Is she not potty-trained any more?

[Maya]

I have read soooo many discussions on potty-training, but did not see anything to help me with our problem... so here it is... yet another potty-training discussion!

When Cassie joined our family 2.5 months ago, she was almost 7 months old and her first owner said she was almost potty-trained. She had some accidents in the beginning, I started using the bell, first myself, then I'd ring it holding her paw, and pretty soon she started using it herself, she picked up on it really quickly. For a while she had no accidents, then recently had a pooping one, and then peed on the carpet twice within the last week or so. I started thinking about it, and realized that I haven't seen/heard her RING THE BELL in 2 or 3 weeks! I have to leave the house a few times a day, to take the kids to school, bring them back, get fgroceries, go to the doctor... usually short trips... Every time I need to leave the house, whether she's going with me, and will wait in the car, or if I am leaving her at home in the crate - I like to take her for a walk beforehand, or let out in the yard, so I know she's relieved herself and will not have to hold it in and be uncomfortable. Well, I guess those few times a day is enough for her, so she must not have had a need to 'ask' to go out herself...

My question to all you experienced dog mommies and daddies is: do you think she's forgotten all about the bell, since she didn't need to use it for a while? Is she not potty-trained any more? Yesterday, she was waiting by the door, looking at me, and I said 'Want to go outside potty? Ring the bell, Cassie', I repeated it a few times, but she just looked as if she had no idea what I was talking about. The same thing happened today, whereas just a month ago she knew what it meant. She'd either ring the bell or just stand by the door, then I'd say 'ring the bell Cassie', and she'd do it.

I was thinking of NOT letting her go out, unless she rings the bell, but... what will I accomplish? I'll just end up with more stains on the carpet.

What do you guys think is happening? Have you had something similar happen to your dog? Any ideas, suggestions, advice?

Thanks in advance!

[Maya]

Thanks, Ann... I've been doing it consistently the last few days, and nothing, she doesn't even try to do it, just waits, waits, waits... it's almost as if she's too lazy to do it, and she waits for me to lift her paw and do it for her. Maybe I should NOT take her out, not use her paw, maybe I should pretend I don't see she's waiting by the door, and instead of saying 'want to go outside potty? ring the bell', I should just NOT open the door unless she rings the bell, period. She'll either do it (ring the bell) or pee on the carpet - there's no third option. But, whom am I kidding, I could not do that, I would feel like a doggie abuser. Grhrhrh*($#%!!! what's happened to my baby?!?