How to train to use bells? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Pietro37 · 11-01-2006, 10:15 AM

Thanks for your advice. It's been a week and a half and my yorkie has started using her bells to let us know when she needs to pee.

Now if we could only get her to ring it less than 2X every hour...

Bnot · 11-03-2006, 12:02 PM

Thanks for the pictures of the bells. I was wondering what type of bell I could put up if I do this.

Now I know, any type, lol. Long as it rings!

Bnot · 11-03-2006, 04:38 PM

I went to petsmart today for puppy food and got a bell that looks like a small version of a cowbell.

Neither would have anything to do with it, till I put the peanut butter on it! Since then, both have done some licking on it but not enough to make it ring.

Think its going to take a while to teach them this trick. Might take a lot of peanut butter to get them both used to it too.

Guy said if it doesn't work like I want it to...bring it back. I will wipe peanut butter off it first, lol.

Hoping I can teach them to ring it when they wanna go out. Adonis barks when he needs to go, but Venus doesn't.

Bnot · 11-07-2006, 10:08 PM

Venus will lick the peanut butter off the bell, but when I ask her to ring the bell, she heads in the other direction! She'd rather go back to the kitchen than ring the bell.

I suppose I need to keep at it. Still trying here!

LucyNTuckersMom · 11-08-2006, 09:18 PM

Lucy started getting the hang of the bells in about 2 weeks, and was firmed up on them after 3. Tucker is still shy around them and just stares at you when he's got to go. He counts on Lucy to let him out. lucy also uses the bells to get some fresh air, and while that is cute, if there is no potty production, she goes in her crate for 15 min.

Sorry Lucy, the bells are for pottying only.

Teresa

camly · 11-08-2006, 09:34 PM

i was wondering what you would do when they ring the bell for other reasons. hahaha. lucy found out before i did. i'm curious though what happens when you're opening the door making the bells ring? do the dogs come running thinking its time to go outside???

but i'm definitely going to try the peanut butter tip, it really seems like peanut butter is the key to any dogs heart huh? thanks!

LucyNTuckersMom · 11-08-2006, 09:55 PM

Yep, they do come running when they hear the door opening, even if I carefully take the bells off ahead of time. 98% of the time when the dooropens, we are going potty. So it's really ok. In fact, we are getting new doors because of all the pottying, and winter coming, and ours are so old that they freeze shut! First winter w/dogs!

:O

Teresa

nicolaf22 · 11-09-2006, 03:47 AM

Ok, so i keep hearing about these bells, and being from the uk i placed an order and received mine a month ago.

I must just have really lazy puppies.

Izzie hears the bells and runs the other way. Tamzyn just looks at me like im nuts. As if to say. 'why should i ring the bells???? when i can just pee on the floor!!'

Im going to try the peanut butter thing. But a question...... Do i put the peanut butter on when i want them to go out and then when the bells ring put them out then? What do i do if they just want to come back in to lick the peanut butter off??

Im not real sure i understand but am willing to try anything right about now!

Bnot · 11-10-2006, 01:15 PM

When I first put the bell up, Venus was freaked out when I'd try to get her near it. I put the peanut butter on it, oh now she loved that! But when I tell her to "ring the bell if she wants to go out" she'll still hide from me!

I usually get her paw (after I catch her), and say "ring the bell if you wanna go out" while hitting the bell with her paw. So far, not working yet!

I think she'd rather me "guess" when she wants to go outside!

But my older yorkie, Adonis, will bark when he wants to go out. I let them both go out together. So right now, I do have a clue of when one wants to go out!

I will keep working with her though. I feel one day she'll ring it to keep me from making her ring it! Like are you happy now Mom?

LucyNTuckersMom · 11-11-2006, 08:35 AM

Nikki,
I guess I should have clarified that i'm using the bells in conjunction w/crate training and all the rules that go w/that. So peeing on the floor is just not allowed. I'm sure you can do a search here on crate training and get all the do's and don'ts. It's like they have to learn 1. you can't go in the house 2. you can and should go outside and 3. you need to tell me when you need to go outside. The bells are only going to help w/ #3. So if they are still going inside, maybe the crate is the way to go? To anyone who has dogs that are scared of the bells...
my bells are little. Maybe 1 inch diameter balls, 3 of them, on a paperclip at the end of a metal chain on the door. the photos people have posted about their door bells amaze me- they're so huge! Wow! The one was like a leather strap of bells that could go on a sleigh!

