Ding Dong! Teaching Your Pup to Ring a Bell for Potty Breaks
Have you ever asked yourself what your dog is telling you when he dozes or whines near the door or begins to scratch at it? Just think if they could just drop the bell and suggest to you that they really need to go for a potty break.
Sounds amazing, right? Yes, it is and it can help you avoid those stains on the favorite rug through an accidental spillage. Well let’s get started and take a deep look on the more entertaining aspect of life, the bell training for dogs.
How Bell Training Works – Woof-Worthy Tips
Bell training is one of the simplest and efficient ways to ensure that your dog lets you know when it wants to go out. An example includes selection of the bell, acquainting the dog with the bell, teaching the dog that whenever the bell is rung they go out, practicing the ringing of the bell by the dog before heading out, and constant practice. The benefits are numerous: time for the message to pass, creating a firmer connection to your dog, your opportunity to decrease your dog’s dependence on you, and consistency to the bathroom breaks.
Tip: See to it that you are using treats and positive reinforcements so that the training process would not be distressing to your dog.
Bell Benefits for Pawsome Pups
- Clear Communication: They can freely communicate to you when they want to be taken out, thus, minimizing on so many confusion or accidents.
- Strengthened Bond: Ranked activities help to develop the interaction and consequently the relation with your dog through training sessions.
- Independence for Your Dog: Your pup is able to help yourself to potty when it feels ready and thus is trained on a schedule that works for them.
- Consistency: This bell ensures that the signal for potty breaks is constant mostly in cases that involve many people in a house.
Getting Started with Bell Training
Step 1: Choose the Right Bell
First of all, you must have a bell. No ordinary bell should be chosen; it should be one that the dog can knock with its snout or paw conveniently. There are also different types of bells in the pet stores whether it would be for the door handle or for the floor use if you have a small dog. Ensure that it is loud enough for you to hear, but at the same time not loud enough to scare your puppy.
Step 2: Introduce the Bell
Before starting the exercises try to let your dog familiarize itself with the bell. Let them look at it, let them smell it and then gently ring it. You want them to get the feeling of curiosity and not have any elements of fear. It is best to avoid confrontation with the individuals here and positive reinforcements like a few treats work best. Whenever your dog looks at the bell, say something positive to him.
Step 3: Associate the Bell with Going Outside
Now, is time to enjoy the process which is the key point of success. Every time you let your dog outside for a potty break ensure that you go as a signal is heard. Consistency is key. Ring a bell and then call their name accompanied by a cue such as ‘outside’ or ‘potty’ and then they are taken out. Your dog will start linking the sound of the bell to going out and be fairly eager to follow the bell.
Step 4: Encourage Your Dog to Ring the Bell
Just within few days of ringing the bell, it is now the turn of your dog to ring the bell. Position one of the treats near the bell, so the dog bumps it to get the treat. When they do, make a big deal over it by verbally praising them and then quickly take them outside. Continue the actions and responses until they are aware that the ringing of the bell means outside.
Step 5: Practice, Practice, Practice
Repetition and patience are really a good friend when it comes to this process. Repeat this process several time in a day and you will be amazed at what you will see your dog doing next, ringing the bell. What you should know is the fact that the roads are unpredictable, you may be involved in an accident and that is okay. Simply add more of the training as you dish out positive reinforcement..
Troubleshooting Doggy Dilemmas
Sometimes dogs may ring the bell when they are bored or to go out to have fun or to have a run. However, if this happens ensure that they are taken on a leash to the potty area with out disobeying. If they do not go, escort them back inside. This assists them in realizing that only when they have to pee, can they ring the bell.
Tip: If your dog backs away from the bell, or shows less enthusiasm for actually ringing the bell, try a different bell, or sound to entice them to run it. Some dogs may prefer one type or pitch over another, similarly, some dogs may like rougher textures.
A Final Bell of Encouragement
Teaching your dog to ring a bell, so he/she can go outside for the potty is quite easy and convenient. Besides, it helps your dog to find the way to convey the message to you and also consolidates your relationship with your dog. Also, it is quite cute, when your pet dog, for example, goes din and rings a bell to be let out.
Therefore, get a bell, some treats, and begin this enjoyable, productive training process. Your efforts and time will be rewarded and in no time you will be having a well-trained dog that will be politely asking to go out. I wish you all the best and a pleasant training period ahead.
