bell... Then I progressed to clicking and rewarding any time he touched the bell (with his nose, with his paw, with whatever really at this stage)...and slowly I only accepted him touching it with his paw, whether or not it made an actual ringing noise, I just wanted him to feel comfortable touching... And slowly I became more strict and only gave him a treat if I heard a ring. I also added the command ring the bell. I did 5-10 minute sessions twice a day and after two days he was ringing the bell like a pro! Then I put the bell by the sliding door and any time I took him outside to go potty I would ask him to "ring the bell" when he rang it I would open the door and give him a treat outside then give the go potty command. I did this consistently for another two days and to our surprise he quickly started doing it on his own in order to go outside. Now he only gets the treat after going potty outside, not when ringing the bell. Lastly, we put another bell by our bedroom door and showed him that it worked the same, because if our bedroom door is closed and he needs to go potty he can tell us by ringing the bell. And now when we go to my parents house we are going to take the bell and show him that he needs to do the same there A few important things: 1. As with everything, everyone in your house has to be on the same page and consistent. One day Maxi rang the bell and my husband was distracted by the tv, and Maxi couldn't hold it and he had an accident... 2. If possible, use a door that will only be used for going potty and use a different door when taking him for a walk for example. 3. Make a big fuss ad do a happy dance the first time he rings it on his own and goes potty 4. Once he's ringing the bell himself he might do a couple of fake outs and ring the bell without having to potty just to get a treat... If he rings the bell to go outside, and doesn't go potty... No treat __________________ Patty, mom to Maximiliano Last edited by pzarat; 11-15-2012 at 08:29 AM.