Bell training

[Jax's mom]

I have to admit I was a skeptic about bell training, but bought the system at Petland anyway, and have been trying it and guess who rang the bell today! Mr. Jax himself, hope it sticks, he loves the outdoors and were getting lots of snow so I am thinking I am going to be hearing that bell alot.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

it's great. We love it.....no barking or scratching the door.!!!

[Deanna Marsh]

Yep, and doodles are smart, they learn to use it quickly. A bell is so much nicer than a bark or scratching. I made mine and used a pretty "meditation bell" from an old wind chime. It's great and took her only 20 minutes to learn to use it.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

We started bell training from the first day we brought Lucy home. We'd ring the bells and say, "Ring the bells, go potty". She had the concept down within days. She's 3 months old now and uses them almost exclusively for potty breaks. She'll also stand next to the door and just look at you, but if its urgent she's rings those bells like there's no tomorrow! She hasn't had an accident in weeks, so we're thinking we're probably out of the woods with potty training. We bought the Poochie Bells and within weeks the ribbon had torn from Lucy's over exuberance (from biting and pulling on it). I contacted the company and they sent me a new bamboo webbing set free of charge. I think they're a great company!

[Steve D]

This sounds like a really good idea. I was not aware of this method until I saw something about it on a puppy episode of Dogs 101 on Animal Planet yesterday. I will have to look for the product in one of our pet stores. Max just turned 12 weeks the first of the week and he has been doing well with potty training and has gone to scratch on the door a few times. We have been very proactive and so are probably taking him out more than he needs to go. Such smart dogs.. Doodles are amazing!!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Our back door is close to the kitchen table. Lucca has also figured out that if he rings the bell (only in the morning when my husband is eating) he just may, and usually does get the last bite of his breakfast!! He rings the bell then goes and sits and stares at my husband. It's pretty funny and cute to watch.

[Hunter and Daisy's Doodle Mom]

I did the bell training too - we just bought a bell for hunting dogs, it looks like a small cow bell. Our male, Hunter, surprisingly was housebroken within a couple of weeks...so at approximately 12 weeks old, but our female, Daisy was having the most terrible time. Our friend suggested it and she had it figured out in a day...doodles are smart! She's only had a couple of accidents after we started the bell training back in October, but it was amazing how quickly she caught on. Hunter doesn't use it...he just figures she'll ring it :-)

[Ann Kendig]

Sheba learned how to ring the bells fairly quickly after I introduced them to her. Duke on the other hand REFUSES to ring the bells. If he hears Sheba ring the bell he'll jump up and run to the door! There are times where Sheba rings the bells when she wants to go out to play but over all she does a great job.

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

Thinking ahead to this (awaiting litter so it's v. early): I love the idea but wondering if these bells are the kind hung from door or the kind kept on the floor. If on the door, does the wood get scratched in the process of ringing?

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca's hang on the door. They don't scratch it, he jingles the bells with his nose. It's quite cute and no barking or scratching the door. We got ours through In the Company of Dogs catalogue $20. Here's the link.

Hopefully the link works. They are called Poochie Bells. Just so you can see the photo

[Hunter and Daisy's Doodle Mom]

Mine is hanging from the top of the hand rail to go downstairs. It is a bell used on hunting dogs that gets attached to their collars - it looks like a small cowbell. It was only $4.00 too! We did it this way so it wasn't hanging on the door...it is the main door out into the garage which leads to the back door outside. We didn't want it ringing everytime we opened the door, so we thought hanging off the railing would be best. And yes, there are knicks in the drywall right by where it hangs. Daisy gets very "serious" sometimes about her announcement that she has to go out and doesn't just bop it with her nose, she will hit it with her paw, causing it to eventually hit the wall. Both our dogs are almost a year now....holy cow, where has the time gone...and they are getting more on a routine and the bell will probably go eventually in the next year.

[Jenna B. & Chianti]

We hung a small hook next to the door that the bells hang from right at Chianti's level. They do leave a small mark on the wall, but I just hit it with soap and water once or twice a month and it looks as good as new. We also have super cheap paint (its a rental) so it marks more than others.

[Ann Kendig]

Sheba learned to use the bell very quickly, Duke refuses to use it. I know he knows what it means!! When Sheba rings the bell he jumps up and runs to her side waiting for me to let them out. I love the fact she uses the bells and she is really good about ringing them when she has to potty. Seldom does she use them because she wants to go out to play. I hope one of these days Duke will quit being so stubborn and use the bells!