To potty train a puppy using a bell, you will need a puppy who is older and has attained sufficient bladder and bowel control, considering that, with many very young puppies, by the time they realize they need to potty, they have already soiled the carpet. The main advantage of potty training a puppy to use a bell is that you’ll be able to hear the bell from a distance so that you can quickly escort your puppy outside. This works great for puppies who stand by the door but there is nobody to take notice because it teaches them to send a clear signal when Nature calls.
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How to Potty Train a Puppy Using a Bell
To potty train a puppy using a bell you will need a small bell that can be hung by the door low enough that it can be readily reached by the puppy. Hang it by the door that you are planning to use to take your dog outside. To help your puppy succeed, keep your puppy nearby the doorway when you know it’s close to the time your puppy usually needs to be taken out.
When your puppy is standing by the door, smear a bit of peanut butter on the bell so that your puppy will ring the bell in order to lick it off. When your puppy rings the bell, praise and immediately open the door to take the puppy outside. When your puppy successfully eliminates, praise calmly and deliver several small treats in a row.
Repeat this exercise several times every time your dog goes by the door for several days. When you take your puppy outside make sure to bring him right away by an area where he has eliminated in the past. Make it the official potty area.
If your puppy doesn’t eliminate, bring him back indoors otherwise your puppy will soon learn to ring the bell just to go outside and have fun. Take him out in another 10 minutes or so but watch him carefully in the meanwhile. If your puppy eliminates, praise and reward and go for a walk together or let him play or just sniff around.
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Raising Criteria
Once your puppy has learned to associate ringing the bell with you opening the door, stop placing peanut butter on the bell. Your puppy will likely still nudge the bell with his nose in hopes of getting a lick. The moment your puppy nudges the bell, praise and give a small treat and then head immediately together swiftly outside to the designated potty area.
Again, if your puppy successfully eliminates, praise and reward with several small treats in a row. If your puppy fails to eliminate, act boring and go back inside. Take your puppy out in another 10 minutes or so.
Once your puppy reliably nudges the bell, keep praising but stop giving the treat. Open the door and head to designated potty area. You now want to reserve the treats for only when your puppy successfully eliminates outdoors.
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