Fur-baby Friday Dec 9
Happy TGIF from Dog-mama and my 3 fur-babies (Truly, Teal, & Tink)! Today I'd like to talk about potty training! Are you struggling to potty train your dog? Try bell training! It was key in training my dog Truly who used to find hiding places to go #2 when she was a puppy. Check out the following article from the American Kennel Club on how to train your dog to ring a bell to go potty!
Teaching Your Dog to Ring a Bell
It’s easy to lure your dog to ring a bell by using treats or to use a “touch.” But because we’re working on helping our dogs to communicate with us independently, not just to respond to a cue, the best way to do that is to show them how to use the bell/button. By demonstrating the skill over time, your dog will make the connection that ringing the bell is a way to ask to go outside and will start to mirror the behavior.
Step 1: Introduce the bell/button of your choice to your dog and allow your dog to inspect/explore it to make sure that it isn’t something your dog will be worried about. Treat and reward your dog for interest or engagement with the bell/button.
Step 2: Place the bell/button near the door that you use most frequently to take your dog out to potty. Each time you’re taking your dog out, press the button or ring the bell. The goal is that, via repetition, your dog will begin making the association between the bell ringing and being taken outside. The key to building this skill is consistency on your part using the bell/button each time you are taking your dog out.
Step 3: Dogs are always observing and learning from us. After watching you ring the bell before going outside, your dog will hopefully understand that the bell is associated with going outside. Keep this up until your dog begins to ring the bell without any signal from you. Any time your dog rings the bell, offer lots of praise and immediately take them outside.
Written by Dogmamaovcancer.londini
