Anyone train their dog to use bells?

Tgirl · Jun 4, 2015

I was wondering if anyone here has taught their dog to ring bells to let you know that they need to go out. I think I am going to try this when I get my girl. She is potty trained "pretty good" according to the current owner. I may have to do some back to basics potty training when she arrives, it being a new place and all. I was just wanting everyone's opinion on the bells. How well did it work? How long did it take? Did you use the bells that hang from the door that they touch with their nose or the bell on the floor that they ring with their foot? Any advice, experiences, or just chit chat about it is appreciated.

eeturk · Jun 4, 2015

We tried it with Hudson. He caught on quick and it worked well for a few days. Then he started abusing the system and would ring them anytime he was bored and wanted to go outside. We used the ones that hang and they touch them with their nose. He got the concept but we couldn't continue because he took advantage of it.

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2bullymama · Jun 4, 2015

None of my guys took to them at all--- i got a look of 'are you serious, just open the door'

Tgirl · Jun 4, 2015

[MENTION=664]eeturk[/MENTION], I was wondering if that would happen. Sounds like he was training you! Smart fellow lol! I guess I'll just try and see what happens.
[MENTION=2]2bullymama[/MENTION], that made me laugh out loud. I can just see them rolling their eyes if they could. :yes:

anns4boys · Jun 5, 2015

Munson was trained to use the bell by his Foster Mom, the kind that hangs & he uses his nose. When she told me, i went out immediately to buy one so we would keep the routine going. He uses it everytime & i love it! He is the youngest of my bunch but the best trained! T actually used the bell once, so maybe it will catch on.

Tgirl · Jun 5, 2015

anns4boys said:
Munson was trained to use the bell by his Foster Mom, the kind that hangs & he uses his nose. When she told me, i went out immediately to buy one so we would keep the routine going. He uses it everytime & i love it! He is the youngest of my bunch but the best trained! T actually used the bell once, so maybe it will catch on.

That is great! I am definitely going to give it a try! I will be getting her in a few months and I'm trying to get everything that I need before hand. I think I will go ahead and order some bells. I think I will go with the ones that hang also.

Squishy Walnuts · Jun 5, 2015

I never tried using a bell. Whenever one of the dogs aren't right beside me I know they are probably at the door waiting to go out.

shortstuff · Jun 5, 2015

I wish I could trust Shasta well enough for a bell! Bisou only rarely alerts us that she needs to go outside when all she wants to do is lay in the sun, so I wouldn't be worried about her. Shasta, however, likes to tell lies and make up stories so she can go searching for kitties in the yard several times a day. When I wasn't working full time and before we got Bisou, she'd take advantage of my newness and make me let her out 10+ times a day... so no bell for us! I'd really love to try it though, because Bisou isn't nearly vocal enough. She just wanders towards the door and hopes we get the hint :no:

davidh · Jun 5, 2015

I never used one, but my sister-in-law uses one that is on the floor for her dog, and they use it. I couldn't use one anyway, especially with Hazel, she would be ringing it all the time, as she loves to go outside and hunt lizards.

Tgirl · Jul 7, 2015

I bought the rest of the stuff today that I need to make the kind that hang on the door. I will be getting her in a couple months so I will let everyone know how it goes with the bells.

jellyfish · Feb 21, 2016

Tgirl said:
I bought the rest of the stuff today that I need to make the kind that hang on the door. I will be getting her in a couple months so I will let everyone know how it goes with the bells.

Just wondering how this went. I am just starting with bells and I really want them to work.

Tgirl · Feb 22, 2016

Well I got my 3 year old Frenchie in August. I was prepared to go back to square one with potty training with her being in a new place and the breeder said she was "pretty good" when I asked if she was potty trained. I was planning on getting her to potty outside consistently then start teaching the bells. Well she was 100% potty trained. She has been here for 6-1/2 months and has not had one single accident. She just runs to the door, back to me and to the door when she needs to go out so I never started the bells. She rarely has to let me know though, I take her out regularly. Please let me know how it goes though. I may end up training it eventually.

anns4boys · Feb 23, 2016

jellyfish said:
Just wondering how this went. I am just starting with bells and I really want them to work.

My Munson, a rescue through FBRN was trained by his foster mom to use the bells. We got him when he was just shy of 7 months old last May, and started using them with him. He still uses them both at home and in my husbands office ( he goes to work everyday with my hubby - all three of my dogs do), and it has actually helped the other two dogs too. My Tallulah, who is the least reliable with her potty habits, has actually rung the bell a few time too! And even if they don't ring it, all three of them go to the door and stand in front of them. I love it, makes it much easier to know that they want to go out.

Jordanmyles · Feb 23, 2016

Hahahahaa,

This happened to Bella too. If she had it her way she would be outside all day, everyday, rain or shine!

eeturk said:
We tried it with Hudson. He caught on quick and it worked well for a few days. Then he started abusing the system and would ring them anytime he was bored and wanted to go outside. We used the ones that hang and they touch them with their nose. He got the concept but we couldn't continue because he took advantage of it.

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