You have to be kidding . . . nope.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

DH is working from home today so I thought I would take the opportunity to run some errands and do some shopping, leaving Rooney in his dad's trusty care.  I get home and can clearly hear that DH is on a conference call with the Chinese and as I walk into entry way I see new poop bags strewn about the floor, Rooney has taken them out of the basket by the front door.  As he has now heard me come in the door, Rooney comes running all tail a wagging and with a poop bag in his mouth.  So now I'm thinking was he just bored and playing with the bags or does he have to go poo and he is trying to tell me (as who knows how long DH had been on that call).  Once before he had taken a poop bag in his mouth and then out we went and he pooped but I really figured that was dumb luck.  Not one to chance it - we leashed up and headed out the door and I'll be a monkey's uncle if the little bugger didn't go poop.  I am not kidding!  Could he honestly be that smart?  I will admit that when he is pooing, I rustle the poo bag, hoping that it becomes a trigger - could he have learned to associate the bag to the pooping?  Usually when he needs to go out he will lick your feet or leg, this is just crazy to think he has figured this out!  Anyone else train their dog not to the bells but to the bag?  LOL.

[Gayle Miller]

ahhhh Adina....I thought as much!  Perhaps I'll go the route of potty training without the bell....!!! It does look so cute (not to mention intelligent) when I see videos of the dogs ringing their bells!!  So funny!  Thanks for your comments!

[Adina P]

Gayle: YES they will very likely ring JUST to go out. At 1st it doesn't matter and you can always take it away once they are solid in house training. My Rosco rarely rings except to potty and maybe if he's hot and wants to lay on the concrete. But Boca...she is a dog that would prefer spending ALLLLL day outdoors and rings the bell A LOT to go out and explore/maintain/play in her yard. I really need the bell for Rosco otherwise I'd take it away. Sometimes I'll just close the gate that leads to the kitchen and back door when I KNOW Boca doesn't need to go out then she can't ring the bell.

[Gayle Miller]

these comments AMAZE me!!! Wow!  BTW, if you decide to use a bell, can that become a problem in that your dog might ring it everytime he wants to just go out....rather than out to Poop???  Just wondering what the concensus is about bell training to go out to do their business???

[Susan and Sasha]

Sounds like Rooney knows what he's doing...and wanted you to take him out to GO!!  Lol...

You'll know for sure the next time around...for sure...

He's such a cutie...I love that guy...

[Donna K & Quincy]

Rooney, you are clearly not just another pretty face.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

You are toooo smart Rooney.  Daddy needs to take a hint and tell the Chinese to hold on for a bit... :)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Good for you Rooney! Jane, I'm jealous. Good thing you came home when you did! (so he can tell on his daddy!)

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Rooney, you are such a smart boy and cute to boot.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Nicky - my dad's cat will get on the kitchen counter top and hit the handle on the electric can opener.  I was in the L.R. one day and heard this "buzzzz, buzzzz" - yep it was the cat letting my dad know that he was ready for his canned food dinner.

[Anna and Achilles]

Achilles associates the bags with a walk, so God forbid if we need a bag for something else and he hears it. Off for a walk whether you wanted to or not. Good Job Rooney!