teaching poochbells to go out when door isn't right there

[Laura Deutsch]

Good Morning,

Any suggestions to this would be appreciated. The set up we have is that Molly is mostly in our kitchen which leads out to a long hallway. The door to outside is at end of hallway and we have a bell, which she still doesn't ring, although I have to admit, we haven't been consistent about ringing it every time we take her out. I think that it would be best to put bells on kitchen door frame, but am worried she'll be playing/eating them instead. Any suggestions? She's 14 weeks and rambunctious and mouthy. She will definitely go for hanging bells at entrance to kitchen. She's also very smart, so I know it's just a question of finding the right way to approach it. Thanks in advance.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If you think she'll be playing with the bells if they are in the kitchen doorway, I'd put them on the door she will use to go out to potty. The thing is, you need to take them out whenever they ring the bells, so if they're in a place where she's just playing with them, that will make you a little crazy. We had them on both doors that we used to take them out. We would ring the bells and say "potty" then go out and take them to their "spot". It took a while, but they eventually got the message. When they rang the bells and then went out and "did their business", there were really big rewards. They're housebroken now, and on a really predictable schedule, so they no longer use them, but they are a help with puppies.

[BG and Gavin]

Keep them on the door handle and be consistent about ringing them each time you go out and one day (it may take a few weeks) the coin will drop and you will have a great feeling of elation when she rings the bells herself.

[Leigh & Allie]

I had the same problem. I had Allie confined to the kitchen and the door to the outside was in the living room. I tried hanging the bells in the kitchen and that just did not work. She played with them too much. She did get to the point that she would sit by the baby gate when she wanted to go out (that just kind of happened on her own) but as soon as I saw her sit anywhere near the gate I jumped up and ran her outside. When she got bigger and I felt she was more potty trained (or I kind of knew her schedule) I let her have more free reign in the house while I was there. She follows me everywhere anyway so that was easy. When she had more free reign I tried the bells again. She took to it right away. I had almost given up but one day she was sitting by the door and kind of walked by the bells and they rang, so I dropped EVERYTHING and told her what a good girl she was and took her out immediately. She caught on really quick. I have to say I did get discouraged because her litter mate was ringing the bells before she was but that was because they had a door to the outside in their kitchen. Hope that helps and good luck.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree with Leigha that Molly will probably play with the bells too much if they are in the kitchen where she spends most of her time. Tara, like Allie kind of found her own way to tell us she needed to go outside. I thought about training her to the bells too but we ended up not needing to She was a winter puppy so everytime we took her out we put our coats on which were hanging on a coat rack in a visible location next to the kitchen which had the outside door. When she needed to go out she would run over and touch our coats and look at us. We were fairly easy to train and got the idea pretty fast. Once we got past winter and the coats were put away she started touching her leash that was hanging right next to the door or sitting right in front of us and growling. Once again we learned quickly :>) that she needed to go out. Once she learned that we would respond to the growl she tried to use it to teach us to do other things for her as well. At that point eveytime she growled she was taken outside and got NO other response from us except that one. Soon she learned that when she growled all she got was outside. I have heard of similar problems with the bells. A friend started calling them "butler bells" because anytime the dog wanted something -especially outside to chase the squirrels-she would ring the bells. Guess that is when it is time to retire them...

I'm not sure if this is at all helpful but maybe just be open to another method other than the bells? If you do want to go with the bells I would agree that the best location would be near the door. Not so much of a temptation and more easily associated with going outside. Good luck!

[Laura Deutsch]

thanks for your replies. We never used bells before but so many people are using them now that we thought we'd try it. It will only work when she has more freedom in the house. We do ring them when we go out and because she's so smart, she will likely catch on soon. At this point, we just have the wrong set up. Every day is a new experience!

[Leigh & Allie]

She will be potty trained whatever method you use. Hang in there. Allie was fully potty trained by 5 or 6 months. I remember thinking she would NEVER be potty trained when she would have an accident after doing so well for so long but she did. Got to run, Allie is ringing her bells!! Seriously, no kidding. I promise you will be here soon.

[Laura Deutsch]

Funny...Molly just peed in the kitchen while we were both in here.....she was pacing a little, but she often does that. It makes me really frustrated, because our last two pups- both Golden Retrievers, were totally housetrained within the first week we had them, and we just assumed that would be same with the doodles, who are supposedly smarter. 5 or 6 months seems like forever to me, but I guess I have to accept that every dog is unique.
Just when we think she's trained, she has an accident. I guess, since she's only had about one each week, we're lucky. But, I take her out once each hour for sure, and more often if she drinks alot, or has had alot of exercise or excitement.

[Leigh & Allie]

I say 5 to 6 months but she would go for up to a month with no accidents then she would slip and pee right in front of me. I guess that is better than trying to hide it. My husband said the same thing about his golden retrievers but I thought it was because Allie was smaller. She is a mini and her bladder was not as big. I don't know I am just glad we are past that phase and you will be also soon.

[Laura Deutsch]

thanks. i wonder if it's that goldens are put on this earth to please their owners, and poodle descendents have more of a mind of their own because they're so incredibly smart!!!! hopefully in a couple of weeks this will improve, although she's had frequent peeing since we got her. The vet is hoping she will grow out of it. I think I might have already said that in a prior post. Can you tell it's always on my mind? Thank goodness I've had the summer off to take her out constantly!!!!

[BG and Gavin]

Our trainer says that Goldens exit the womb in a "sit - stay." lol

[Leigh & Allie]

that is what my husband said. I was just the rolling dust balls of fur that he does not miss;)

[Laura Deutsch]

I know about the fur, believe me. That's why we went with a non shedding dog this time. I have been dealing with wonderful shedding dogs for 25 years, and after my golden is no longer with us, I just don't want the hair all over the place anymore. I will miss her terribly. She has been the love of my life, dog wise, and each day is a gift with her. Molly and Emma are finally able to be in the same room together withou Molly jumping all over her and pulling her hair. IT's really a beautiful thing. They p[lay like mad outside and then are often calm and lying together in the kitchen, until Emma wants out!!!!