housebreaking with or without bells?

[Rosemarie Panzitta]

looking for pros and cons to bells for housebreaking

 

[Melissa & Porter]

We did it fine w/o bells.  He stares at me and walks to the door. 

But for some reason, Porter does not bark when he wants to come back inside.  He knocks on the door.  This was fantastic when it was cold and the storm door was solid.  I liked the lack of barking on account of having neighbors.  But when we switched it to the summer screen, well, we had to construct a plexiglass, half-shield.  Bells would have been easier.  I made a half-attempt at teaching him bells then, from the outside, but he really likes to knock the door. 

Why I have that kind of full-screen door with a dog and three kids is a Home Depot odyssey no one needs to hear ;-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

No bells here.  We had no problem training them to just let us know they wanted out.  My problem with the bells is that I take them many other places and I didn't want to be toting bells with me every where I went.  I wanted them to understand that the door means potty, not the bells.  So now anywhere I take them from family to friends to hotel, they understand go to the door and bark or whine and I will let them out to potty!  No if you have a dog that for some reason doesn't bark or whine or something at the door, then bells might help.  We've had some fosters that just went and sat at the door and if I didn't see them we had an accident on our hands.  So, I think it is just a personal decision and what ever works best for you.

[Amy]

We taught Marley to ring bells and we love it! The only problem we have... she rings the bells manipulate our Westie. When Lilly (Westie) gets a toy first, Marley will go to the door and ring the bell. Lilly hears the bells and runs to the door while Marley goes to retrieve the toy!

[Linda and Murphy]

Tooo smart!

[Pat and Traveler]

Ringing the bell to steal a toy--that's just hilarious!  Trav does something similar--stands by the door pretending he has to go outside, then grabs a toy and bounces around all happy, thinking he's got my attention and I'll be thrilled to have an opportunity to play with him.  This might be okay once in a while, but he tries it about 10 times a day.

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny does this, but on the other side of the door! She barks to come in, then when I get to the door she grabs a stick and runs back into the yard!

[JerZeeGin]

OMG   I AM laughing SO hard!

[Ann Kendig]

I trained Sheba to use the bells and she caught on very quickly.  She uses them all of the time and very seldom uses them just because she wants to go out and play.  If we are in another room and we can't hear her ring the bells she'll come into the room we're in and bark at us in a playful way enticing us to follow her. Duke on the other hand refuses to touch the bells.  If Sheba rings them he'll jump up and run to the door.  When he wants to go out he will go to the door and stare at the bells!  Sometimes he'll walk up to me and whine which is another sign he has to go out.  When we are at the nursing home visiting my mother they will stand by the door to let us know they have to go outside, same when we are at someones house visiting.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ann,

Interesting because Spud uses bells and we love the bells.  Starlit knows exactly what they mean but refuses to use them. She lets us know by jumping on us   :(     I still encourage her to use them.   Maybe one day she will change her mind.

 

My last dog said, " Ouuuuut:"   That works too.   Starlit is a moaner not a barker and she is learning the word, " Ouuuuuuuuuuut"   But whatever works--works.  As long as they all go outside.  

Pros and Cons--I am busy.  I get sidetracked.  Heck I could even be here on D K and ignore the cues.    The bells get MY attention.  

If I had my choice ( since I have two dogs) I prefer the bell method. 

 

[Ann Kendig]

What stubborn doods Starlit and Duke are and what smart doods Spud and Sheba are. I think it would be great if Starlit learned "Ouuuuuut". I miss having  a dog that talks like Starlit does.  One of my dogs was a talker and he learned to say Mama and I love you Mama along with a couple other cute vocal things I taught him.  (At least is sounded like he was saying the words and it was always an impressive trick to show people.)  I miss having a talker like beautiful Starlit.  I too really like the bell method.  BTW, I love your profile picture!

[Adina P]

The work of housebreaking is just as easy/hard with and without.  The benefit of having bells is that when they finally 'get it' they can signal you that they need to go out. But with a new young pup I wouldn't entrust that signal to them because they are likely to not 'think' about it and just go.  Thus early on it is totally up to the owner to take the pup out FREQUENTLY regardless of the bells. 

 

My 9 month old pup rings ALL THE TIME to go out because she loves to be outside.  If it was just her in the house I'd get rid of them.  But my nearly 5 year old Rosco only rings when he HAS to go potty (95% of the time) so it's worth having it for his frequent peeing in the evening.

[sandy b]

We use the bells and love it. Although sometimes as I see others do, Max will ring the bells just to go out & play. That said if he really has to go potty he will ring the bell then come to us.