I mean, if it works, why judge? but they may scare off little shy dogs.
Teresa

Bnot · 11-11-2006, 05:21 PM

Petsmart had the big bell. I got that one first. Venus was terrified of it, unless she was there to lick the peanut butter off it.

I found some bells at Dollar General store. A small box of 6. Much smaller bells. She's starting to get where she doesn't run when I say "if you wanna go out ring the bells".

All I have to do is say "wanna go out" and Adonis goes nuts and Venus follows! So I kinda feel he's teaching her how to act when the question is asked.

Bnot · 11-14-2006, 10:23 AM

Today, with a lot of coaxing, Venus is using the bells to let me know she wants to go outside. I have to stand at the back door, and let her know she's not going out till she rings the bells.

I started with this Nov 3rd, and its now Nov 14, for those who want to know how long this takes. But during this time, I switched to smaller bells too.

Some might learn faster. I will post when she uses the bells, without me coaxing so long.

Pietro37 · 11-15-2006, 10:13 AM

The way my husband gets our puppy to ring the bell is to ask her to "shake" when his hand is behind the bells.

I agree with some others that as soon as she got the concept, she started abusing it. For a couple days all I heard was ringing!!

I would just open the door to my apartment and let her run in the (enclosed) hallway if she had already peed so that she knows ring bell = open door.

It's been about 3 weeks and she uses it 75% of the time to let us know she needs to potty.

11-01-2006, 10:15 AM	#16
Pietro37 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 40	She's got it!! Thanks for your advice. It's been a week and a half and my yorkie has started using her bells to let us know when she needs to pee. Now if we could only get her to ring it less than 2X every hour...

11-09-2006, 03:47 AM	#23
nicolaf22 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK, Eastbourne Posts: 37	Ok, so i keep hearing about these bells, and being from the uk i placed an order and received mine a month ago. I must just have really lazy puppies. Izzie hears the bells and runs the other way. Tamzyn just looks at me like im nuts. As if to say. 'why should i ring the bells???? when i can just pee on the floor!!' Im going to try the peanut butter thing. But a question...... Do i put the peanut butter on when i want them to go out and then when the bells ring put them out then? What do i do if they just want to come back in to lick the peanut butter off?? Im not real sure i understand but am willing to try anything right about now! __________________ Nikki. Mummy to Izzie and Tamzyn Our Photos Here

11-03-2006, 12:02 PM	#17
Bnot YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile AL Posts: 1,399	Thanks for the pictures of the bells. I was wondering what type of bell I could put up if I do this. Now I know, any type, lol. Long as it rings!

11-03-2006, 04:38 PM	#18
Bnot YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile AL Posts: 1,399	I went to petsmart today for puppy food and got a bell that looks like a small version of a cowbell. Neither would have anything to do with it, till I put the peanut butter on it! Since then, both have done some licking on it but not enough to make it ring. Think its going to take a while to teach them this trick. Might take a lot of peanut butter to get them both used to it too. Guy said if it doesn't work like I want it to...bring it back. I will wipe peanut butter off it first, lol. Hoping I can teach them to ring it when they wanna go out. Adonis barks when he needs to go, but Venus doesn't.

11-07-2006, 10:08 PM	#19
Bnot YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile AL Posts: 1,399	Venus will lick the peanut butter off the bell, but when I ask her to ring the bell, she heads in the other direction! She'd rather go back to the kitchen than ring the bell. I suppose I need to keep at it. Still trying here!

