I had stumbled across it the other day by total accident, at first I scoffed thinking how silly it was. Quickly though I got into the idea, I read up on it and the notion of it seems simple enough to try out, I plan to give it a go when I start the potty training. Have any of you tried it before/are your huskies bell trained? What are your opinions on it?


This is a simple how to start the training off

We've actually got a few threads already on here, and quite a few of us have had success with it.

Try reading through this one:

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t1638-has-anyone-trained-their-pup-to-use-a-bell-at-the-door-to-go-out?highlight=bell

and then run a search to find the other couple threads.

We bell trained Luna. Took 2 days. The trick is to do it on a weekend and you HAVE to take them outside every single time they ring the bell, even when it was just two minutes ago. We would even take her out if she accidentally bumped into it. Then, on the second day, we would give her a small treat outside when she actually went potty vs just ringing the bell but not going potty. By the second day (9 weeks old) she was bell trained and house broken. Good luck!

I tried the bell system in a busy household and it didn't work at all. Then when I moved to my own place where it's just me and my pup and far less distractions, she got the hang of it. 2, 3 days she learned to use the bell to tell me she has to go out. I think it's a great habit to get into especially if you have other things going on and don't always notice if your pup is standing by the door to go out.

This is something I would like to try when we get our little girl in next weekend. I do have a question. Where do you hang your bell. I know they are made to go over the door knob but wouldn't that get confusing to the puppy when they hear the bell as someone is going in/out the door? Would a hook on the wall next to the door be better?

I'm new to all of this so any help/advice is really appreciated.

Kelli- we used one of those command hooks next to our back sliding door for that exact reason... plus the bells were getting annoying when we would come in and out and were getting stuck in the door if we didn't pay attention. Good luck and congrats! How old will your little baby be when you bring her home?

Luna's_Mommy wrote:

Kelli- we used one of those command hooks next to our back sliding door for that exact reason... plus the bells were getting annoying when we would come in and out and were getting stuck in the door if we didn't pay attention. Good luck and congrats! How old will your little baby be when you bring her home?

Thanks Jessica! She will be 8 weeks when we bring her home. Is that to early to start with the bell? Did you teach yours to use his paw or nose to ring the bell?

We taughtLuna to use her nose and brought her home at 7 weeks, started with the bell around 8 or 9 weeks. She took to it by the end of one weekend and we still use it today.. She just turned 1 last weekend. Good luck! We did it where every single time she hit it, accidentally bumped into it, whatever, she went outside...got a treat outside for going potty. GL! Let us know how it goes

BTW- The two pups in your profile pic are GORGEOUS!!

Thank you Jessica! I'm excited to give this a shot. One of the 2 girls in my profile picture will be ours, I just have no idea which one or how we are going to pick. Wish I could have them both. The other (the one we don't pick) is already sold. They are sitting by patiently waiting for us to decide so they know who they will get. We are going on the 2nd to meet them and pick out the one we want. If they are eating well enough on their own and my friend thinks it's ok for them to leave mom we can bring her home that day. I'm so excited! We lost our Buddy (Lab/Husky mix) 2 1/2 yrs ago. A house just doesn't seem like a home without a dog. I'll always miss my Buddy but I'm so glad we are getting a new friend.

So excited for you!! We were in the same situation with picking... there were 2 girls left, same colors (black/white w/ blue eyes) and we picked our Luna because she was much more into us when we were there. I can't imagine not having her... whichever one you pick will be a perfect match, I'm sure! They are both absolutely gorgeous... I'm impartial to the whiter face b/c that's what mine has, but the darker one is beyond cute, too. I would go 100% by personality... their looks change, the darker one could lighten up a lot (that's what happened w/ Luna) and their personalities are what's going to stay and develop with your influence. Do you have a name picked out?

The one on the left has blue eyes and the one on the right has one blue and one brown eye. I told Kathy (the breeder) that there was no way we could pick one until we met them and she was ok with that. I think she is just as excited as we are. Kathy is the mother of my oldest daughter's friend. She is letting us have first pick and she is letting us have her for only $200. I checked on a white husky with blue eyes (that's what my youngest daughter really wanted) but she was $750. They lady made the argument that she was worth it because she has papers. I don't plan on showing or breeding her so papers mean nothing to me.

My daughter gets to name her, she has picked Nishka. I told her she needs to come up with a couple more name just in case the one we pick doesn't look like a Nishka. We are going to make a name list as soon as she gets home from school. Hopefully she will come up with a couple other names.

I love the name! I agree 100% about the papers.. we got ours through a friend of a friend and paid $600 (which, in south FL, is a steal when they usually go for upwards of $2,000 w/ full papers). We never had any intentions of breeding or showing Luna either, so it was a non-issue. I actually looked for a white w/ blue eyes as well when we started looking, and we wanted to get one relatively quickly (my husband grew up w/ 5 of them and when we moved into our new house w/ a big yard, we got her that weekend!) and couldn't find all white. Excited to hear which one you end up choosing (or which one chooses you! ) Be sure to update!

I'll be sure to update as soon as we pick, we get to meet them on the 2nd. I can't wait! We will most likey pick the puppy that picks us, will be easier that way. lol

Kelli0713 wrote:

I'll be sure to update as soon as we pick, we get to meet them on the 2nd. I can't wait! We will most likey pick the puppy that picks us, will be easier that way. lol

So... which one did you end up getting?? Hope the bell training is going well (if you've started it already)

We taught Vixen to use a bell, and she figured it out in a couple of days. She was eight weeks old. However, she often abuses the bell. She comes in, plays for 2 minutes, then rings the bell to go out. 2 min later she wants back in to play!

Now, she knows the bell means outside.... But she occasionally pees in front of the door and THEN rings the bell. And she is four months now. Not quite sure what to do about that....

Mschwax wrote:

We taught Vixen to use a bell, and she figured it out in a couple of days. She was eight weeks old. However, she often abuses the bell. She comes in, plays for 2 minutes, then rings the bell to go out. 2 min later she wants back in to play!

Now, she knows the bell means outside.... But she occasionally pees in front of the door and THEN rings the bell. And she is four months now. Not quite sure what to do about that....

Luna started doing that too because we were giving her a treat when she rang the bell, not when she went potty outside after ringing the bell. To us, it meant she was ready for the next step. So then we gave her a treat only when she went potty outside. She quickly realized (within 2 days) that ringing the bell was only half of it... Hope this helps!