"Boys Down"

In this book I'm reading, "Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy your Multi-Dog Household" it talks about assigning your multiple dogs a group name. That way I can say "BOYS sit" or "BOYS wait" instead of "Basil wait Guinness wait". It's especially useful when you need both dogs to do something like "wait" before exiting a doorway.

First, each dog must know the command very well. In this case, it's "down". Now that they know the command. I just say "Boys down" and immediately they both went down, say "yes!" then give them a treat.



I did this several times and when I felt like they both understood they both had to go down in order to get the treat I rewarded them with a new toy to play with.



This is a double headed snake toy from Ellie Mae's mom. It's been a great toy because each dog can get one end of the toy. Basil who hogs toys can't hog both ends of this toy even though he'll try. Guinness gets an opportunity to play with one end while Basil hogs the other end and at least they are playing together and Basil can get used to the idea.

Smartest Dog Ever!

Basil is the smartest dog in the whole wide world! (At least in my eyes)

Today we were playing with his toy (that FBRN foster mom Joan gave him). He really loves this toy and it's the only thing that's held up in all these months. Every other toy (including his nylabones) we've been tossing out every so often.

I throw this toy and he fetches it and brings it back to me. We play tug of war and I throw it again and he retrieves it again. We went outside with it and did it outside. He got distracted and left it on the deck while he went to go sniff around in the yard. When it was time to go inside the house, I told him "Basil, go get your toy". He got it but then dropped it again before going into the house. I asked him again, "Basil, go get your toy and bring it inside". I think he knows the word "inside". He went back out, picked up his toy and brought it back inside and dropped it on the floor inside.

He's so smart!!! I LOVE HIM!!!!

New Words

I feel like one of those mom bloggers who record every new word their human rugrat learns that month. Basil has actually learned some new words.

"Treat" - You would be a fool not to learn this word. I don't encourage the use of this word just because I don't want him to go stir crazy every time he hears it, but I realized Keith has been using it every time he gives him a treat. Since I've been trying to teach him "Heel" or "Wait", it seems like "treat" works better to get him to stop and come back to me!

"Mommy" - The wonderful, the ever so patient trainer, the all nurturing, best tummy rubber, bottom wiping, tasty pear giving, face fold wiping, fish feeding, eye boogie cleaner, the goddess that is Anita.

"Daddy" - The guy who tries to make me catch a frisbe.

"Kisses" - We think he knows this. He does it when we say it.

"Toy" vs "Bone" - He knows the difference. Whichever word I use, that's the thing he brings me.

"Go for a ride?" - He loves car rides so he gets excited and goes right to the passenger side of the car. He's so smart!

"Go for a walk?" - Same with walk but he already knew "Walk".

"Wanna go pick up Mommy?" - Sometimes Keith picks me up from the train station in his car. He knows he's getting a ride out of the deal. How smart!

"Heats on!" - We're teaching him this now since he loves to lay next to the register when the heat kicks on.

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.

Like Father Like Son

Basil loves the car. He's so well behaved. He stays in the back and never jumps up front. Most of the time he just falls asleep immediately.


The back seats are a little awkward for him, so we got him a "car seat" to lay down in. He loves it. He got right into it and went to sleep. Here he is in my car. Tan interior, tan bed.


Typically, we take this red flannel blanket with us which he seems to have grown to love. Look at how sweet he is. Since we usually use this car, we're going to look into the car seats made for dogs which you latch a harness to.


He still won't go into the car himself. I have to pick him up and put him in. I tried enticing him with a biscuit. He seemed interested...


I tried to tell him to go into the floor first and then onto the seat, but that wasn't getting through to him. I sat on the other side to encourage him.


Looks like my treat wasn't enticing enough. Look at that face! Next time, we're going to use a more enticing treat and sit on the other side to get him in.

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.