11-08-2006, 09:18 PM	#20
LucyNTuckersMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: IL Posts: 181	Lucy started getting the hang of the bells in about 2 weeks, and was firmed up on them after 3. Tucker is still shy around them and just stares at you when he's got to go. He counts on Lucy to let him out. lucy also uses the bells to get some fresh air, and while that is cute, if there is no potty production, she goes in her crate for 15 min. Sorry Lucy, the bells are for pottying only. Teresa

11-08-2006, 09:34 PM	#21
camly Mommy to Kikko-man Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California/taiwan Posts: 1,562	i was wondering what you would do when they ring the bell for other reasons. hahaha. lucy found out before i did. i'm curious though what happens when you're opening the door making the bells ring? do the dogs come running thinking its time to go outside??? but i'm definitely going to try the peanut butter tip, it really seems like peanut butter is the key to any dogs heart huh? thanks!

11-08-2006, 09:55 PM	#22
LucyNTuckersMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: IL Posts: 181	Yep, they do come running when they hear the door opening, even if I carefully take the bells off ahead of time. 98% of the time when the dooropens, we are going potty. So it's really ok. In fact, we are getting new doors because of all the pottying, and winter coming, and ours are so old that they freeze shut! First winter w/dogs! :O Teresa

11-10-2006, 01:15 PM	#24
Bnot YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile AL Posts: 1,399	When I first put the bell up, Venus was freaked out when I'd try to get her near it. I put the peanut butter on it, oh now she loved that! But when I tell her to "ring the bell if she wants to go out" she'll still hide from me! I usually get her paw (after I catch her), and say "ring the bell if you wanna go out" while hitting the bell with her paw. So far, not working yet! I think she'd rather me "guess" when she wants to go outside! But my older yorkie, Adonis, will bark when he wants to go out. I let them both go out together. So right now, I do have a clue of when one wants to go out! I will keep working with her though. I feel one day she'll ring it to keep me from making her ring it! Like are you happy now Mom?

11-11-2006, 08:35 AM	#25
LucyNTuckersMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: IL Posts: 181	Nikki, I guess I should have clarified that i'm using the bells in conjunction w/crate training and all the rules that go w/that. So peeing on the floor is just not allowed. I'm sure you can do a search here on crate training and get all the do's and don'ts. It's like they have to learn 1. you can't go in the house 2. you can and should go outside and 3. you need to tell me when you need to go outside. The bells are only going to help w/ #3. So if they are still going inside, maybe the crate is the way to go? To anyone who has dogs that are scared of the bells... my bells are little. Maybe 1 inch diameter balls, 3 of them, on a paperclip at the end of a metal chain on the door. the photos people have posted about their door bells amaze me- they're so huge! Wow! The one was like a leather strap of bells that could go on a sleigh! I mean, if it works, why judge? but they may scare off little shy dogs. Teresa

11-11-2006, 05:21 PM	#26
Bnot YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile AL Posts: 1,399	Petsmart had the big bell. I got that one first. Venus was terrified of it, unless she was there to lick the peanut butter off it. I found some bells at Dollar General store. A small box of 6. Much smaller bells. She's starting to get where she doesn't run when I say "if you wanna go out ring the bells". All I have to do is say "wanna go out" and Adonis goes nuts and Venus follows! So I kinda feel he's teaching her how to act when the question is asked.

11-14-2006, 10:23 AM	#27
Bnot YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mobile AL Posts: 1,399	Today, with a lot of coaxing, Venus is using the bells to let me know she wants to go outside. I have to stand at the back door, and let her know she's not going out till she rings the bells. I started with this Nov 3rd, and its now Nov 14, for those who want to know how long this takes. But during this time, I switched to smaller bells too. Some might learn faster. I will post when she uses the bells, without me coaxing so long.

11-15-2006, 10:13 AM	#28
Pietro37 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 40	The way my husband gets our puppy to ring the bell is to ask her to "shake" when his hand is behind the bells. I agree with some others that as soon as she got the concept, she started abusing it. For a couple days all I heard was ringing!! I would just open the door to my apartment and let her run in the (enclosed) hallway if she had already peed so that she knows ring bell = open door. It's been about 3 weeks and she uses it 75% of the time to let us know she needs to potty.