How to Train Your Dog to Communicate When She Has to Potty

Although they can't speak as humans do, in fact dogs are able to communicate. This How-To will explain how you can train your dog to communicate that he/she has to potty, so that indoor accidents are prevented.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2-3" hook to screw into drywall
• a bell that will hang from the hook
• consistent repetition
• patience

1. Determine which door to the outside you and your pet use most when "going potty". Next, you will install a hook to hang a bell from, which will hand directly next to this door. Once the bell is hung, only enter and exit through this door when taking your dog outside to potty, or release.

2. 

   Install the hook on a wall immediately next to the door. The hook should be hung/screwed in low enough to the floor that your dog will be able to reach it.
   NOTE: The bell should not be higher than your dog's head, otherwise she will need to jump to reach it. This may result in scratched walls!

3. 

   Hang the bell from the hook. If bell is in danger of being knocked from hook when ringing it, then affix the bell by tying it to the hook with nylon string (the nylon will prevent fraying).

4. With every trip you take with your dog outside to potty, ring the bell before crossing the door frame. It is important that the dog hear the bell's tone prior to exiting the home to potty. After you ring the bell, immediately open the door and let your dog out.
   DO NOT RING BELL UPON RETURNING INDOORS!

5. If you ring the bell **only** for trips to potty, then your dog will eventually be conditioned to associate the bell's sound with her urge to release. Once the association has been made, your dog will ring the bell herself (as long as she can reach the bell) whenever she needs to release.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not ring the bell prior to outdoor play time, or your pet will begin associating "play" with the bell's tone. This means, the dog will ring the bell when simply wanting to play.
• If you find that your dog isn't releasing upon going outside (after ringing the bell), immediately return inside with your dog. By immediately returning indoors, you are correcting the association between the bell's tone and your dog being outdoors without going potty.
• To ensure correct training/conditioning, ensure that you follow the EXACT process each time you take your dog outside to potty. For example, always ring the bell prior to opening the door; rather than opening the door and then ringing the bell.
• Notify your pet's vet that you will be training the dog as such, and ask the vet if he/she has any additional guidance that is specific to your pet's needs.

[blaquetweety64]

on 11/24/2008 How interesting! That would be a fun thing to try! My baby sit's infront of the door and she bark's. If I don't come, she will come to where I am, and growl, than bark and run out of the room. If I don't follow. She will do it again, but this time the growl is more urgent. 5*

[StarrySkye]

on 11/9/2008 These are great tips! Only two of my four dogs understand the concept of letting me know. Thanks for posting!

[amberdawn]

on 11/8/2008 Wow, very clever! 5*