Bell training + in-house confinement

[Cammie Hensley]

We are bringing 8 week old Riggins home in just under a week (!!!) and are putting the final touches on our puppy-proofing this weekend. We plan to keep/supervise him in our main living area with us when we are home. We are also leaning heavily towards using bells to house train.

The problem is, our main living area is separated from the door outside by a long hallway. Initially, we were planning to partition off the hallway so he couldn't wander down it unsupervised. But that leaves us with the predicament of where to put the bells so that they are accessible to him to alert us when he needs to go out AND close enough to the door so that he understands the connection between ringing the bells and going out to potty.

Would having the bells at "his" end of the hallway (where the hall meets the living area) be close enough for him to make the connection or do we need to nix the idea of partitioning off the hallway? Or is there another solution? Thanks all for your help!

[Tracey & Spike]

If it's just a hallway can you puppy proof it so he can get to the door? We did and still do use the bells with Spike. We too have an awkward house set up. I tried the bells in his area and he never clued in. He thought it was just another toy to play with. It wasn't until the bells were on the door and jingling when we came and went that he clued in. Others might have other suggestions but for us anyways the bells were useless until they were on the door

[Michele Kiss]

We have a similar issue - "potty" is four floors up! Bells on each floor were the idea but he simply doesn't "get it" 

I suspect the closer you can put them, the quicker he'll make the connection 

[Debbie & Gibbs]

Just my opinion, but I think bells need to go on the door that you want your doggie to go out to relieve himself. Gibbs destroyed his poochie bells, but he will go sit patiently by the back door until we notice and them goes and does business.

[Cammie Hensley]

Sounds like an open hallway is the way to go. Well at least that's one babygate we don't need to purchase!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Best scenario is to have the bells at the door he exits to go outside.