Potty Bell Success

We've successfully trained Basil to ring the potty bell when he wants to go potty. By day 6 and 7, he was fully ringing it each and every time he had to go potty. We are so proud. We encourage everyone to try this!

Day 4:

Basil rang the bell today all on his own! We were so excited that we were jumping up for joy!

We were both sitting on the sofa. After we fed him his dinner, we saw him walk over to the bell and nudge it. I let him out, he went potty, and he got his treat.

That was amazing!

Day 3: Potty Bell continued

Basil rang the bell all on his own today! It was jingling away which means he was probably licking the bell. Keith took a peak at him. Basil gave Keith an "arf" (that's a first!) and with lots of praise, he let him outside. We were so proud! He went potty and then gave him a treat.

Later in the evening, he went up to the bell and sniffed it, nudging it back and forth a bit. We waited to see if it was with intention rather than jumping up and asking him to ring it. He stepped back and looked at us which usually means he wants to go. We asked him "outside?". Got him close to the bell to nudge it again to reinforce the idea as we cheered and praised him. Then immediately let him outside while saying "Outside, good boy, ringing the bell". This time he did #2 and got a special treat.

We're trying to reinforce the idea now and to get him to associate that bell = potty. To do that, we mention "bell" while he goes potty. Also, no dawdling. If he doesn't go within 10 minutes, he comes back inside. We think this bell is too heavy so we're going to get a new one. Also, we wait for him to send us a signal as oppose to asking him if he wants to go out.

Basil rang the bell!!!!

He just rang the bell!

We just went for a long car ride where he took a nap and I knew he would have to go when we came home. I asked, Do you want to go outside? He gestured towards the door. We walked up to the door. I said, Ring the bell. And he went up to it and nudged it with his nose! It was really light, but it was definitely with intention!

I am so proud. That was definitely worth the patience and time spent. We just need to keep at it now. As we keep going, he'll begin to associate it with potty.

Potty Bell continued...

Today, Basil nudged the bell with his nose!!! We've been consistently taking his paw and tapping the bell when he goes out. He was sniffing around and nudged it today! He still doesn't grasp the idea of course since it's only been a day.


He seems to be startled by the sound too, so I smeared some cream cheese onto the bell. He began licking and ringing, licking and ringing and I gave him lots of praise for it. I think he's finally not afraid of it now.

After that, throughout the day when he wanted to go out, I would get a treat and get him close to the bell until he nudged it.

New Trick: Ring the Bell

I'm attempting to teach Basil a new trick. Friends of ours have taught their dog to ring a little Christmas bell hung from a door knob to signal when he wants to go out (instead of scratching at the door or whining). Basil has been really good, but we have a hard time telling if he needs to go or if he's just sniffing around the place. He's a smart dog so I hope he can learn this.

I started by hanging the bell and letting him get used to seeing it and hearing the sound when we "go outside".

Then whenever we take him outside, we take his paw and smack the bell with his paw and say "Ring the bell ring the bell".

He seems to be afraid of the bell right now, but we heard that's normal. Next, we'll try teaching him to ring the bell himself and give him treats. I hope this works.

Keeping my paw crossed.

Read How to Train your dog to ring a bell here on eHow.