How to Get Your Dog to Communicate When It Needs to Go to the Bathroom

As part of a dog's potty training, you can teach it to give you a signal when it needs to go outside and go to the bathroom. With the use of a specific audible signal, such as a bell, your dog can get your attention to go outside when it needs to. This prevents it from waiting in front of the door, pacing or barking, signs that you might not become aware of before an accident occurs. By teaching your dog to alert you when it needs to go out and eliminate, you can avoid these accidents.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Dog clicker
  • Dog treats
  • Sleigh bells
  • String
  • Rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Teach your dog the "potty" command. Take the dog out at the same times each day using one door in your home. Walk it on a leash to a designated spot close to the door outside, say "potty" and wait for the dog to eliminate. If it does, click and treat it, then allow it a few minutes of exercise as a reward. Repeat this procedure each time you take the dog outside to eliminate.

    • 2

      Tie a group of sleigh bells, found in craft stores, together with string and suspend them from a thick rope that you can attach to your door knob.

    • 3

      Rub some dog treats on the bells and hold them a few inches from your dog's nose. Say "touch," and if the dog touches the bells with its nose, immediately click the dog clicker and give the dog a treat. Continue to give the "touch" command, followed by a click and treat if the dog performs the correct action. Repeat this exercise over three to five days, moving the bells farther from your dog's nose each time and giving the dog the "touch" command.

    • 4

      Hang the bells from the knob of the door you use to walk your dog outside to potty. Hold the bells out and command the dog to touch them. Once it performs the correct action, click and treat it. Repeat this 10 to 15 times. Allow the bells to hang freely and command the dog to touch them. Again, click and treat for a positive response.

    • 5

      Take your dog up to the door before a potty break and command it to touch the bells. If it performs correctly, click and treat it. Take it out on a leash to the spot you use regularly for elimination, say "potty" and wait three to five minutes for the dog to go. Click and treat to reward the dog if it eliminates; otherwise, return to the house. Wait 10 minutes, keeping the dog on a leash to ensure it does not go potty in the home, then repeat the procedure to take your dog out.