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?

[Patty]

Not to hijack... can anyone point me toward a primer on bell-ringing?

(Please hold your snickers!)

Maybe it's time to give Talullah another way of letting me know when it's time, other than licking my toes in the middle of the night :)

I also want to be prepared for any bell-ringing dogs that may come our way via foster or rehoming. Thanks!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

After a few weeks of Peri not getting over ringing them for attention and to go outside for funtime, we removed them. And she hasn't had an accident since we did that (over 5 months ago). She barks at the door and grabs her leash when she needs to go out. We know she means business.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We have never used bells and now have a doggy door. But when no doggy door was/is available, one dog would paw our leg, one slapped his tail against a wall or piece of furniture or made eye contact and silent barked at us.

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

What kind of bells do you guys use...I have been using one from my bunco game...you know the kind you use to get someones attention at a counter. Piper NEVER rings it. I think it may be too loud and we probably need to switch!

[Adina P]

Is it a kind they have to stomp on? That's a bit harder to teach. My bells are actually a small windchime the dogs just touch their nose to. Has a mild, not too annoying sound =) But most people I think use bells attached to a rope or something like Poochie Bells (google it) or something to that effect. Most dogs, I THINK, do better if they can touch it with their nose rather than paw at it.

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

Thanks Andina, I will check it out. He is so quiet, so if we don't notice him frantically running to each of the doors, then we never even know he needed to go!

[cheryl & oliver]

Well we started the bells early with Oliver, I always used his paw to hit them before we went out, said potty, etc, and he has never rang the bells to tell us he has to go out...He looks at them and stares at them, and then looks at us, or me, lol, and I know that he has to go out. He knows that when we go out and he has a leash on, we re going out to potty, or to the car, and when he has to potty he does. So maybe it is just my dog, I tried so hard to get him to ring those darn bells, but he won't..But I think it is such a great idea, I wish I could get him to do it....But he does give us his paw all the time, so maybe he learned that from my trying to get him to swat the bells, lol....He sits and gives u his paw and leans against you....So even though he won't ring the bells, he is my sweet "Ollie" Of course he is 9 mos old and 67 lbs, lol, but he is the talk of the neighborhood, everyone loves this guy, of course I love him the best....Cheryl

[Sheri & Murphy]

I think they just love bells. Murphy has a jingle bell on a rope so he can play with that one and use the door bell for the door...mostly. But why does he ring it to go out and is stubborn about ringing it to come in... Sometimes I thing doodles just like messing with their people.