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Originally Posted by AprilLove  AprilLove played with the bell at first just to get me to jump up every time  but, she also used them to go potty so I just kept rewarding her when she DID go potty after ringing them, and did not reward her if all she did was run outside look at me and come back I don't remember how long it took, but she doesn't do that anymore and now she also uses them alert me when my non-bell trained older dogs need to go in and out!!! |
It took Izzy about 3 months to get it...at first she was afraid of the bells and then she got used to them. Now the problem is ringing them just to goof off outside. But I do not reward her when she comes into the house just because she was on squirrel or mouse patrol!!
Only reward for actual potty business only.
Don't give up - use the same command all the time for every time you take them outside (even if you take them out 10 times a day - keep saying the phrase the same) - first I just said the command and took her out, then I progressed to actually taking her paw and taping the bells while saying the phrase. Now she rings with her nose and when I don't get up and let the princess out immediately....she progresses to actually banging them against the glass. geesh!
See my husband never thought she was do it and told me I was wasting my time and money. Guess who's laughing now? lol.