How to Train a Puppy to Tell You When She Needs to Go Outside
There are some things about dogs that are hard enough to figure out and knowing when yours has to use the potty shouldn't be one of them. Knowing when your pooch has to go is easy when it can tell you, and teaching it to ring bells is a simple way to do so. Mastering this trick can take a while, but with patience and the proper techniques, it can be done.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Place a set of cluster bells on the doorknob of the door you use to take your dog outside. The bells should be at your dog's eye level.
-
2
Select a treat that your dog really enjoys. According to pet expert Kathy Santo, this should be a food item that your dog only receives on special occasions. This will entice it to learn the trick fast and to obey your commands.
-
-
3
Praise the dog and give it treats when it touches or sniffs the bell, says Dr. Kristie Leong of the pet website TheRealOwner.com. This will teach it that ringing the bell earns a special treat.
-
4
Give it a piece of the reward and let it see you throw a piece outside, once it has become familiar with ringing the bells. Close the door, then tell it, "Ring the bell. Go outside." Say "yes" when it does what you ask, then put the leash on and open the door, letting it eat the treat. This will teach your dog that the reward is on the other side of the door.
-
5
Move the food reward to the spot in which it eliminates, once you and your dog have mastered the previous step. When it rings the bell, let it outside to eat the treat and once it has successfully eliminated in the appropriate area, reward it with another piece of the treat. Eventually, only reward it for going potty in the form of praise.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The amount of time it takes to learn this tool depends on your dog and how much you practice.
Santo believes that using a special command such as "yes" is typically more effective than using a phrase it hears many times throughout the day, such as "good girl."
