Has anyone trained their dog to let you know when it needs to go outside to go potty?

Question

My puppy has learned to sit by the door when she needs to go outside. But if I'm in another part of the house and don't see her she has an accident on the rug by the door.

Answer 1

We have a bell on the door that the dogs ring when they want to go out.
Make sure it hangs down far enough so she can reach it.
Show her how to ring it, she may be scared of it at first, but she'll get used to it. Make sure you ring it whenever she goes out, so she starts associating the ringing with going out. Soon she will be ringing it herself to let you know she wants out.

Answer 2

What we did was put a bell on the door handle, where the puppy could easily reach it. Every time we let our puppies out we would make sure to ring the bell first, to let the puppy associate the bell ringing with the door opening-- so the puppy reasons, if i make the bell do a sound, the door will open. Even if she does have an accidently in the house, take her to the door, ring the bell FIRST and then open it! She will catch on sooner or later =) In ther mean time, be patient, as time passes she will be able to hold her bowels longer and longer.

Answer 3

We trained out dog to ring the bell! Hang a cow bell from a string to the door knob, low enough that the pup can reach it with its nose. (always use the same door for going out) At first the pup will have no idea what you are doing, but when you see him/her waiting at the door to go out, walk over and ring the bell, then let it out, just like usual. Do this every single time the pup goes out the door. It won't be long before it connects the ringing bell, with you coming over and opening the door to let it out. When it catches on to the ringing of the bell when it needs out, remember to give lots of praise for doing the right thing... ringing the bell to go out to pee! I got proof that it works! I have a dog right now sitting at the door ringing the bell... gotta go!

Answer 4

My friend put a bell by the door. She trained them to ring the bell when they have to go outside to go potty. Hah, the only problem that she has had is that her little 4 month old puppy will ring the bell when she just wants to go outside and play. Otherwise, she said it works great.

Answer 5

you need to teach her to come find you to let you know, or have something by the door she can make noise with. I've always had the dog come find me whenever they need something. it's amazing; they'll even do different "dances" depending on what they want, whether it's outside, or food, or water, or just some cuddles!

if you treat the mess by the door like it's a problem, then that'll help her figure out that what she's doing isn't good enough. but you have to also pay close attention to the signals she's giving you when she's in the room with you - most dogs I've had anything to do with will be dancing around their people before they go to the door, trying to get you to follow them.

Answer 6

That's a good start. Puppies are almost always gonna have some accidents.

If she's figured it out that much in such a short time, you will probably have a really easy time from here on out.

Mine runs up to anyone who's around, then stretches. That's his signal that he needs to go out. Haven't had an accident in years now.

Answer 7

One of mines whines

The other one will come and find me

The last one goes outside everytime I walk remotely close to the back door! He just loves to be outside!

Put a bell on your door hung by a string...it doesn't take long for them to learn. You could also put on on the outside so they can let you know when they are ready to come in! My friends dogs do it this way!

Answer 8

Try hanging a bell on a cord off the door handle to the door that you let her out with. Then train her to bump the bell when she needs to go out. Also, she may be coming to tell you she needs out, and you may have missed the signals. My labs come and start nudging and licking my hands when they need out. Good luck!

Answer 9

All our dogs have always told us when they need to go outside to ' potty ' That's the point of house training..

Answer 10

I have a Manchester Terrier that barks once to let me know that he wants to go out and twice when it's becoming an emergency. Easy to teach, just wait for yours to bark, for whatever reason and immediately take her out, rain, snow, wind or shine. Do it every time she barks, no matter how often. It takes about three days for them to get the idea. Or get one of the battery operated doorbells, place the push button doggy high and teach her to push it. Every time she pushes it...you guessed it. Again about three days. It's also a great trick.

My golden taught himself, he sits in front of whoever he has decided is the go-to person that night, twitches his bum to one side and says RUM RUM which tells us he wants out. When he adds a ROO to the end of the phrase it means emergency.
It's comical to watch but it certainly gets your attention.