How to Potty Train a Puppy to Ring a Bell

Potty training a puppy can be a great challenge and very overwhelming. There are a lot of different methods people use for potty training, but this article will show you a unique way to train your puppy to ring a bell to go outside.

Things You'll Need

• A string of bells
• Lots of patience!

Instructions

1. Get yourself a string of bells (Christmas bells, etc.) and hang them from the doorknob of the door you want the puppy to use. Every 20 minutes bring the puppy to that door and lifting his paw to the bells, ring the bells and repeat "outside"; "outside".

2. Once your puppy is outside and goes potty, show excitement towards your puppy and praise him or her ("good boy" or "good girl") and bring the puppy back in immediately. This way the puppy knows that this is the reason he or she is outside. If your puppy hasn't gone potty after a few minutes, bring the puppy back inside. Repeat this procedure in 20 minutes, especially if you see your puppy pacing or circling around sniffing.

3. During the day, if you are not home, it is best to leave the puppy in a crate. If the crate can be made smaller with a divider, make it as small of a space as you can leaving just enough room for the puppy so it doesn't have the entire crate to lay on one side and go potty on the other. When you come home, take the puppy by the door, ring the bells as stated above, and take the puppy outside.

4. Soon, when you least expect it, you will hear those bells ringing and see your puppy by the door. It is a very rewarding feeling.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the bells are long enough to reach your puppy.

• It also helps a lot if other family members are consistent with the training and everyone is using the same approach.

• While you are outside with the puppy, use terms like "go potty" over and over.

• Never punish the puppy by placing it in the crate. The crate is their "safe haven" and a place you want them to feel comfortable. Using the crate as a punishment, will only keep the puppy from wanting to go in it.