Ring My Bell

[Sara and Roxy]

So, I finally taught Roxy to ring a bell to go outside. It took several months, but she has caught on with a vengeance. I decided to try the bell because I couldn't figure out her signals. She had been in foster care when I got her, so she'd been shifted around a bit. I figured maybe she didn't know anymore how to communicate her needs. I finally learned to read her particularly gentle signals. She jumps up and gives me hugs when she wants to go out or if I'm seated gets in my lap and basically makes it so I can't do anything else but pay attention to her. If I'm at my computer she wedges her body between me and the keyboard. It's pretty funny, but then that's it, so I used to just pet her. I thought she just wanted some cuddling time because she didn't seem agitated. And she didn't seem to have any words for it. How does a dog get to age 2 and not know "outside"? But that's the life of some of these shelter dogs, I suppose. Now I've come to see her pacing and hopping in my lap for what it is..."look at me, I neeeeed to go!". And I've taught her "potty" so when I ask her she responds by getting all excited and prancing around me in circles. All this time I had the bell on her outside door and tried to show her what it was for. So we could clarify what she needed and when. She didn't seem to catch on, but I left the bell on the door so every time we opened it to take her out, it jingled. This week she started ringing the bell when I wasn't paying attention to her other potty ploys. Then when that worked so fabulously, she starting ringing it about every hour. She ~loves~ outside. I've met dogs who could care less whether they were out or in and only needed to see grass to go potty. But not this girl. She wants to be outside all the time. So, now the real dilemma! How do I teach her to ring the bell when she needs to go potty, and not every time she wants to go chase the squirrels?!? :)

[Leigh & Allie]

Yeah, Roxy!!!! Way to go. I knew you would do it!!

[Sara and Roxy]

She's doing so much better now!! I don't know how it happened, but she has all but stopped ringing the bell every hour. The past few days she has only rang when she needed to go. yay Roxy!

[Toni McCann]

Teddy just comes to us and stare's. He hardly ever barks. our other dogs always came to us and barked when they had to go out. But, happy to say Teddy hasen't gone in the house for 3 wks. I like the idea of a bell. Maybe we will try that.

[Leigh & Allie]

Heather, Are our DHs related? I can not tell you the number of times we have argued about something like that. I think now he has realized I am usually right when it comes to Allie. Call it a mothers' instinct? Like when DH thought Allie was ready for the divider to be taken out of her crate when she was a puppy. I said "no she feels secure with it in" He thought she would enjoy the big crate. Well..............five minutes later after Allie was crying and having a fit guess who got to put the divider back in the crate. Men......

[HeatherA]

Leigh,
I do the same thing -- when my husband huffs and rolls his eyes because Violet keeps ringing the bell (she has Vaginitis and was fighting a UTI so she needs to go a lot more often.) I told him I would MUCH rather frequent trips outside and spending 5 minutes standing outside, then the alternative which is cleaning up little frequent messes. I am glowing with pride that she has caught on so fast and I would MUCH rather frequent trips outside to reinforce the bell = outside for potty. :)

[Leigh & Allie]

Here is all I have to add.....Allie learned the bell signal very early. I made the bells as well. I just got some ribbon and tied some bells to the end of the string and hung it around the door knob. It really is cute. She rubs her nose on the bells when she wants to go out. Allie also went through a stage where she would ring the bells continuously....DH would say "she does not need to go out". I said I don't care and I would get up to let her out. I would much rather her go out when she needs to and so what if she wants to go out to play? If you don't let her out when she rings the bells what message does that send? I say "kudos to Roxy for getting it so quickly". I really think this is a "new toy" kind of thing and it will wear off at least that is how it was with Allie. Hope that helps. I can only tell you my experience and that is what happened with us.

[HeatherA]

I use the bells with both of my girls. I ring them when I take them out showing the girls ringing means outside. Our youngest is 3 months and she's started ringing them, tentatively. I love the bells, it's the first time I've successfully potty trained ANY dog, and its so fast how quickly they "get" it.

My only suggestion for ringing the bell for "joy rides" is to put a leash on her and limit her time out, walk a few circles, tell her to do her business. If it's clear she didn't need to go and just wanted to play, I would take her back inside. Perhaps you could come up with a few times a day you let her out to play... and have a word for it? I kick the girls outside like I do my kids, I tell them to "Go Play" and let them run each other out for 15 minutes. This still doesn't entirely stop the bell use for play, but its pretty rare. Sometimes it's obvious.. like when my kids are out there playing she watches through the window and hits the bell.. but for the potty training I will take the trade off ;)

[Sara and Roxy]

I don't remember the brand of the bells...I don't think it was Poochie Bells since it looks a little different than the ones on their site, but it's for sure a string of bells made for dogs. Thanks for all the comments! Roxy and I will continue to work on our communication skills. :) She's really very responsive with everything else. She's learned a lot of words this summer! Such a sweetie.

[Anna and Achilles]

I don't and can't figure it out but Achilles actually gets in my lap and nibbles my ears to let me know he has to go out. It is so darn weird. But it works. If it is not broke don't fix it!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Our Rescue Rosco does this, he will come up to me wiggles and tries to jump in my lap...it's his way of telling me he needs to go out....