Bell Training for Dogs

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How does your dog let you know they need to go outside? Scratching at the door or simply standing beside it in silence may not be ideal. Why not train them to alert you in a way that works for both of you? There are many options available to help your dog communicate when they need to go out. 

This article is not about potty training (house training). If you need help with potty training for puppies or adult dogs, reach out to a credentialed trainer who utilizes modern, science-backed, humane training methods. 

Bell/Button Options

Most options involve either a physical metal bell that rings, or a button to press and make a sound. Select an alert that your dog willingly interacts with, being aware of any issues they may have with sounds. Also consider your dog’s communication and play style when choosing the product that will work best for them. For example, some dogs eagerly nose your hand for attention, and others may tap with a paw for scratches.

Caldwell’s Potty Bells

This simple string of bells similar to sleigh bells can hang near a door or from the handle, and can be struck with a snout or paw. (Similar product: Noodoky Dog Doorbells). A simple potty bell like this is the best option for renters as there is no equipment to install. 

Mighty Paw Smart Bell

This product is meant to be pressed by a snout or paw, and features a wireless transmitter with a number of ringtones. Similar products may come with additional buttons and receivers. (Similar product: EverNary Dog Door Bell). Be sure to review set up instructions for these devices.

Learning Resources Recordable Answer Buzzers

These large buzzer buttons that your dog can activate with their snout or paw simply make a sound when they are pressed. Record a statement, such as “outside.” Similar recordable button products may have a smaller or larger button. 

Target Training

Teaching your dog to press their snout or paw onto an object is known as target training. The basics are easy: each time your dog touches your palm with their snout or paw, they get a treat. A hand target is also useful behavior to teach puppies as they begin to walk on a leash! Keep each training session to a few minutes and use plenty of positive reinforcement. 

The easiest way to start target training is with your hand. You’ll just need a lot of smelly, chewy, bite-sized, training treats. Most soft average-value treats, like Zuke’s, can be broken into 2-4 bites.  

Nose Targeting

To begin target training, hold your hand flat (with the palm perpendicular to the ground) and close to your dog’s nose. When your dog’s nose touches your hand, say “yes,” and hand them a small treat from your other hand. If a clicker is more your speed, click and treat! Repeat this many times until your dog understands that holding your hand out flat means each time they touch it with their nose, hear a marker, and then get a treat. This exercise takes most dogs only a few minutes to understand. 

Next, place a post-it note on your palm. Repeat the process of teaching your dog to target your hand with the note stuck to your hand. When their nose touches the post-it, say “yes,” and hand them a treat from your other hands. Repeat this many times until your dog understands that they should touch the post-it with their nose. At this point, you could also begin using a verbal cue like “touch” to cue your dog to touch the target with their nose. 

Paw Targeting

Get a small towel, piece of fabric, or other small, flat item that you are able to cut into smaller pieces (cardboard, etc.). This is your paw target.

Place the paw target on the ground. Any time your dog interacts with the target in any way (even sniffing), say “yes,” (or use a clicker) and hand them a treat. After a few interactions, get more specific about the way you’d like them to interact with the target. Any time one of their front paws touches the target, say “yes,” and give them a treat.

Once your dog understands that placing their paw on the target means they get a treat, cut it into a smaller piece. Repeat many repetitions of your dog touching the smaller target with their paw, saying “yes,” and giving them a treat. At this point, you could also begin using a verbal cue like “touch” to cue your dog to touch the target with their paw. 

Continue this process until the paw target is small enough to stick to the bell you have chosen (physical metal bell, buzzer, or button).  

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Introducing New Sounds

Be sure to evaluate your dog’s sensitivity to the sound your chosen doggy doorbell makes before allowing it to make the noise at full volume. You may want to play the sound at a distance from the dog, muffle the sound with a towel, or both. Sound the device, toss your dog a great treat, and repeat a few times until you are satisfied that the sound your chosen doggy doorbell makes will not frighten your dog. If they are sensitive, they may require a slower introduction to the sound itself. The target training and the bell come together in the next phase.

Teaching Your Dog to Ring a Bell

Before you begin teaching your dog to target a bell, doorbell button, or buzzer, introduce them to it by placing it on the floor. If it is an electronic doorbell or buzzer, make sure it is turned off at first. If it is a physical metal bell, find a way to dampen the sound, like with a towel, or by leaving the bells in the package if they come in one. If they choose to sniff or interact with the object, say “yes,” and toss a treat away from the object. This way the dog can choose to come back toward the object if they are comfortable interacting with it. Repeat this a few times. 

Next, allow your chosen potty bell to make noise when the dog interacts with it, and repeat the initial interaction protocol (say “yes” and place a treat on the floor away from the object) a few times until they are used to the sound. Now you can put together the chosen bell (physical metal bell, buzzer, or button) with the nose or paw target.

After you’ve established the post-it nose target, or small paw target, stick the target to the bell you have chosen. Cue the dog to touch the target with their nose or paw. When your dog’s nose or paw touches the bell and makes a sound, say “yes,” and hand them a treat.

Repeat the process of rewarding your dog for touching the target with their nose or paw many times. 

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Ringing the bell to go outside

Once your dog is able to nose or paw target the bell you have selected, hang your bells near the door or by the handle. When it’s potty time, cue them (“touch”) to ring the bell before you open the door to go outside. Cue “touch,” and when they touch the bell say “yes,” then open the door for them to go out. Praise and going outside serve as positive reinforcement.

If you are still working on potty training your dog, you may simply sound your training bells each time you open the door to take them out so this stage is already part of their routine before they begin target training.
It may take many repetitions of this process before your dog makes the connection between ringing the bell and going outside, and the entire process may take a few weeks. If you need help with house training (potty training) or with this process, reach out to a credentialed trainer who utilizes modern, science-backed, humane training methods.

Trainers that reviewed this article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers. The trainers that review our content are reviewed by other trainers to ensure that we have the best quality filters on our content. 

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Marnie Montgomery
PMCT4, CPDT-KA
Tellington TTouch® Practitioner
Fear-Free Certified Professional
JOYFUL DOG LLC
www.joyfuldogllc.com

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