using a bell to signal potty time

[axel_2078]

I have two dogs, a dachshund named Mocha, and a dachshund/italian greyhound mix named Cashmere. Mocha was potty trained very quickly and adapted very well. She is 10 months old. Cashmere is about 3 1/2 months old. She is getting better at potty training, but will still go inside sometimes. When Mocha needs to go potty, she goes to the back sliding-glass door and scratches on the glass. When Cashmere needs to go out, she just goes over to the glass door and sits there quietly, unmoving. Sometimes it means "take me out, I need to go!" and sometimes she's just sitting down wondering what I'm doing in the kitchen. I've heard some people on here say they use a bell on the door for this. What type of bell? How is it attached? Since Cashmere doesn't make any noise to signal she needs to potty, sometimes I don't know she needs to go. This bell thing may be a good idea.

[Purr]

I have never used the bell, but, I've heard it works very well. All you need is a little bell (anything small enough for the puppy to push with her nose, but, still make enough noise for you to hear it will do), attached to a piece of ribbon, or string, and tied to your doorhandle. If your sliders don't have a handle, you could also put a cuphook in the door frame,
next to the sliders (cuphooks are good, because, they don't leave big holes in the wall).

Then, all you do, is ring the bell, every time you take her outside. She'll learn that ringing the bell makes the door open. You could also give her a key word, like "outside" when you ring the bell.

Good luck with Cashmere. She sounds adorable!

[Lil'Paws]

Axel, I use the bell method with my Dachshund, Mia. Like Purr said you take a bell (like a jingle bell) and tie it to the door using a piece of ribbon. Mia rings the bell to go potty but be careful it can be over used. Such as when Mia will see a cat or bird outback, she wants at it. You will learn the difference between a potty break and a wanna go play break.
I like the bell method because, If I'm in one end of the house and she has to go potty I hear her ring the bell. Like your Girl, Mia wouldn't bark or scratch to go out. She just thought If she sat by the door it would open. LOL, silly dog.

[axel_2078]

Yeah, Mocha's already learned to abuse the glass scratching. Now she does it more to go play outside than to go potty. Now when I hear her scratching at the glass, I just let her keep scratching. If she starts to whine or give a low growl, I know she really does need to go potty. I'll talk to the wife about the bell idea later and see what she thinks.

[LuvMyPups]

I have used the Bell Method and my parents use it for the three youngest pugs. They got a stainless steel cockatoo (sp?) bell and nailed it next to the door. When I did it I just hung it from the door....it works wonders. You just have to make them ring it everytime you are taking them out and give them a treat or praise then....be consistent with this. Good luck!!

[theGOOCH]

The bell works great until your dog starts ringing it every 5 minutes. We took ours down

[Steelmagnolia]

Originally Posted by theGOOCH

The bell works great until your dog starts ringing it every 5 minutes. We took ours down

Same here. It turned into a game with Abby. Now she just bumps the door knob with her nose. The bell was just too much fun, I guess.