New Members' Doodle Ringing Bells for Play and Potty!!!!

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Ok, you experienced DK owners. Dublin is ringing his bells not just for potty, but just to play w/ them also. And I've heard some of you say your little darlings ring the bells just to go out to play. WHAT'S A MOTHER TO DO? Do they gradually outgrow this behavior? Any ideas how to get them to JUST use the bells when they need to really go out--for business?

[Adina P]

Yes they outgrow it =)
I would rather have a false positive than poo/pee/vomit in the house =)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I second Adina's comment. They outgrow this. Spud went out every time he rang the bells. For whatever reason he rang them--he went out. Yes it was a pain, but stick to your guns and it will pass.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Yeah. I agree. I didn't use the bells w/ my other dogs and it took a longggg time for them to learn to do a soft woof to get the attention necessary to go out. This will be better.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

For many reasons, you won't regret using the bells. :)

[April Cliber]

I agree with everyone. They do outgrow it. :o)

[shelly]

Tori outgrew it too. When she rang just to go out. I would bring her right back in. She then soon learned to grab her "play leash" (we have a really long leash for playing since our yard is not fenced. this way she can play and we can grab it if she decides to run after a squirrel, bird or something) when she wanted to play. Funny thing tho'. We had a new front door put in and I didn't want the long bells hung on the new door, so we moved them to the back door. Se had to kind of retrain her to use the bells there. So you can teach an (old) dog new tricks)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

This is a good post as I will be introducing the bells to my 13 month old soon when we move into a new house. He seems to have "accidents" more when we are someplace new, as we have been in a RV and 3 different homes during his first year alone. Poor baby is so confused. Not to mention he has had to learn to potty on grass, asphalt, cement, gravel, rocks, sand, and red dirt. And as the houses keep getting bigger, we don't always see "the look" he gives us, so the bells will be the trick I hope on the next and last house for a very long time!!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Guinness did the "false bell ringing" for a while to go out and play. Actually, I really think he just liked the idea of ringing those bells. Now he really doesn't bother. He stares at me and then runs to the door or else he just paces in front of the door. He's a dog who can pee anytime and anywhere, so there are never any trips that we go out without some sort of potty "action". Even if it's only a few drops, he never disappoints.

[Stella]

We differentiated between going out to play and going out to potty. If they rang the bell, they went out on a leash and were told the cue words that we used (go potty, go poops!!) and then taken back in. Every time they rang the bell they went out on a leash so they learnt the bell was for toileting. Any other time we went out in the yard we took them out off leash. It didn't take too long for them to learn the difference.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Tucker does not abuse the bells. When he really has to go,it's funny -he seriously ( don't know how to explain that) rings the bells and does not give up. Sometimes he'll just give them a wack wanting to go out in the yard to play or rings and walks away( not serious). or I'll say- "you don't need to go out " and he understands that and walks away. When he really has to "go" I know it- by how he rings.. This sounds confusing- but it works and he seemed to work it out himself.
I 'd rather have the ring than barking even if it's to go out for nothing. He rarly ever rings during the night unless he really has to go. It's funny how they learn.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Hmm. Thanks, you guys. I have an idea now how these things might work for Sheila. We will also be moving from one house to another so I think the bells will be an important signal. My other lab was a female, but she also felt the need to pee inside one or two places even though she knew better. This will be a whole new inside to the house, so lots of different construction smells, new carpet in bedrooms.

[Diane Margetts]

Dakota learned pretty quick that ringing the bells would get our attention so he, too, abused them. Everytime he rang, we would take him potty on a leash. I'm sure he knew exactly what bells were for. We also errored on the side of giving him way to many potty walks BUT he only had accidents in the house for his first week, so the bells did pay off. We have a doggie door now/ sometimes at our vacation house it is so cold (-5) that we lock-off the doggie door. The bells are still on the door and if the door is blocked and Dakota wants out, he will SLAM the bells with his paw. Can wake anyone out of a dead sleep!!!