by Christine Cameron

Created on: January 26, 2008

Bell Training For Dogs

The training process for puppies and new adoptions should start the minute you pull up in your driveway. Even if your new pup is housebroken, it needs to learn immediately where to do it's "business". The car ride and meeting all the new people should be enough excitement for any pup to have to relieve itself.

For pups in all stages of training follow and repeat these steps:

1.) BEFORE you go in the "new" house for the first time, take the dog to the area you would like it to go potty. Stand up, and Stay Standing. Say "go potty" or whatever command you chose, in a firm voice looking directly at the dog (whether the dog is looking at you or not).

2.) Now look away from the dog and make no more eye contact - this is especially important with young pups (they have no idea what you mean). Give it a minute or so, hopefully the pup will start sniffing around and nature will take its course. Make sure to peek at the pup the whole time so that Right when the pup goes potty you can have a huge celebration (with affection, no treats!)

3.) Give the process a few minutes, don't try to outwait your dog. Go inside QUIETLY! Say nothing to the pup, no bad, no good, total indifference while you remove your coat, the leash, etc. Then greet the dog like it never happened. Set an oven timer for 20 minutes. Watch Closely for signs that the pup has to go outside; circling, incessant whining, lack of interest in toys, wandering off while whining.

4.) When the timer goes off (if your pup can wait that long), go through your usual process of shoes/coat without exciting the pup. Leash up the pup, RING THE BELL, open the door, and repeat the steps above.

When an accident happens, and it will happen: DO NOT pick up the dog and take it outside - if the pup is still urinating, it is most likely out of fear. The urge to go potty is very short in puppies, they go very little- all the time! Until their bladder gets trained to "hold it", they don't know they can. So, instead of punishing the puppy, get Very angry at the spot the puppy left behind- while you are cleaning it up you can actually make growling noises so the puppy understands that what happened there was bad.

During the training process, keep the bell quiet when opening the door for normal use. This way the new puppy understands that when HE/SHE rings the bell it is to go outside for "business". Puppies and new adoption dogs are very eager to please their new family, but absolute consistency is key!
Most pups can pick this up in a day or two.

Learn more about this author, Christine Cameron.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.