Help with Ring a Bell

by Diane - Online Dog Coach

Lesson: Ring a Bell in Home Training and Tricks II

Rewards

Find Treats and Rewards that work best for your dog. If your dog is not motivated by the treat or toy, you may need to change the treat value.

Timing

Reward your dog immediately – within a couple of seconds. The longer it takes for you to reward him or her, the less your dog will understand.

Use a “clicker or mark word to “mark” the correct move or behavior”:http://www.onlinedogcoach.com/index/articles/training/mark-dogs-behavior-with-a-word-or-clicker. This gives instant feedback, and when used consistently, your dog learns that a reward will follow.

Process

If your dog is not ringing the bells, continue holding the treat behind the string of bells and when he approaches the treat, ring the bells yourself.
If your dog is ringing the bells, but does not understand that it means to go outside to potty, continue taking your dog out to the same place in the yard on leash and reward when he/she goes potty.

For more assistance…

Search the Training Tips Forum by using the search box found under the current topics.
Post a question to the Training Tips Forum by clicking on New Topic. Other members may have tips to share, and our trainers monitor the forum so they can help you out. You must sign up for a free membership to post questions.
Email a trainer directly by filling out the Contact Us form. Select “Help with Training” so our trainers can respond to your inquiry.

Do you have a suggestion for training this trick?

Send us your dog training tips! Make sure you specify it is for the Ring a Bell lesson!

About the Author

Diane has professionally trained dogs in obedience, agility, and freestyle dog dancing for more than 20 years in Florida and Colorado. Her dogs have competed and have earned titles in AKC and NADAC agility, Obedience, and Flyball.