So, Tillie has been doing really good with potty training and I decided to start teaching her to ring the bell. We started this morning... she is already ringing it to go out... every 10 minutes... LOL smarty pants. How long does this incessant bell ringing last!?? I let her out every time she rings so she knows that's what will happen when she rings it, BUT I am getting exhausted! LOL

That's one of the side effects of bell training ,and one of the reasons I'm not a fan. It can be fine once housetraining is solid. There is a current thread related to this http://www.havaneseforum.com/showthr...t=bell+ringing . Here is another article from Karen Pryor's site why this method may not be such a good idea at this stage especially. Based on my experience with the Yahoo Doghousebreaking Group ( http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/doghousebreaking ), these are indeed real problems. I must stress two things:

1. Your dog must be housetrained BEFORE teaching this behavior. Bell training is NOT an effective housetraining method for many reasons. It is only useful after your dog is housetrained.

2. If your dog is prone to offering "insignificant requests" then you will not be able to use this procedure. It is possible to teach a dog not to make insignificant requests, but it requires a more thorough understanding of the theory than I care to elaborate upon here.

I don't think that an owner not being present will cause any significant problems IF the dog is housetrained before bell training is undertaken. The owner being present becomes a stimulus condition, i.e the behavior will not be reinforced if the owner is not present and the behavior will be reinforced if the owner is present.

Regards,

Aidan

Housetraining article . Takes some work. But it works. http://www.dogstardaily.com/training...-housetraining If you are being successful, stick with it. There's no easy autopilot or escape from being being consistent and observant.

So, we started bell training about 5 days ago. Nothing. He just doesn't get it. In all fairness, I did not watch the DVD that came with it. I followed the printed instructions. Take his paw, ring the bell, say potty time, and rewarded his accomplishments. <Sigh> I guess I need to watch the DVD.

I'm so frustrated. We haven't had an accident free day in a long time. Just a few minutes ago he was standing near me and his "exit" looked a little large. I thought to myself, time to go outside. I set down what I was holding, turned around and he was gone. He ran down the stairs and left me a little present to find in the dark. I know it may not be logical but I think he understands I want him to go outside since I've profusely praised every effort he's made for the last 7 or so weeks. He sees that I get upset when he goes inside and I tell him no ('cause he runs to hide immediately). I know that he's a puppy and it will take time. Hopefully, the bell will work soon.

To be honest,like my post above says, he's not ready for bell training. But one rule ,is not to get upset with him when he makes the wrong choice. If you become upset with him ,he will learn to go and hide to do his business.

thanks for the reading material! I'll go read right now!
Tillie is doing really well in house training, and I'm not pushing the bell, just ringing it when we go outside to go potty, She hasn't had an accident in over a week!
I will read what you linked!
thanks!!

Yeah you can use it, just don't count on it.

Rikky has done well with the bell although he was almost completely housebroken before we introduced it. He went through a stage of ringing it anytime he wanted to go out for every little thing, but now that has subsided and he mostly rings it when he's got to go potty. He also uses it as a way to let us know our other dog or the cat is waiting by the door to come in. We take the bell with us when we travel to other places. He doesn't seem to have a problem using it wherever we stay. Of all the gadgets I've purchased since Rikky's arrival, the bell has been well worth it's cost. It has become a way of communication for Rikky.

OOOPS!!!!

I forgot to tell you about THAT phase... And yes, you do have to keep getting up, take a xanax...drink a glass of wine..but trust in the fact that they will eventually BORE and only use it when they want to pee/poop or play and it'll be cold soon, so the first two only hah

Ellie, you probably don't need to watch a video (I'm kinda shocked they sell bells with a video, now...I had to make mine from ribbon and bells at Michaels, because they weren't popular a few years ago.)
but you just have to put something or someone that he wants on the other side, you...a steak...a favorite toy, etc.. I would stand outside and coax her to ring to come to me and it only took a day or two, but if you arent' out there, or something he wants more, he will want to stay inside next to you

Kara

Hi Ellie-Our dog Chloe and Eli are about the same age. We are crate training her so she is confined to her crate (usually at night only) or her ex pen. She doesn't bark in her crate or ex pen any more unless she has to go outside to potty, or really wants to play. She gets a lot of outside time, a walk, rides in the car, and play time in the house *after* she has pottied outside so I'm pretty sure it's safe. And then I set the timer so I remember how long it's been! And she gets a lot of lap/cuddle time in the evening or as the kids are doing school work. She is not by any means neglected I know my children are disappointed that she can't run around the house with them, but they understand that we are training her now so that we can trust her later. It is getting easier by the week, and I really think she has settled into a routine with us. I am resigned to the fact that house training is a several month process, and in the end we will have a companion we can trust in the house, and to travel with us. Good luck! They are such wonderful puppies!