Question:
Recently I posted a message about my not quite housetrained Border terrier and received several responses advising me to, among other things, put a bell up near the door he goes out and have him ring it every time he goes out to relieve himself. The idea was that he would eventually learn to ring the bell himself, thereby letting us know when he needed to go. This struck me as a good plan. and I have bought a small bell, mounted it at nose level, and help him ring it before each walk. Now I’m realizing this bell isn’t all that loud and wonder if I’d hear it if the dog is downstairs and I’m upstairs. Do anyone who has used this method have any tips on what kind of bell is good, where exactly to put it up, and how to show the dog how to ring it? I don’t want to confuse my dog by using the wrong method, so thought I’d check now. By the way, the dog managed to go 15 days without a mistake, but then had a few accidents while I was out of town on a trip and other family members took over his walking. Now that I’m back, he’s being good again (3 days and counting). I want to thank everyone for their good advice on this matter (the dog is 19 months and not totally reliable yet, but definitely better.) Lisa
Response:
* *This struck me as a good plan. and I have bought a small bell, mounted it *at nose level, and help him ring it before each walk. Now I’m realizing *this bell isn’t all that loud and wonder if I’d hear it if the dog is *downstairs and I’m upstairs. Do anyone who has used this method have any *tips on what kind of bell is good, where exactly to put it up, and how to *show the dog how to ring it? I don’t want to confuse my dog by using the *wrong method, so thought I’d check now. Lisa, We have had great success in doing this. We bought a cow bell (the sort of rectangular one with a clapper hanging down) and hung it from a ribbon on the doorknob. We taught dog #1 to ring it by catching her when she was already sort of hanging by the door (or making some other sort of "I want to go out" sign), guiding her nose to the bell and making her ring it, and then giving her lots of praise and letting her out. We only had to show her twice, and that was it! She rings the bell now *whenever* she wants to go out for anything (potty, to investigate a noise, etc..) We couldn’t do that with Dog #2 because she is very skittish, (she was a rescue) and even now, years later, she flinches if you reach for her head. However Dog #3 picked it up on his own from Dog #1 very quickly, and now he too rings the bell whenever he wants to go out. [Note: remove the "NOSPAM" contained within my address when replying.] — I am: mom, attorney, fathers’ rights advocate Free: 10 Tips for Navigating the Family Law System http://www.parentinglaw.com Actually, I’m a lawyer -and- I play one on tv.
Response:
Lisa, You could mount an additional button for your front door bell on the inside of the door jamb at a height that your dog can tap it with his nose or paw. — Garrison St.Clair LTC, USA (Ret.) "The acquisition of a flak vest only serves to increase the desire for flak briefs." x-no-archive:yes
Response:
I like sleigh bells. Loud but very pretty. — Michelle, Cassie the Lab (aka LittleOne) and JakeyBuddy the GSDx
Response:
> By the way, the dog managed to go 15 days without a mistake, but then had > a few accidents while I was out of town on a trip and other family members > took over his walking. Now that I’m back, he’s being good again (3 days > and counting). I want to thank everyone for their good advice on this > matter (the dog is 19 months and not totally reliable yet, but definitely > better.)
How about a wind chime? The chime itself could be hung up high and the paddle made low enough for the dog to reach. I’ve seen some very pretty ones that sound like church carillon and are nice enough to keep inside. A wrought iron lantern hanger (or something similar) would hold it up adequately. Gman
Response:
horked up this load of tripe: >Lisa, >You could mount an additional button for your front door bell on the >inside of the door jamb at a height that your dog can tap it with his >nose or paw. >–
I might be coming to this thread late, so I don’t know if this has been mentioned, but I just saw something like that at the pet store last week. I don’t know the manufacturer, but it was a metal plate about 6 inches square that you mount by the door. When the dog presses against it, an alarm of some sort goes off. FP ***** "Racing is like trying to do calculus in your head while using a Stairmaster in a sauna, and if you make a mistake, someone hits you over the head with a sledgehammer and takes $500,000 out of your wallet." –Arthur Johnstone Racing Guy *****
Response:
It sounds like the family members who were SUPPOSED to walk him were NOT "GOOD", not your dog. Sounds like you are doing a great job. Virginia Elliott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> By the way, the dog managed to go 15 days without a mistake, but then had > a few accidents while I was out of town on a trip and other family members > took over his walking. Now that I’m back, he’s being good again (3 days
Response:
Virginia, I think you’re right about the other family members not being sufficiently attentive to when the dog needs to go out–you have a good point about them not being GOOD, not the dog. That’s one of the reasons why I want to train the dog to make some recognizable signal that lets people know when he needs to go. Thanks for your nice words, Lisa
Response:
Re: Bells If you already have an outside door bell on the outside the wires come into the house to ring, wire in another button to that one and place it low enough so he can reach it. Or alot of the home improvement catalogs have small battery operated door bells that require you just putting a few screws in for it to be operational. Those should, will be loud enough for you to hear up and downstairs.. Good Luck! k-
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