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If you’re working on potty training your dog, then bell training can be a real lifesaver. Teaching a puppy or adult dog to ring a bell when they have to do their business is relatively simple and very convenient. In teaching your dog to ring to let you know when she needs to go outside, you can eliminate accidents or the dreaded silent potty stare.
So, how does it work? Some people swear that all you have to do is hang a bell from the door and ring it every time you take your dog outside until they eventually start ringing it themselves. However, we recommend training your dog with this three-step process:
- Train your dog to touch the bell with their nose
- Train your dog to ring the bell at the door(s)
- Train your dog when to ring the bell (you want her to ring it when she needs to pee or poop, not all the time!)
1) Bell training starts with touch training
Bells for potty training can be made at home using simple craft shop supplies, but you can also purchase a specially-made bell like the Clix version or one of these.
Once you’ve chosen your bell, you’re ready to start! Be sure to have plenty of small, soft treats on hand. If you do clicker training, you’ll want to have your clicker handy, too.
Start by introducing your dog to the bell:
- Say the command “touch” and show your dog the bell, holding it a couple of inches away from her nose. Most dogs will immediately move towards the bell to sniff it (but you can always rub a tiny bit of a treat on the bell to make it more appealing).
- As soon as your dog’s nose hits the bell, click your clicker or say “yes!” and give her a treat right away. The clicker or “yes” serves as a marker to tell the dog she’s done the right thing, and the treat is her reward. Repeat these first two steps 10-15 times, or until your dog is reliably touching the bell every time you say “touch.”
- Next, start moving the bells a bit further away from your dog, or off to the side, each time you cue her to “touch” them. You’re gradually increasing the distance and duration of your dog’s response to the “touch” command.
Dog training works best in short, consistent bursts, so try this “touch” exercise daily, in 10-15 minute sessions. Here’s an example:
Within a week of practicing, you should be ready to move on to the next step!
This step will take your dog from touching the bell to ringing it next to the door. To start, hang your the bells from the doorknob of the door you most often use to take your pet outside. You can also hang or mount the bell next to the doorframe, as seen in the video below.
The puppy in this video is ringing an electronic doggy doorbell, a fine option for dogs who don’t like jingling sounds. Whatever kind you’re using, it should be placed at nose or paw level for your dog.
Next, with treats in hand, call your dog over and resume training:
- With the bell hanging from the doorknob or hook, take it in your hand and say “touch,” holding it out toward your dog as close as the string or hanger will allow.
- As soon as your dog touches the bell with her nose, click or say “yes!” and give her a treat as a reward.
- Repeat this step until your dog touches the bell right away when you say “touch.” Some dogs won’t need much time at all, as they’ve already mastered the art of touching the bell!
2) Ringing the dog’s potty training bell by the door
After a while, repeat the same steps as above, but instead of holding the bell in your hand, let it hang. This time, you’ll simply direct your dog towards the bell by pointing:
- Say “touch” and point at the bell
- As soon as your dog touches the bell with her nose, click or say “yes!” and give her a treat as a reward.
- Repeat 5-10 times during a training session.
You’ll probably want to practice this part of the potty training process once or twice a day for three to five days, or until your dog reliably touches the bell every time you point at it and say “touch.” Once she’s ringing the bell next to the door, it’s time to move on to the third part of the process!
3: Bells to go outside (and not to do anything else!)
Now that your dog can expertly ring a bell on command, it’s time to help her understand that she can ring the bell herself whenever she wants to go out. But you also need to show her that the only time to ring the bell is when she has to pee or poop; you don’t want her ringing it nonstop!
To train your dog when to ring the bell, follow these steps every time you go to take your dog outside for a potty break:
- As you approach the door with your dog, say “touch,” and point to the bell.
- As soon as your dog touches the bell with her nose, click or say “yes!” and give her a treat reward then open the door.
- Do this every single time you take your dog outside. Remember, dog training is all about consistency!
With enough repetition, your dog will learn that in order to go outside, she has to touch the bell.
The first time your dog rings the bell on her own, throw a party: praise her enthusiastically, give her a treat, and take out outside straight away. Then, as soon as she does her business, give her another treat. This will help make the connection between ringing the bell, going outside, and peeing or pooping in the appropriate place.
Potty training bells are for all dogs
Bell training dogs is fun and straightforward, and it’s not limited to certain types of dog. Pooches of all sizes, ages and types can master the doggy doorbell in a few weeks of consistent training. Just look at this adorable compilation of dogs of all types ringing bells:
Bell training is a great way to potty train your pup, plus it’s a cute trick! And if you have any concerns about your pet’s toilet habits, check with your vet. You know your dog best.
Your clever pup deserves the best care so if for whatever reason you can’t take them somewhere with you and you’re worried about leaving them home alone Rover.com has lots of fantastic dog sitters across the UK who offer dog boarding.
Further Reading
We’ve got recommendations for all the accessories you need for successfully training your new puppy or rescue. Have a look at the articles below and find the best options for your dog.
