House Training a Dog – Try this Simple Fix
Do you think that house training a dog can be simple? Well, I do. If you can teach your dog how to tell you when he needs to go outside, house training a dog becomes simple and fun. Teaching your dog to ring a bell when he needs to go out is one of my favorite methods.
…All dogs love to learn tricks and play games.
The reason why the “Ring a Bell to Go Out” trick works so well is because not only does it get the dog to do what you want, but it makes him think that it was his idea in the first place! To teach your puppy or dog how to ring a bell, follow these simple steps.
(By the way, if you’d like a full step-by-step video on how this is done, visit this house training a dog post on the Best Dog Ever blog. It’s amazing!)
*Step 1. Find a bell. Use a bell that’s light weight. (You want to make sure you don’t use something too heavy, like a cow bell.) ?Choose the right size for your dog. (For example, a poodle doesn’t need a bell it’s as big as a German shepherd would need.)
*Step 2. Hang the bell from a door knob …so the dog can easily reach it with his nose. (Don’t forget that what exactly nose level is is going to be different for different breeds.)
*Step 3. Every time before you take the dog out, say “Outside? Do you want to go outside?” ?As you go out the door, hold the string so that the dog bumps into the bell and it rings. (You might need to shake the bell a bit so the dog can hear it ring.) Repeat for a few days. What happens is that your dog starts to link up the sound of the bell with the behavior you want, which is going outside.
*Step 4. As soon as your dog isn’t watching you, put a small dab of peanut butter directly on the bell.
*Step 5. Now simply wait and watch. Two things might happen …and both of these are good! ?Some dogs immediately smell the peanut butter, go to the bell, and ring it.. ?Perfect! Say “Outside?” …So now it’s time to get the door open, take the dog directly to the potty area, and say “go potty.* Now it’s time to reward your dog when she potties by giving her lots of praise and a treat.
Other dogs might have to be encouraged a little bit more if you want them to find the bell. If this is something that happens to you, there’s a way around it — simply hold the bell close to your dog’s nose so that he wants to lick it, and rings the bell.
You can help your dog by shaking the bell so that it makes a sound, if your dog’s touch is too light to make it actually ring.) As the bell rings, in a happy voice say “Outside?” … Now you want to open the door, lead your dog to the potty area, and tell her to “go potty.”
While the dog is pottying, softly repeat saying “go potty.” Then, you should reward your dog with a treat and praise.
*Step 6. Once the dog can ring the bell easily without assistance from you, that’s when it’s time to ask him “Outside?”…and now it’s time to wait patiently by the door until your dog figures out what you want and rings the bell. Next, lead your dog outside while she does her business.
Learning proper methods for house training a dog is good for dogs of all ages! Don’t forget that older dogs will often times need more frequent bathroom trips. …However, the bell reminds us.
Rescue dogs that have never lived inside a house, quickly learn the difference between “inside” house manners and “outside” house behaviors.
Any dog that lives in a house without a doggy door will keep your home accident-free when they learn how to ring a bell. As an added bonus, this works great when your dog goes away with you for a vacation.
All you have to do is remember to bring the bell with you and attach it to the door of your motel room. …accidents won’t be something you have to worry about!
