Hi all,

We're trying to get our pups used to bell training, but so far they don't seem to understand the message. Each time we go out the back door we ring the bells and say 'toilet' and then open the door for them to go out. We've been using the bells for the past three weeks but they haven't put two and two together. Does anyone have any tips to make bell training easier for us and the pups? Is it usually a lengthy process? I'm surprised they haven't picked it up, they have both shown to be quite cluey at puppy school.

TIA

You could try teaching them the touch command. It will take some time, but should work. I still haven't gotten it done, but that's because we smoke outside, so Lucian gets let out at least every two hours, lol. I've trained him to touch my hand with his nose. The next thing I was going to do was use a post it, and train him to touch it while in my hand, then move it to the bells. It takes some time, but I've seen people train their dog to turn lights off, and on using it. Eventually the should figure out that they need to touch the bells to go outside.

We bell trained Kota and she picked it up very very easy. At first I think she just thought we were crazy but we lept consistant!

Each time we would take her out to potty we would ring the bell and encourage her to ring the bell while repeating "Outside". My husband or I would help her ring the bell, by grabbing her paw and tapping it, or pushing her nose to tap it, each time rewarding her with a treat. Then we would continue to outside and treat her when she pottied. It took a bit for her to catch on but soon we found her ringing the bell and peeing right beside the bell. It was like she didn't understand that she had to go outside first. Even when this would happen we would still go through our routine of making her ring the bell/us ringing the bell and taking her outside even though we knew that she wasn't going to have to potty again. Another good tip is to only use one door. Dont put bells on both door as that may confused they. Kota accosiated the front door with going for walks, and the back door that had the bell for going outside to potty.

It took time, but consistancy is the key in my opinion. Now, at a year old she still rings the bell to go outside even though she barks and lets us know in other ways. Good luck, I highy recommend the bell training!

Check out this thread on bell training.

Several of us have had success with it, but it takes 100% consistency on your part. Make them ring the bell every time they go out, and if they ring it on their own stop whatever you're doing and immediately take them out. The second you ignore the bell, you will undo any training. Good luck!

Thanks all! We will try getting them to ring the bell as well as us. They're still not very vocal when they need to go, so the bell training would be handy for the in-between times.