Getting the doodles to let you know when they need to go out???

[Diana Allen]

I am trying the bell on the door trick to get Cagney to hit it when he needs to go out... so far it has been nice out and we have had the door open... it will be cooler soon and he needs to let us know... so far he does not bark or whine when he needs to go... he will pee in the kitchen... so does anyone have any pointers on a dog who likes to remain quiet in time of need.... Thanks

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Many have had good luck with the bells. Seems that would be worth a try.
Our Murphy is very quiet and has a very subtle look he gives us when he has to go. He'll walk to the door, look at the door and while standing in that one spot, will look back at us and stay there for a few minutes. if we don't let him out at that time, he'll go lay down again or whatever, but he'll go back to it a little while later.

Since he's by one of our sides at all times, it's been pretty easy to spot "THE LOOK" as we call it. Once you know his cues or he's ringing the bells it'll be better.

[Sandy]

Ha ha - that's Toby too. He just stands and looks out the door, then looks at me as if to say "Hello? Potty time please." :) No barking to go out or come in. He doesn't really bark much ever, which is good, and he's usually with us as well, so we always see when he has to go out.

[Adina P]

Bells worked for us =)

[Maggie and Reese]

We use a bell for our puppy and it works really well. It took her about a week to before she would touch it on her own. Everytime before we took her out we would ring it ourselves and then take her and make her ring it. Now...she'll stand at the door when she has to go out.. and if we don't see her then she goes and rings the bell. I would say try it! better than a barking dog at teh front door.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We use the bells but he does not always go to ring them. Sometimes I think he does as a very last resort--like he does not like the sound of them. But, he still uses them. Many times, when he gets real hyper or out of control, I can guess he has to go out but hasn't asked yet. Works every time.

I miss my Mastiff, he talked, and could say, "Ouuut"

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We used bells, which worked; however she figured out she got a little walk when she rang them (even if she did not have to pee). I took them down about 2 months ago and have not put them back up. She barks and jumps at the doorknob or her leash when she needs to potty. But, the point is that the bells do work.

[Gina and Finn]

We had pretty much the same experience as others. Finn would just go look out the door for a minute but not make a fuss and then walk away. We had to really pay attention to when he was at the door. We also touched his nose to the bell every time we let him out. The day he first did it himself he did it about twenty times but I opened it anyway and if he didn't do his business when he went out I would bring him right back in.It was a pain but better than cleaning the floor and the carpet! He caught on in a week. Now he will ring it when he needs to go. Good Luck!

[Leslie and Halas]

We use the bells, and they work well for us. But it did take awhile for Halas to start using them. Just be consistent with touching his nose or paw to the bells every time you go outside. Halas seemed like he really wasn't getting it, but then one day he just started ringing them on his own. So I think it just takes consistency and time.

[Kyoko]

We use the bell as well. To train her, I used to put a tiny dab of peanut butter on the bell, and had her touch/ lick to ring the bell each time before we went outside. She picked up on this pretty quickly. When she ring the bell to go potty, I only take her out to pee, and as soon as she is done, we come right back in the house, hoping that she will not ring the bell just to go play!

[Ron Carnes]

We have used the bell for the 12 weeks we have had zack. He will ring it if I am in the back yard and he wants out but not to potty. He will stand quietly at the door. He has had an accident twice in the last 6 weeks, and only when he is excited playing. It seems like he looses track that he has to go.

[Susan and Sophie]

My breeder suggested the bells and said Sophie would learn in about a week if I rang them and said 'go potty' each time I took her out. It took her longer than that, but she definitely rings the bells (got them at Michael's & hung on ribbon about 15" from floor) every time she wants to go out. I've just hung a pair at my boy friend's house. Of course, it's not always to pee and sometimes after ringing she doesn't want to go out after all...but I like it better than barking.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

We use the bells as well and they work well when we are down stairs and can hear them. Harlow likes to sleep in our bathroom on the cool tile. If she needs to go out during the night she will jump up on my side of the bed and wash my face until I wake up and let her out. Both DH's and my offices are on the second floor and we can't hear the bells downstairs when we are working. Harlow won't bark to let us know she needs to go out. I think we may rig some upstairs bells to see if that will work.