Doorbell
By JennyLeah
@JennyLeah (190)
United States
March 11, 2007 1:25pm CST
My partner and I had read all over the place over the last several years about how easy it is to get a dog to ring bells hung on the door when they want to go out. How it makes the translation of dog-speak to people-speak easier, and all that.
Well, it wasn't exactly a convenient trick to teach our Whippet when we were living in a condo, so we just set the idea on the back burner for a while and promptly forgot about it.
A couple months ago, though, we got a new chocolate lab puppy. We were having trouble learning his potty signals, and we're all living in a house that's considerably largerr than our old condo was, so when we read about it again, we decided to try it.
We ordered a set of colorful Christmas jingle bells (with jingler still intact) off Ebay and they arrived about a week ago. We hung them right up on the door and proceeded training both dogs to ring them any and every time we've let them outside.
Within a couple days, Java (the puppy), was figuring it out. He'd ring them by either nudging them with his nose or jumping up and hitting them with his paw about half the time. Wizzy was being stubborn and so we started letting them out separately so we could encourage her to do the same. Whippets are stubborn, once they get set in their ways, after all.
A week later, Java is ringing them on his own about 80% of the time. Wizzy is improving by leaps and bounds too, and rang them all by herself (without having them pointed out to her or anything) for the first time this afternoon.
Right now, they're still training and we just make sure the bells ring before the door opens. So even if we're letting them out, we make sure they ring the bells, or we guide their paw to the bells to ring them. But with how quickly they've picked this up, I can see it's only going to be a matter of time before they don't need us at all to tell them it's time to go out and are ringing the bells entirely on their own for us to hear from across the house!
And it's been so easy! We thought, before, all the reading we'd done on websites and such, that it couldn't possibly have been as simple as they were making it sound. But it's even easier! I'm so excited! :D
3 people like this
5 responses
@jbrowsin66 (1321)
• United States
11 Mar 07
You might want to put something protective on your door though to protect it from claw marks. Our dog figured out we kept the doggie treats in the pantry and he scratched the wallpaper off next to the door.
2 people like this
@JennyLeah (190)
• United States
12 Mar 07
That's a good tip, and we'll have to keep it in mind. Thanks! :D
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I had not heard of this but then my daughter came home from her boyfriend's house and told us their dog rings a bell to be let out. He's old and quiet and they found they were missing his signals about needing to go outside. They suspended a bell under the counter next to their patio door and he walks over and "rings it" with his nose... often repeatedly LOL until someone lets him out. I think this is just so cool and I'm glad you're able to have your dogs signal you, JennyLeah. Our old boy had to be put down a year ago and we haven't had it in our hearts to get a new dog yet... but I'll have to remember to try this out when we do :)
2 people like this
@JennyLeah (190)
• United States
12 Mar 07
We're not quite at the point where they're signaling us yet, but hopefully soon! :)
My condolences to you for the loss of your dog, though. It's never an easy thing to lose a pet. They're such a constant part of our homes and hearts - really, sometimes closer to us than other members of our family. He'll always be in your hearts, I'm sure, no matter which new dog comes along and makes himself cozy there too.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
18 Jul 07
It's a great way to train your dog to go outside! The only thing I can tell you to be careful about is to differentiate the "potty" time outside, and the "playing" time outside. My dog thought that every time he rang the bell, he got to go outside to play! LOL So, I had to train him that ringing the bell is ONLY for potty time, and that I pick when we go outside to play. Good luck, and it sounds like before you know it, your dogs will be "talking" to you and telling you when they need to go out!!!
@butterflydawn (297)
• Canada
15 Apr 07
Wow, what an amazing idea. Glad to hear it's working especially with your whippet. lol Yes they can certainly be stubborn when they want to. Thankfully my whippet will usually bark when she wants to go out and come in...well at least most of the time. Now if I could just get my Sheltie to do the same. She barks at other things, but not to go out. lol
1 person likes this
@JennyLeah (190)
• United States
11 Mar 07
I would absolutely recommend giving it a try. It's probably easier on your dog, too, because at least he wouldn't have to just sit there and wait for someone to realize he's at the door.
1 person likes this
