Toilet training can be a frustrating time for everyone involved, requiring time and planning, understanding and patience.
But these days dogs and their families are discovering smart ways of making potty time a whole lot easier.
Little Susie, a nine-month-old Toy Poodle from Co Down has managed to get her bathroom needs sorted with the help of a bell.
Now any time she needs to tinkle OUTSIDE, she lets her mum Maureen know by tinkling the bell INSIDE and the door is opened for her.
Maureen is delighted with the success of the routine which didn’t take Susie long to master.
Maureen explained: “We got a floor bell when Susie was about four months old and every time she went out to the toilet, we rang the bell. She associated the bell sound with needing to get outside and she started to hit the bell herself with her paw when she wanted to go outside.
“I was thrilled when she started doing it herself and we’ve had no more accidents in the house since then.
“She is a clever little dog, and she learns fast. She loves to chew and always sets the chew in my hand so I can hold it for her and I think she learned that from Katie, her older sister who is also a Toy Poodle.
“Her hobbies include eating anything she can steal, doing zoomies on the beach and watching TV. She tends to bark at dogs and horses on TV and her favourite programme of course is All Creatures Great And Small.
“The floor bell by the door has been a success for Susie. If I don’t get to the door to let her out when she wants out,she keeps ringing the bell. It’s meant as a training tool for dogs, but I suspect she thinks she has been training me. Either way, we’re both happy and the house is accident free.”
There are plenty of ‘potty bells’ on the market from the one Susie uses which sits on the floor, to others which hang on a ribbon by the door - and many owners make their own versions too.
Teaching your dog to use a shop bought or homemade potty bell is straightforward and experts say it should take about two weeks to complete successful training - but as with all dogs, individuals will vary.
Here’s how :
- Purchase a floor bell or buy a bell and ribbon for a homemade version. The louder the better, try for a cowbell or sleigh bell rather than a little kitty collar bell. Use a ribbon to hang the bell from with the bell falling at or just below the level of your dog’s nose. Alternatively a floor bell should be set by the door that leads to your dog’s outdoor space.
- When it’s time to go outside, gently swing the bell so that it taps your dog’s muzzle or tap the floor bell.
- Immediately praise the dog and open the door. Repeat these steps every time your dog goes outside for seven days.
- On day eight, gently move the bell so that it stops swaying just in front of your dog’s nose. If your dog extends her muzzle to touch the bell, you are ready to proceed. If not, repeat the early steps for another day or two and then try again.
- Gradually assist your dog less and less when it’s time to ring the bell.
- By day 14 , you should be able to stand at the door and wait for your dog to ring the bell themselves.
Helpful Tips
Throughout the process, should your dog ring the bell when you’re not standing right near her, it’s important that you praise her and open the door for her even if you think she does not actually need the loo. The bell’s tone should always mean that the door is about to open.
Make sure the door never opens unless the bell rings first no matter who’s about to leave - because the key success is consistency.
It usually doesn’t take very long for a dog to form a strong association between the sound of the bell and the opening of the door. Once that association has successfully formed, most dogs become expert bell-ringers.
And remember that the learning process is better when the student is having a good time so be generous with the verbal praise when the dog rings the bell, even if only by accident.
