PortersMama

I'm so happy to say that Grizzly is actually ringing a darn bell to go potty. I never thought he'd do it! My husband and I tied this stupid set of jingle bells to our back door about a week after we got Grizzly. I really wanted him to learn to ring them to go outside, but at 9 weeks old, he would just get freaked out whenever he would hear them and go running back into the kitchen. We left them there because we were too lazy to put them away, and wouldn't you know it, last week that little bugger started ringing the bells with his nose and then sitting by the door to go out! At first I thought it was a coincidence, because after they started scaring him, we really stopped using them. They did, however, jingle every time we opened the door...maybe that was enough? Anyway, a few days ago I let him out first thing in the morning before he even ate breakfast. Within two minutes of coming inside, he rang the bell. I thought he was messing with me or just playing, but he was sitting there so nicely...I let him out, and he pooped immediately. It was crazy! It wasn't even his normal poop time. We've had no accidents in the house recently, and we've really only been letting him out when he "asks" to go, other than first thing in the morning, after food and naps, and after a lot of play time.

I feel like I've just won the damn housebreaking jackpot! Well, you know...until he has an accident in the house again, which I'm sure is inevitable. But for now, I feel successful.

Roreh

Way to go, Grizzly! What a smart boy! I would try the bells too, but with two dogs in the house, and one who is tennis ball OBSESSED might be too much in & out for me to handle lol.

Gotta love a good success story =]

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AlyssaN

Yayy for such a smart boy! You must be such a proud mama! It's those "I didn't think he'd everget it" moments that are so awesome.

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MaxsMom

I really, really wanted Max to do this. I put up the bells and he tore them off the door and tried to swallow one of the bells. That was it. No more bells for Max.
Congrats to Grizzly for ringing the bells.

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Ojai Sho-Shawnee

Go Grizzinator! Good for him! Better for you.

My pup has been pretty solid for weeks now. No bell but she figured out how to open the door from the outside to get back in. (it's just a thumb lever and opens in)

She tries to open it from the inside using the same method but can't figure out why it won't work. So when I hear her rattling the door latch, I hop up and let her out. Echo is 4.5 months now. I have a feeling that the push/pull synapses will start firing soon. I'll have to start engaging the deadbolt. Smart dogs. Scary smart. Love them.

Congratulations on your success!

~Bev~

Thor_Red

Congratulation that is wonderful. I never tried the bell since I'm afraid that Cleo would rip it off and eat it. Our housebreaking has been touch and go. He has never really asked to go out yet but since he's been battling loose poop the last couple of weeks we have been going out a lot just in case. He did pee in the house yesterday. I didn't see him sniffing but caught him mid stream so to speak. I must say I really love my Bissell Spot Cleaner

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MaxsMom

I have a Bissell Spot Cleaner also! Can't tell you how many times I have used it since I got Max. I swear, I keep it loaded and ready at all times.

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mmingram

Congratulations!!
I am still in the midst of trying to get mine to go out consistently... he has less accidents but I feel like that is only because I watch him like a hawk. I let him run upstairs unattended last week and he pooped
Has anyone tried a hostess bell? That's what I've started using. It's the kind that sits on a desk and you ding the top of it for service Can't really swallow that kind~

PortersMama

Thanks so much for your support, guys. I never thought he would do it. I certainly don't think that the battle is won, but for now it gives me a little more time to focus on his nipping behavior and his awfully stubborn attitude.

Patches Mom

Remember at some point the pup may just ring the bell to go outside and play or check for squirrels just a phase they go though.Congratulations.

Beaumont67

Great news...smart Grizzly has done it....ring/ring/ring.

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------------Kelly & (Amy - RIP @ 11.7 y/o)

Mikemontreal

Good for grizzly . It's always exciting when they catch on to something. My girl has finally got it when she needs to go potty she will run down the stairs to the basement and bark at the patio door till I open it then out she goes to do her business. She's 14 weeks and from 8 weeks till 12 weeks I had to carry her down those stairs because she was scared lol. I'm glad tat phase is gone . It's been 1 week since her last accident , and for some reason she never pooped in the house since we got her.


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PortersMama

This is so true! But I suppose that would happen with or without the bell, so I'll try not to let it harsh my buzz.

I'm just so glad I haven't had to clean up pee and poo lately...no one likes doing that.

Thor_Red

Good for you, but I must say I just might hate you a little bit right now. But then I also just might hate MaedowCat a little bit because she is done posting Richter's ears. Apparently I like to share my misery

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blueberry

Congratulations!




But sooner or later he will be ringing that bell for every thought that crosses his mind! And I should know because both of mine do it!

blueberry

Is that "phase" called life because my Blueberry range it until she passed away!

PortersMama

Oh gosh, we definitely won't have those bells hanging forever! They already annoy me because the ring means I have to get up from whatever I'm doing. But they're nice for now because he's still learning. When we take them away, at least he'll have learned to go to the door. I'll take it!

Okay, and now I'm jealous of MeadowCat... I call shenanigans on this posting BS.

Thor_Red

Ahhh I'm always glad to find the greeneyed monster in other people too

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Hilltoprunner

How's Grizzly doing? I finally put the bells up on my door. Diezel was having a few too many accidents, even when I "thought" I had my eyes glued to him. I jingled them whenever we opened the door. Fingers crossed here, but it took him two days to do it consistently and no accidents in the house for 3 days now. I do have nuisance rings, but at night, he has to go out with the leash, so it "seems' to be slowing down a little.

PortersMama

That's great! Grizzly hasn't had any accidents since the day before Christmas. I don't think he's 100% solid on housebreaking, but we're close! He still rings occasionally when he's bored, but now I'll take them off the door for two hours or so once he's peed and pooped. He eventually stops trying to ring the non-existent bells, but he's right back to it once I hang them again.

blueberry

Awesome! But will he let you get a quick "cat nap" in the afternoon yet? I feel like I was getting walked on or sniffed until they were about a year or so.

Sorrelli

Dobes really are such a brilliant breed! It amazed me what I could teach my dog after learning how to use positive reinforcement with treats. I found seasonal bell door hangers at the Dollar Tree. So now I have a set for each season and extras. Such fun! Keep up the great progress!

ApolloVanderMack

What a smart boy!!! That is sooo awesome

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Apollo's mommy
xoxoxoxoxoxo

PortersMama

Well, if we want to nap on the weekends or something, he'd go in his crate. Even if he was sleeping, I'd put him in there. Grizzly's only about 18.5 weeks, so no free reign for him yet! I'd be too afraid he'd wake up and do whatever he felt like doing while I was unaware.

ajp240

Hooray! My pup taught herself how to use them too, it is pretty cool how fast they learn things eh? She now abuses the heck out of the bells, but I keep them up because she still tells me when she has to go out to go potty (or when there's a bird. Or a squirrel. Or a rabbit. Or a cat. Or she's bored...)