Do you feel that house training a dog can be stress-free? Well, I do. Dog potty training is simple and fun WHEN THE PUPPY TELLS YOU when she wants to go outside to do her business. Teaching your dog to ring a bell when he needs to go out is one of my favorite methods.
…Every dog simply loves learning tricks and playing games.
This trick “Ring A Bell To Go Out” gets the dog to do what you want - go outside to do her business - but think it’s her idea! To teach your puppy or dog how to ring a bell, follow these simple steps.
(By the way, if you want to see a full step-by-step video on how this is done, visit this house training a dog entry on the Best Dog Ever blog. It’s great!)
*Step 1. Find a bell. You want to be using a light-weight bell here and. (You want to make sure you don’t use something too heavy, like a cow bell.) Of course you need to choose the right size for your dog’s breed. (For example, a dachshund will need a bell that smaller than a Labrador retriever would need.)
*Step 2. Hang the bell from a door knob …so the dog can easily reach it with his nose. (Remember also that different breeds will require different heights.)
*Step 3. Now, make sure to say “outside” before you actually take the dog out through the door? Do you want to go outside?” As you go through the door, move the bell so that the dog will bump into it and it will ring. (If you need to shake the string so the bell rings, shake it.) All you have to do is repeat these steps for a couple days. What will eventually happen is that your dog will start to associate the sound of the bell with going outside.
*Step 4. As soon as your dog isn’t watching you, put a small dab of peanut butter directly on the bell.
*Step 5. Now simply wait and watch. There are a couple of things that could happen …and both of these are good! Some dogs will smell the food on the bell instantly, and go to it and ring it right away.. Perfect! Say “Outside?” …Now you want to open the door, lead your dog to the potty area, and tell her to “go potty.* Make sure to always give the dog a treat and praise when she does what you want.
Other dogs might need a little encouragement to find the bell. If that happens to you try this: Hold the bell close to the dog’s nose so the dog smells the peanut butter, licks it, and rings the bell.
If your dog’s tongue or touch doesn’t move the bell enough to make it ring, you may have to shake it just a bit.) When the bell rings, now is the time to use your happy voice to ask “Outside?” … So now it’s time to get the door open, take the dog directly to the potty area, and say “go potty.”
While the dog is pottying, softly repeat saying “go potty.” Then, make sure to give your dog praise and a treat as a reward.
*Step 6. When the dog rings the bell without a problem, without help from you, you should ask him “Outside?”…and now it’s time to wait patiently by the door until your dog figures out what you want and rings the bell. Next, lead your dog outside while she does her business.
Learning proper strategies for house training a dog is great for dogs of all ages! It’s easy to forget that senior dogs often need more frequent bathroom trips due to bladder problems. …But the bell reminds us.
Certain dogs, like rescue dogs for example, who may have never lived in a house, are quick to learn the difference between inside manners and outside behaviors.
This is a great way to eliminate accidents in your home, especially if you live in a house that doesn’t have a doggie door. I love to use this trick whenever I’m traveling with my dog as well.
Just bring the dog’s bell with you and tie it on the motel door. …you can forget about having to worry about accidents!
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