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How do I train my dog to ring a bell when he needs to go potty?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | 4 months and 29 days old

How to train a dog to ring bell when go potty outside?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Debi Matlack

Veterinary Technician

Published on December 28th, 2017

Dogs can be taught to ring a bell easily to go outside. Such bells are easily found in pet stores or you can get something from a craft store or farm store. As long as it can hang at his level to reach it and you can hear it easily within the house, it'll work. Keep in mind that a younger dog can only hold his bowels and bladder reasonably for as many hours as he is months old, so 4 months= 4 hours. Start by showing your dog the bell. Then show him the bell and only feed him a treat when he rings the bell by touching it. Hang the bell by the door that you want your dog to use to go out and show him the bell. Give him a treat when he rings it. Once he is ringing the bell by the door each time you point to it, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Put your bell up by the door. Let him watch you as you place a treat outside the door. Close the door and then point to the bell. When he rings the bell, open the door and let him get the treat. Once he rings the bell right away when you place a treat outside go on to the next step. Leave the bell in place by the door. Next time you think he has to potty, go with him to the door and point to the bell. When he rings it, open the door and let him potty. Reward him with a treat when he finishes. Each time you let him out to potty, ask him to ring the bell first and feed him a treat when he finishes. Leave the bell on the door and when he rings it let her out to potty. If he starts to play or dawdle outside, bring him in. This will prevent him from ringing the bell when he sees a squirrel (or at least prevent him from learning that he can get you to let him out to play instead of just to potty)

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Other Answers

  • Image profile

    Answered By Debi Matlack

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on August 8th, 2018

    Dogs can be taught to ring a bell to go outside. Such bells are easily found in pet stores or you can get something from a craft store or farm store. As long as it can hang at his level to reach it and you can hear it from wherever you are inside the house, it'll work. Start by showing your dog the bell. Then show him the bell and only feed him a treat when he rings the bell by touching it. Hang the bell by the door that you want your dog to use to go out and show him the bell. Give him a treat when he rings it. Once he is ringing the bell by the door each time you point to it, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Put your bell up by the door. Let him watch you as you place a treat outside the door. Close the door and then point to the bell. When he rings the bell, open the door and let him get the treat. Once he rings the bell right away when you place a treat outside go on to the next step. Leave the bell in place by the door. Next time you think he has to potty, go with him to the door and point to the bell. When he rings it, open the door and let him potty. Reward him with a treat when he finishes. Each time you let him out to potty, ask him to ring the bell first and feed him a treat when he finishes. Leave the bell on the door and when he rings it let her out to potty. If he starts to play or dawdle outside, bring him in. This will prevent him from ringing the bell when he sees a squirrel (or at least prevent him from learning that he can get you to let him out to play instead of just to potty)

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Susan England-Foster

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 12th, 2017

    I would recommend trying to teach him a trick to notify you he needs to go outside. For example, you could train him to ring bells at the door. When you go to take him outside have him sit by the door and ring the bells. After the bells ring you can give him a small treat and take him outside to use the bathroom. After he goes to the bathroom give him a small treat as a reward. This should start showing him that ringing the bell means he gets to go outside. I would also try to always keep him in the same room as you. Typically if they are in the same room you can detect if he is about to use the restroom. Immediately take him to the door , have him sit, ring the bell, and proceed by taking him outside. Catching him before he goes inside will really help.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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