[Jeannine]

Chewie is 7 months old and we taught him to ring the bell, but it took a LONG TIME! We started when he was around 4 months. We stood there and practiced forever, I would hold a treat behind the bell he would bump the bell to get the treat and he would get the treat and I would open the door. I would also say "ring the bell." The first step was to establish ringing the bell with opening the door. After that I would say "ring the bell" he would ring it, then I would open the door, we would walk out the door and then he would get the treat. This helped to establish ring the bell, the door opens, we go outside. I spent days and days doing this. Then everytime he acted like he needed to go to the bathroom we would go to the back door and tell him to ring the bell before opening the door. After two months he was going to the door and ringing the bell. Now sometimes I will be upstairs and hear that bell ringing; I run down as fast as I can because I know he means it! It works, but you have to really be willing to put in the time.