How to Train Your Dog to Ring a Bell to Go Out

Sometimes your dog wishes to go out, and is unable to let you know. Often, he sends you a signal with his body language that you did not recognize. Teaching him to ring a bell will help him communicate his need to be let outside.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• One or more bells from a craft store
• a length of string that is long enough to reach from the door knob to your dog's nose
• Or a desk bell like they have at motels
• clicker and treats

1. Teach your dog to target. Do this by extending your hand at his nose level. When he touches your hand with his nose or paw, click and toss a treat to him. Do this 20 times over three training sessions. Then say "touch", extend your hand, click and treat when he touches it.
2. After your dog is reliably touching your palm, when you give the cue, hold the bell in your palm and say "touch" Click and treat. Repeat this step for a few repetitions. If your dog is hesitant about touching the bell, smear something he likes to eat on the outside or smash a little cheese on the inside. This will make the bell appealing to him.
3. After your dog is consistently tapping the bell in your hand, set it on the floor. Say "touch", click and toss treat when he does so. If you are using the desktop type bell, you may now move it to the door and use the door opening and going out as a reward. Skip the next step and go on to step five. If you are hanging your bell by a string continue to the next step.
4. Hang the bell up a few inches from your dog's nose. Say "touch" click and toss a treat when she complies. Once your dog is responding to the word "touch" consistently, hang the bell on the doorknob. You may now use going outdoors as the reward for touching the bell.
5. Continue to walk your dog to the door every two or three hours, this will prevent house training accidents. Ask your dog to touch the bell before you open the door. Hang bells on other doors you may exit with your dog to go on walks or out to the car, etc. Ask her to ring the bell before she exits.
6. Once your dog always rings the bell on cue, you can begin to stand quietly and wait for him to ring the bell on his own before you exit with him. Wait up to 30 seconds before giving the cue. You might try staring at the bell to help prompt him. This will help him understand that he may ring the bell without being told to do so, and the door will be opened for him.
7. Once your dog has learned to ring the bell on his own, open the door to let him out.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient when training
• If a hanging bell is not working, try a bell that you can tap
• Pair this activity with food at first, then use going outside as a reward
• Lavish praise on him for learning this valuable communication
• Do not force your dog's face toward the bell or force him to paw it, his oppositional reflex will make him resist
• Do not yell at your dog while trying to train this cue (it does not help)
• Do not hold the bell too close to your dog's face if he is feeling uncomfortable, set it on the floor.