house training with bells

Question
Patti,
I'm getting a new puppy in a few weeks and want to train it to go potty on the grass on the south side of our house (separated from the main bigger lawn by a sidewalk). But to get to this side of the house, you have to go out a door in the back of the house, which is about 30 feet or so from the living room, kitchen area. What I want to know is, do you think I can put the bells I want the dog to ring when it needs out, in a doorway that is on the way out to that outside door, but is 30 feet away? In other words, the bell would be in the living room where we could hear it from all over the house, but it's not on the actual door we will be going out of. It is on the way to the door outside.
Thanks for your opinion on this.  

Answer
Hi Lori,

Sure it's possible to train a puppy to ring a bell when it needs to go outside. Bell training is not difficult, but it requires a great deal of consistency and dedication during the training period.

I don't think it would matter to the dog that you would actually exit your home from a door that is not near the bell. A dog would not even connect the fact that the bell is in front of a door, and yet you're using a different door to go in and out.
All the dog knows is that he rings a bell, and then goes outside. For that reason you could mount the bell where ever you want, it doesn't have to be near a door at all.

The only problem I can foresee is with a very young puppy. They need IMMEDIATE reinforcement, that's why you can't correct a puppy even 5 minutes after it has "an accident". You might have more success if you start the bell training when the puppy is about 5-6 months old.

I think instructions for bell training usually suggest mounting a bell near a door for the convenience of the dog owner. Dogs are more about cause and effect.

Since you didn't ask about the actual bell training method, I won't go into that, but you should be aware that a puppy is not physically able to control the muscle that allows him to "hold it" until he is at least 12-16 weeks of age.  
Before this time, a routine of containment should be practiced to avoid having your puppy urinate and defecate all over your house.  When the puppy isn't being supervised by you or a family member, he should be in a crate. This will help in house training because it is much harder to housebreak a puppy if he smells is urine in places you do not wish him to relief himself.

I hope I've answered your question. Feel free to write back if I can be of further help.

Best of luck,

Patti