dog bell training

Question
I would like to start training my dogs, 6 months., to ring the bell for going potty outside. What steps do I take? Where can I purchase a bell (not jingle) that rings fairly loud & clear?  

Answer
What breed are your dogs, Liz? I would use the type of bell that some farmers put on the collars of their goats. It's not as big and heavy as a cowbell, but it's the same type of bell. Another solution would be to get a wireless doorbell and teach them to push the button. Of course, it would have to be set to a different sound than your regular doorbell!


First, I would teach them to nudge the bell or the button, separately from going outside. You can do this pretty easily with a clicker and treats. First, teach the dogs the meaning of the clicker by clicking it and giving them each a treat. It makes no difference right now what they are doing when you click and treat. Repeat until they are just sitting there staring at you waiting for you to do it again. Then stop. Wait until they have lost interest before doing it again. The goal is to get them to the point that they immediately look up at or come to you when you click the clicker, in expectation of getting the treat. It shouldn't take them more than a day to figure out that click=treat. Then you can begin teaching them to ring the bell or push the button.

The following instructions on teaching them to learn to touch the bell or button with their nose are from http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/start.html My interjections are within brackets, [like this].

You teach targeting by presenting the object - let's say you've decided to
[use a bell] - in front of your dog's nose and very close to it. If
the dog looks at it, you [click and treat].  You gradually raise your criteria (by moving
the [bell] further away and/or off to the side), requiring that your dog not
only look at it but move towards and touch it with his/her nose (some
people ask for a paw touch).  Once the behavior is well established, you
give it a name, such as "Touch."


When they are starting to get the idea that they are to touch the bell or button with their nose in order to get their reward, you can start teaching them to do it before you let them outside. Don't change any other part of the 'going outside' routine. Just carry the bell or button with you and require that they touch it before you open the door. You should click and treat just before opening the door. It should not take them very long to figure this out, and then you can hang the bell or mount the button next to the door at nose level, rather than having to hold it.

Good luck!
Kristen