Re: Signal to Potty?

In Reply to: Signal to Potty?
Category:   House Breaking
Posted by:  Irene
Posted on:  May 31, 2002 at 09:41:38

: Is there a way for us to train our dog to give a signal to go outside to potty or will this be something she'll show us on her own? She doesn't let us know at all and there have been two accidents this month. She's 8 months. I take her out after eating, sleeping, playing, and about every 3-4 hours if she's not active. I would really like to show her how to give a signal if that's possible.

: Thanks

Response:

Dear Irene,

There are two different ways to "teach" your dog to give a signal when it's time to go potty.

(1) Dogs have their own signals -- pacing, circling, sitting and staring, jumping against the door, etc. By closely observing your terrier's behavior, you will easily recognize her signal. The next step is to acknowledge the signal by telling her to "wait" and "sit" followed by praise and a trip outside so she can relieve herself. The "wait" training (!) teaches her to hold it until you can let her outside.

(2) Attach a string of bells to the door. When you take her outside for regularly scheduled potty times, encourage her to "ring" the bells while repeating "go potty." (You may need to show her how to get the bells to ring.) See above for what to do after acknowledging
this signal.

The key to either training method is that you respond immediately to her signal; you cannot teach her to wait (which means "don't pee/poop until you are outside!") if you're not there to give her the command.