Bell or No Bell...that is the question.
Me, a brand new dog owner, taught my little tiny puppy to ring a bell when he had to go out to pee. I was the cat's pyjamas, a regular dog training guru. The ringing of the bell was extremely helpful in housetraining Tucker. It took out the guess-work and made communication clear and simple. "However did you do it?" I have been asked and asked. With pride I explain the simple steps. Tucker is smart, he learned fast. He is smart, as he learned that he can ring and the door will open for him, even if he doesn't have to go, even if he just wants to bask in the sun and the snow. He learned that if he rings it 20,000 times a day, or at 3 in the morning, the door will open, and that he may go out and do what he pleases. Tucker is too smart. Tucker and his bell are driving us CRAZY! I posted the other day about how to eliminate the unnecessary ringing. It was suggested to me that I remove the bell. "Remove the bell?!" I scoffed, "But we worked so hard at it! He's so smart! We're such a smart, bell-ringing team!". Then it rang. And rang and rang and rang and rang. He went out and in and out and in and it rang and rang and rang. "We will remove the bell" said I to my fiance, Brad. And so now the bell is gone. But where once was ringing all day long, now there is door-scratching, whining and barking 3mm from my face. We have decided that removing the bell is likely a good solution, where Tucker sometimes continues to challenge our dominance this is an opportunity for us to take back some of the power. WE decide when he will go out, and WE will decide when he comes in. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!! 
I'm sorry, that's just so funny - the notion that he actually COMES IN when we tell him to. Today, it was 12:02, I was late to leave for work, the temperature outside was -20C and Tucker would not come in from the snowy yard. I called, I begged, I pleaded, I bribed. He stood there, 10 feet from the door, staring at me. Mocking me. YES mocking me, I swear. Eventually I had to go outside where he was at the gate, grab his collar, lead him back into the house and into his crate. I did not say a word, just put him him and shut the door. Phew. OK so after this novella of a post, I am finally getting to the point: 1. How long will it take Tucker to figure out that he needs to do all his business when we do let him out? I'm not sure if the whining and barking to go out now are because he really does have to go, or because he is just missing the ability to ring the bell? 2. How the HECK do I get him to come in when he doesn't want to? I'm afraid that if I attach him to a lead out there it will get wrapped around something and he'll get hurt. I was hoping not to have to tie him up, since that's why we bought a house with a fenced in yard in the first place. IDEAS??? Oh it feels so good to rant. Thank you and have a nice day. |
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Quote: OK so after this novella of a post, I am finally getting to the point:
1. How long will it take Tucker to figure out that he needs to do all his business when we do let him out? I'm not sure if the whining and barking to go out now are because he really does have to go, or because he is just missing the ability to ring the bell? 2. How the HECK do I get him to come in when he doesn't want to? I'm afraid that if I attach him to a lead out there it will get wrapped around something and he'll get hurt. I was hoping not to have to tie him up, since that's why we bought a house with a fenced in yard in the first place. IDEAS??? 1. If you want him to learn this really fast then you need to make it really rewarding for him to do it really fast. Go out with him, with chicken in your pocket, wait him out....when he starts to go you say "go pee" or whatver word you want to use, and just when he is finshing you put a piece of chicken in his mouth. Do this over and over and you will be very surprised at how quickly he learns to run outside to do his duty for a treat. But you must go outside with him, until he learns. Might take 1 day or might take a week..depends on how often you can "reward" him for doing it so he can learn it. 2. Make it really rewarding for him to come inside. I keep the doggy cookies on the counter, 5 feet away from the back door. The dogs com racing inside when I call them and race to the counter (that way I can shut the door behind them) ! You should use chicken at first, to get him to know that when you call him to come inside he gets chicken...At the "inside" spot. Big fusses and lots of prasie and how wonderful he is when he comes inside. If you look angry or sound upset, or threatening he is not going to go near you...! Plan for the future, when you want him to come inside ANYTIME you call him in. This take a bit more time, as there is more involved. You might even start by rewarding him at the door, then tossing something inside onteh floor for him to get, then further and further inside. You must distract him...not trick him. There is a differnce, and he is smart enough to know when he is being tricked, but not when he is being manipulated...  |
You can always try installing a doggy door.  |
violet wrote: You can always try installing a doggy door.
I've thought of that but nixed it for two reasons: 1. there would be snow EVERYWHERE if we didn't wipe off his paws, and 2. our cats are indoor cats and we don't want them getting out. Good idea, though! |
| sheepies are way too clever. Summer comes in from gardens at a run as she gets a treat every time.....its only some of her day time food only she hasn't worked that out yet... |
| Nicole has great suggestions. Going out with him on a leash is necessary so that you can reward him immediately for the desired behavior. It also gives you control so that he must go in when you go in.
Oscar is deaf, and we are prohibited from fencing our yard, so I have to take him out every time on a leash regardless - so there is no running from Mommy! 
But I did this with our first sheepie, Quincy, even though we had a fenced-in yard at the time, and it worked very well. It certainly helped that he would kill for a cookie! Laurie and Oscar |
Mel & Tucker wrote: violet wrote: You can always try installing a doggy door. I've thought of that but nixed it for two reasons: 1. there would be snow EVERYWHERE if we didn't wipe off his paws, and 2. our cats are indoor cats and we don't want them getting out. Good idea, though! Ours doggy door is just on the storm door, which lets us control it a lot better. I only open the door at certain times so I know when they go out. Probably won't help the cats though. |
| Update!
Good news!! We have since removed the bell like Nicole suggested. At first I was against the idea because we've worked so hard, but honestly it has been a blessing. I let Tucker out about every 3-4 hours and it's been working great. I've also noticed a dramatic improvement in his general compliance with me, which has been wonderful. I now keep a huge container of liver treats by the door, and he comes RUNNING inside and sits on his mat immediately to gete one!! It's like a dream come true! I just hope it lasts!!!! He occasionally whines to go out and paws at the door. I call him to me and tell him to sit and/or lie down. If he does so calmly, after a few minutes I'll let him out. I'd like him to learn that scratching at the door is ineffective, but patiently waiting beside me is more effective. NOW I have a different question, if I may :p How can I get him to poop in ONE spot!! We have a big backyard but would like him to poop in a specific area, about 7'X7' so that there isn't poo everywhere on the grass in the summer. Ideas??? |
Mel & Tucker wrote: How can I get him to poop in ONE spot!! We have a big backyard but would like him to poop in a specific area, about 7'X7' so that there isn't poo everywhere on the grass in the summer.
Ideas??? You will probably have the best luck getting him to poop in one spot by making it a habit. This usually means taking him out on lead, having him poop in the desired area, and really praising. Most dogs are creatures of habit and will tend to poop in the same area. When I pick up poop in our dog yard, each dog's poop is in different sections.... just a casual observation on my part! |
| Mel, you have a clicker, right? That is the wonderful thing about having a dog that has been trained with a clicker....You can "click" from afar and he understands what it means..
So, when he goes out for his doggy do, whenever he starts to go in the right place you can click and treat. Keeping him on a very long lead will help him succeed. You might want to make it easier on him to have him go where he normally does. Good luck! P.S. Like "got sheep" my dogs each have their favourites spots, too...  |
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