Potty training not only requires your puppy to hold his bladder and bowels, it also requires that you recognize the signals that your puppy needs to go outside. Training your puppy to use a bell when he needs to go out can help prevent accidents and foster communication between you and your canine companion.
Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Nail
- Bell
- Training clicker
- Dog treats
- Leash
- Collar
Instructions
Attach a bell to the side of your door just below your puppy's eye level. This gives your puppy the option of either nosing the bell or pawing at it. Use a bell with a piece of ribbon or cloth attached to it and nail it into the door frame. The bell should be lightweight enough that your puppy does not have to exert much force to ring it.
Take your puppy outside at least every two hours. This decreases the likelihood of accidents. Every accident makes potty training more difficult, so its important to minimize their occurrence. Your puppy should also go outside after sleeping, eating, drinking or playing, before you leave for work, when you return home and before going to bed. If you notice your puppy sniffing around your house, you should also take him outside.
Take your puppy outside immediately if he has an accident. This helps your puppy develop an association between eliminating and going outside.
Ring the bell every time you take your puppy outside. Click the training clicker and give your dog a treat as you walk outside and after you ring the bell. This teaches your dog to associate two rewards -- going outside and getting a treat -- with ringing the bell. Continue repeating this procedure for a week. Every time your puppy eliminates outside, click the training clicker, give your dog a treat and praise him lavishly.
Encourage your puppy to ring the bell. Push his paw or nose to the bell, then click the training clicker, give him a treat and take him outside. Practice this procedure five to 10 times daily. You should only practice during times that your puppy likely needs to go out. The more frequently your puppy is rewarded for ringing the bell, the more likely he is to ring the bell to go outside.