[DBlain]

if you want to train a dog to potty outside, my best advise is to use a bell, I hung a ribbon off the doorknob with jingle bells at the end of it. ring it before you take him out to go say the words like Sheldon go potty, go potty. after about three days of you ringing the bell start gently bringing your pups paw or nose to the bell, after a week or two he will start to ring it on his own, also use the same door for going potty. Then treat on the spot if he goes. I also use both words peeps and poop and my Lola knows the difference, she pees first thing in the morning but poops mid day so often when she poops she wants back inside, and I say Lola go peeps, go peeps and sure enough she turns around and pee's. I also keep her on a retractable leash and stand in one spot and don't allow her to walk around forever. I don't want to be one of those people that are being lead around their whole yard for 15 min plus while their dog is looking for the perfect spot to wet.

I really like the bell because I know when Lola needs to go out. My nephew is visiting with his 11 month old dog and while she is pretty much house broken they have no idea when she has to go out, so they are constantly taking her out and walking all over the yard on the off chance she has to go. Not every dog just automatically figures out a way to tell their owner when they need to go out. They also don't want to treat her after she goes which I think is a mistake. By treating Lola I think she does her business faster because she can not wait to get back inside and get her treat. When she was being training I gave her the treat on the spot outside, but now we just wait till we come in, and LOL I can never forget because she heads to the area in the kitchen where they are kept and just keeps starting up at the cupboard