[inge]

Although my puppy hasn't even been born yet ( any day now!!!), I started looking into several 'things', like: belltraining. What kind of bells have you used? I've seen the hanging bells, but also a bell that you can put on the ground (called: the TellBell). I've got the impression that most people on the forum use(d) the hanging bells, but I may be mistaken. Any advice?

 

[Angel_Kody]

I just received the "TellBell" as a prize in a photo contest!

My golden is 3 already and was taught to bark at the door once when he wants to go out or come in. Just to see what he would do...I put one of the TellBells down on the floor the other day and he picked it up and ran away with it! :doh:

Good luck with your new pup!

 

[BaileyBo]

I use a hanging bell for Bailey. It is tied to the door knob on our back door. She has used it since she was very little. However, when she rings it, it doesn't always mean that she needs to go potty. Usually it means she wants to go play outside or she would like a snack lol.

 

[GoldenGal]

I use a hanging bell, but have it hung next to the door as opposed to on the door. I didn't want to hear the constant ring as my kids constantly go in and out of the door.

 

[inge]

'he picked it up and ran away with it!' :I would never have thought of that...talking about being "green" to puppies! Oh, well, I'll get the hang of it.

'hung next to the door as opposed to on the door' : that seems a good idea!

'Usually it means she wants to go play outside or she would like a snack lol.' talk about smart dogs...!

 

[lillysmum]

Hi lilly has been trained to ring hanging bells there on the backdoors she will ring to go out and come back in..it's great you won't regret teaching your pup todo this..and they love it too!!

 

[Luci]

We have a set of hanging bells for Lucy... she hasn't figured them out yet, but she will!

 

[amy22]

All of my dogs have always used a hanging bell. It works GREAT!!

 

[pokey]

I had a bell set that was on a leather belt with a loop for the doorknob; this worked great for Piper and she still uses them at the age of 6. Bailey just didn't seem to get it; he just sits at the door and waits for someone else to ring it. I just switch to the poochie bells and he started ringing those right away. I have no idea what he didn't like about the other bells, but I am glad I switched. Now, Piper will not ring the new bells so I might have to put hers back out!!

Some local stores carry the poochie bells or you can order online with a hundred different patterns to match your decor!!

http://www.poochie-pets.net/index.html

 

[inge]

Thanks! Yes, I saw the poochie bells at my pet store yesterday and they sound and look very nice! After reading Angel Kody's reply about the TellBell, I decided to go with the hanging kind.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Wow! Bell training, huh? I hadn't heard of that before...how do you teach your dog to ring them when he/she wants to go out? That would be mighty handy!

 

[GoldenGal]

Wow! Bell training, huh? I hadn't heard of that before...how do you teach your dog to ring them when he/she wants to go out? That would be mighty handy!

You tap the bell with their nose or paw, and then open the door right away and say "outside" (or whatever you say when you take the pup out) and also treat them. After they start tapping the bell on their own, which for me was about a week and a half (so hang in there!), you can stop treating them.

I never imagined it would work, but it did for me. I had a dog who wouldn't "tell" me when she had to go out, so I was so grateful that this worked!

 

[Shadowboxer]

That sounds amazing and we'll start tonight after a quick stop to find some bells! Thanks!

 

[Coopers Daddy]

How do you train a dog to use the bell? Cooper has started having accidents because he wont tell anyone when he needs to go out. My family that lives here is complety dense and dosent get it when he stares at them and heads for the door. and it has led to accidents.

When i am around he comes to me, but when im NOT around. Problems start.

 

[pokey]

GoldenGal mentioned above how it basically works. the Poochie Bells come with detailed instructions which can also be found here:
http://www.poochie-pets.net/Training.html

It is quite easy and the dogs adapt well. Of course, you will have some dogs that ring just for the heck of it. My older dog rings when she sees friends out the front window; if we don't respond soon enough to suit her, she slams the bells several times until we get annoyed and let her out!!!

 

[Coopers Daddy]

Ill so have to try that! One more question Cooper cant actually get to the back door when we are in the basement. Will it work to teach him to ring two different bells depending on where he is?

 

[pokey]

We just use one set of bells but we can here it from anywhere in the house; at least with the older dog, the puppy still has a quite ring!

I would start with one set and then add the second after you know Cooper really understands that ringing the bell means time to go out and potty.

 

[Goldenmomma]

I tried hanging a cat's ball with a bell inside on the door. She never got the hang of it, but my nurse's golden got it quickly and my daughter's boxer still uses the bell. My goldens just sit at the top of the steps and look at me. If I don't see them, then they come stand in front of me.

 

[Goldenmomma]

My husband said remember to buy a Green Machine for your new puppy. We're on our second golden and second machine. I think the hair got to the first one. I won't live without one.

 

[Willow52]

Bells, sounds like a great idea. Hank scratches at our wood sliding door to go out. I thought bells would take keep him from ruining the finish. Ordered Poochie-Bells, they arrived, I read the training instructions, hung them on the door. Now...how do I keep Hank from playing with them in between needing to go out? He thinks they are great fun :doh:. I don't want to tell him "no" since I do want him to ring them but only when he wants out.