House Training Tip- Should your dog ring a bell?

This video goes over the idea of teaching your dog to ring a bell to be let out. This can be great if it works, but it can go seriously wrong as well! Find out when is the best time in training to teach your dog to ring a bell to let you know he needs to go out!

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Sincerely,
Kikopup

[kikopup]

Dogs are so great at communicating! What a smart pup!

[terrinow]

My dog did exactly what you warned about. He used to ring his bell anytime he wanted my attention, for food, snack, or walk. I was really pleased about this though because he was blind and deaf and it saved him bumping all around the house to find me when he wanted something. My dear Brodie died from cancer last year. I have a video on my Youtube channel of him ringing his bell ("Blind Dog Rings Bell for Service")

[kikopup]

It's not really a theory. :) I do think you can teach the bell from the beginning with perfect success. But not all humans can do it, and some dogs will "see what works" with people, like ringing the bell earlier and earlier to make you wake up earlier in order to be taken out. I had a client who's dog rang the bell to go out, and then as the woman got up from her dinner to open the door, the dog ran back and snagged her dinner and scarfed it down before she had time to blink!

[MsStatton]

A new video from Kikopup is a welcome sight! Thanks Emily

[OnenessSaint]

That is an interesting theory. I've always taught ringing the bell simultaneously with housebreaking. Once my pups reliably ring every time that they need a potty break for at least 14 days without accident, I consider them housebroken. When they ring, they are ALWAYS taken out on leash and only to the "potty spot" and right back. I've only had one who would ring incessantly and I cured her by only allowing potty outings every two hours, ignoring any other rings.

[kikopup]

Both my little dogs preferred to go in the house at first. A plan is just keep going at it for a year, making sure that he goes outside before he needs to go (also if you walk your dog 2 times a day- he should poop 2 times on the walk), so you don't have to worry about poop. Also playing games outside - if you only walk 1 time a day. Seriously, Tug HATED grass and came from a home where he was punished for going to the toilet inside, so he would hide to do it. Now he prefers to go outside!

[kikopup]

I like to wake up later :) But if that is a good way to get motivated to wake up then it's a great idea!

[kikopup]

Continued- The tip is really about teaching the dog to hold his bladder by increasing the times that you let him out. Also for dogs with issues, and dogs who came older and "trained to pee in the house" from a rescue (like 2 of my dogs). Also for dogs like chihuahuas that would find it more reinforcing to pee behind your couch where it is warm, than ring a bell to have to go in the snow... If you know what I mean. The fact you had success is that you did an awesome job training your dogs!

[kikopup]

I don't have anything against a dog telling you what they want, so if its something you dont mind, then it doesnt matter. Also if the dog only does it on occasions. Sometimes Trisch comes and tells me that shes hungry, and I go make her dinner. But if she did it every few hours, then I would stop making her dinner when she asked, and instead make sure to keep track of time when feeding her.

[Jal]

My Lab has developed to paw the door on her own. It was something she learned, so hopefully my new puppy will learn something on her own or I will introduce the bell eventually :)

[kikopup]

That's cool, if that is what you like :) I have 5 dogs, so barking to tell me would give me a headache!

[kikopup]

I don't use a bell either- Tug Flattens himself against the door to go out, Splash growls, lacey paces and whines or goes to the door, trisch sits at the door, and kiko goes to the door- but has the strongest bladder in the world so rarely asks to go out. I do think some people have a hard time reading their dog, or if they are upstairs on the computer, and the dog goes and stands by the door, and doesnt think to come upstairs before going infront of the door. A bell could help. Its also cute

[SilverFlame]

Interesting. I have always used the word "outside" when training my puppies. "Outside?" I say while standing at the door, and then take them out. After a while, if sitting by the door does not make me appear, they come to me and sit and stare at me. I say, "Outside?" and they jump up and get very excited, then run to the door, where I praise them and let them out. I've considered the bell idea before, but since I have always had very smart dogs, I haven't needed it. But still considering it! :)

[Zurison]

Brilliant points. Zuri, my Rhodesian Ridgeback rings a bell, but not to go out to toilet because she has been conditioned to wait for me to initiate toilet stops. She rings to go outside to lie in the sun. The only reason I chose to add a bell was because she is not an attention seeker and would sit silently in front of the door to go out - which I was often not aware off - since it was silent!

[ClickerPets]

That was great. I have a friend who has a dog that is always ringing her bell becAuse she wants to go out. This video would really help her.

[kikopup]

If nothing abnormal happened, it could be the possible sign of a bladder infection. Bladder infections can cause "out of the blue" peeing in the house. Also stress can cause it, like if something weird happened outside, and instead of sleeping the whole time you are gone, your dog is awake stressed and needing to pee.

[vmda]

I trained my cockapoo to LOVE the garden first then introduced a hanging bell strip by the back door. She only ever rings when she needs to go wees or poos its working really well. Glad to know I've got something right with my dog training for once!!!

[kikopup]

I think its ok if they ask to go out to have fun too, :) But not "obsessively". Like, I wouldnt mind if a dog brings me a ball to ask to play. But not every hour!

[kikopup]

That is so cool :) I hope hes not a German Shepherd though!

[LNRansom]

This is interesting because I have never formally taught my dogs to ask to go out, however they just learn on their own and ask in their own way. Even my youngest collie who had issues in his previous home due to poor toilet training learned that he only needs to ask! Luckily I haven't had them ask just to get attention although sometimes will ask to go out but not to go to the toilet, just to dig up my garden! My eldest dog likes to eat soil for some reason. :S