Potty training - I need a "sign" from her - help!

[Marilyn Norberg]

Irish who is only 13 weeks old is doing quite well but it's probably because we take her out all of the time. I would like her to "tell me" when she needs to go out. She doesn't whine or sniff - sometimes she will look at me - but this is rare - any suggestions?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Use bells - they make "poochie" bells you can hang on your door. Peri is 10 1/2 weeks and we ring them everytime we go outside and say "outside". She has started ringing them already. May be a coincidence, but she goes as soon as we get outside. I know others on this site have had success also. Some have not because the pups thing they are toys :)

[Adina P]

Bell training is excellent for this. Basically you hang some bells from or near the back door and help her ring the bells each and every time she goes out and soon she will make the connection and start ringing them on her own. Some more detailed descriptions are in these past discussions on bell training:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/2065244:Topic:25418

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/potty-training

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/2065244:Topic:76885

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/taking-advantage-of-the-go

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/poochie-bell-advice

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/tell-bell-training

Anyway, I hope these help. The first link is a topic I started with basic instructions on how to teach them to ring the bell. The others are experiences of others and their questions you might find helpful.

[Leslie and Halas]

The poochie bells worked great for us, too. They are really nice if you're in another room. Even if she knows to stand at the door, that might not do any good if you're not in the room to see her. But if she rings the bells, you'll hear that and know she wants out.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

As a breeder I start with Poochie Bells in my house! Cant go wrong. Go to their site and use their training aid, you can use an old holiday bell or any bell tied to a ribon but Poochie Bells makes a really nice product too.

[Denise U]

We used the poochie bells too.. they caught on quick! Later, we weaned them off the bells and they are doing fine. They would make a pass with their bodies at the bells when they wanted to go out and now they still make a pass, but with no noise. That's our cue!

[Leslie du Mont]

Well, thanks to the advice on here I went out and bought some poochie bells today at our local pet store. :-) I'll let you know how it goes. Like Peri, our 14 week old GD really gives us no sign he's got to go. We'll keep you posted how it goes.

[Krista, Angel, and Toby]

I made my own bells. I used a $2 leash and some bells from Michaels. I cut the leash in half and sewed the two pieces into a cross shape so that there are essentially three strands hanging from the handle. Then I attached the bells with LOTS of double-strength thread. I just looped and looped and looped so that it would be EXTREMELY difficult for my little Angel to pull the bells off. It works really well, except at night where she turns into Mr. Hyde...At that point she is just too hyper to remember unless I crate her...but that's a whole other discussion... LOL

Here's a picture.

[Leslie du Mont]

Those look great! :-) ...And you can't beat the price!

[Mommy2Max]

Poochie Bells worked for Max, he got the idea in a few days. He was 4 months old at the time.Let me just nore we always used commands to go potty and just rang the bells when we got them with the command.

[Nina Vantschip]

Can this work on older dogs (1 1/2 yr). One of my guys won't let us know when he needs to go out. He follows cue of the other one, and I wish he would give a sign.

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

I think Poochie Bells are great also...and should work on older dogs.You might want to add a sm.taste of peanut butter when he rings. Or after he has went out.....our Guinness would not give us any sign to go out either just sit there and stare,and this does not help if your not looking.