Is this dog playing us (already)?

[Lisa & Sunny]

So we're going on Day 4 with Sunny.  We've had mixed results with potty training.  Within the past few days, I've been encouraged that she either comes to get me or barks at the door when she "needs" to go out.  She's even used the bells a few times.  The only problem is about 50% of the time when she initiates going out, she just wants to play -- trying to eat twigs and dried up leaves, etc.  Is this just part of the territory with house training?  Is there anything we could be doing to help her get the message that when she rings the bells to go outside, it is for the purpose of going potty?

[Judi Christopher]

My 1.5 yr old does the same thing with the bell.  He rings it to go potty and to play.  Most of the time when the bell rings and I let him out, he turns around and jumps on the door to get me to come with him.  I leave him out for a bit and then bring him back inside.  He is potty trained now and doesn't go in the house, but that darn bell is driving me crazy. 

[Barbara, Zoey and Zeke]

I found that taking mine out on a leash directed her better.  But I do have to admit that some late afternoons that I would take down the bells because she rang them constantly.  That has pretty much past though.  Be sure and take her to the same place for potty.  You are right - they are smart and learn quickly.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Yes, when she rings the bell to go outside, reach for your leash and walk her out to wherever it is that you want her to go potty. Say something like "potty time" or "hurry up"or I say "park it" to my girls. She will get the hang of it that it's time for business and not playtime. Once potty time is done and you have rewarded her, then you can let her off leash to run an play. If she doesn't go, take her back inside. If she rings the bell again, repeat that until she actually does have to go. My girls are older and now when the bell rings, I just open the door and let them go out in the fenced yard. Playtime or potty time is OK. I do also make time to go outside and play with them everyday but sometimes I'm just not going out into the cold or rain. If you have a special word or phrase, you can say that and they will go do their business. They really are smart!

[Alexandra Meir]

This might not be the best idea, and it might not even be advisable but what we did was when our dog(s) where first learning to use the potty bells and being house broken when they would ring the potty bells and not go pee/poop outside after about 5 minutes of being outside we brought them inside and put them in their crate(s) for 1-2 minutes. We'd also say that the potty bells are to go potty, not to go outside. 
We also took them out other times for play.

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

When I was potty training Hurley (who came to us at 3 months old) I took him out once a hour initially.  He was on leash.  I would use the words 'potty, potty' and take him to the potty area.  I would give him 5 minutes and if he did not go in that time I would bring him right back in.  Wait about 15 mins and try again.  Once he went he got lots of praise.  To keep potty time and play time separate I never took him out to play right after being out to potty.  I made sure there was 15 mins in between a play time outside and a potty time.  That worked well for Hurley and there were rare accidents.

Oh when Hurley started ringing the bells just to ring them I started watching out of the corner of my eye.  When he wants out to potty he rings the bells and stares outside.  When he just wants to get attention or go outside to play he rings the bells and then looks back at me and just lays down by the door.

Sidney (our recently acquired 9 month old) is another story.  He seem oblivious to the praise or the bells, etc.  I even tried treats when he went potty.  All that led †o is his focusing on the treats in my hand and not going potty at all.  Plus it takes him a good 5 minutes to decide on a spot he will use for his business.  There have been more accidents in the two weeks we have had him than there ever was in Hurley.    So now Sidney is on leash unless in his kennel or outside to play.

I think every dog catches on differently and it takes a lot of focus on the pup and if there are signals and what gets the pup's attention that he listens and catches on.

[Judi Christopher]

So true Diane, my two are learning very differently.  Good eye to see that Hurley stares out the door or looks back at you.  Joe ALWAYS looks back at me. 

[Lisa & Sunny]

Thank you for all the great suggestions!  We weren't using a leash when we took her out, so we are doing that now.  We also weren't rewarding her for going potty.  Now that we started doing that, she seems more motivated to take care of business when she goes outside.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Thats great! You have to be careful with that reward. If you say "good girl" too soon sometimes that makes them stop "mid-stream" Lol! I always waited until the second they were done and then say "YES" or "Good Girl" really loud. "Throw a party", she will be excited! They learn quickly when there is a treat at the end of that.