Ringing a bell to go out.

[Gail & Bogey]

I was so impressed at how quickly my doodle learned to ring the bell to out. Now the problem is that, especially in the evening he rings the bell constantly just because he wants to go outside. So much so that I had to take the bell down. Shortly after I did that he peed on the kitchen floor - something he hasn't done in months! Oh my, what to do......

[Kristin and Sophie]

We have poochie bells as well.  Sophie will ring them when she wants to go outside and play as well.  Since we encourage her to ring them, we take her out EVERY time she rings them and tell her to 'go potty'.  If she starts to play, we just bring her back in the house.  As I type this - she is at the door - I guess I have to live by my words and take her out, but I know she doesn't have to go.  LOL

[Amy Galvin]

I just started bells yesterday for Clara. She wants to play and chew on them. Im hoping she'll get past this as potty trsining has not been good. She's 23 wks.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

We have a joke in our house when Lucy rings the bells, that they're 'POTTY bells, not PARTY bells!' She's no longer a puppy (ironic that Oscar, the 10 mo. old puppy in the house, doesn't use the bells) but to this day will ring the bells just to go out... for no particular reason!

[Star and Goldie]

I think everyone experiences this. What Kristin is doing is spot on for what you should do. Don't give up on the bells! Every time he rings them you need to take him out- you don't want to untrain that part. Use whatever word you have chosen for potty training (I used "go potty" as well) and if he doesn't go within a few minutes then take him back in. If you are absolutely certain he doesn't have to go then don't hang around out there too long but still run the whole drill. He will learn that it's for potty time only. Some people also use separate doors for Potty and Play. So if you have the bells on a patio door and you have another door that leads to outside- he would only go outside to play through the other door and outside to potty through the door with the bells on it.

[Tait & Finn]

Finn does the same thing. He's 7 months. I've been very impressed how quickly he picked it up but just like you said, Gail, especially in the evening when it cools off he rings constantly. I always acknowledge him and say, ok, Finn, so he knows I heard him, and then take him as soon as I can. They only time I don't take him is if we just came in, like 5 minutes ago, then I tell him to go lay down. He gets the hint. But as mentioned in the other comments, you don't want to untrain, so acknowledge and take him out.

[Missy]

We also have this 'bell issue', but I take him out everytime he rings. It does get frustrating, but I keep reminding myself that it is better than cleaning it up in the house.  I find that he rings when he is bored or I am trying to get things done, (dishes, phone calls, etc.)  So, when we go outside and I know he doesn't have to potty, I make sure to make our 'exploring area' very small.  Instead of sniffing the front and back yard, we only go to the back yard and a very small section at that. This makes the trip quicker, but we still go outside. I am finding it more difficult to have him play by himself as he grows and explores his surroundings.  He is very nosy and when he is done with me inside, the outside world is very appealing!!  It does take a lot of work trying to challenge this young pup!! lol