Teach Your Dog to Ring a Bell to Go Out

My wife, Robin, was taking a continuing education class. She hadn't been to school in years (and years). One day when she was listening to the teacher, the spirit moved and she raised her hand. "Robin," the teacher said, "I didn't ask a question."

Robin replied, "It's me who has a question -- or has raising a hand changed since I've last been to school?" It hadn't. So off she went to the ladies room.

Our dogs don't raise their paws when they have to go out. Krista Cantrell, a dog trainer based in Cave Creek, Arizona, has an even better idea: Teach your pup to ring a bell when it's time to do her business.

Cantrell says begin by choosing an appropriate size bell. A cowbell is too big for a Chihuahua, and a tinker bell is too small for a Great Dane. You'll eventually hang the bell from a door, so think about that in advance. Sadly, one of her clients hung a decorative brass bell at the door -- only inches from a glass panel. The dog rang the bell as she was trained to do, it hit the glass, which shattered, and freaked out the dog. The client then called Cantrell with a frightened dog and expensive bill to replace the glass. Luckily, the dog didn't cut herself on the glass.

"Begin by letting your dog out as you always do," explains Cantrell, author of Housetrain Your Dog Now (Plume Books). "Attach the bell to a string, and hold it up so the dog bumps into it as you take the dog out or as you let the dog out, and make sure you jingle the bell."

You do this first so your dog begins to connect going out with the sound of the bell. Cantrell says the next step is to place a smudge of peanut butter on the bell. Again, hold the bell so you can make sure it will ring. Block the door by holding the bell at your dog's nose level, so the only way the dog can get around you is to realize the peanut butter is on the bell. Of course, your dog will lick the peanut butter and likely ring the bell. When that happens, exaggerate the ring -- so it clearly rings and rings -- and with enthusiasm tell her "good dog, OK, go out!" You ring as she leaves the house to further reinforce the sound of the bell associated with the dog going out.

Once you think your dog is beginning to connect the bell with the process of going out, hang the bell at the doorknob (it should hang at your dog's nose level). Continue using peanut butter, and taking your dog to the bell when you know poochie has gotta go, such as first thing in the morning. You can stop the training when your dog initiates the bell ringing as if to say, "I've gotta go out." By golly, your dog understands.

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