Potty training

[Peter]

What is the most effective way to teach a puppy to tell you he needs to go outside? I take him out on a schedule but sometimes he needs to go out before the time and he's not so good about telling me.

[opokki]

You could teach him to ring a bell attached to the door. The bell should be at his nose level. You would begin by dinging it each time right before you open the door...to help him associate the ring of the bell with the door opening. Next you would place a little smudge of peanut butter on the bell so that it dings when he licks it and you can open the door immediately. After several days he should learn that ringing the bell makes the door open.

An alternative would be to teach him to "speak" before you will open the door. You'd begin by asking him to "speak" prior to opening the door for the first few times. Next you will just wait at the door (without asking him to) for him to speak before you open the door.

There is a downside to using the above though.....
your dog may learn to speak or ding the bell everytime he desires access to the yard, not only when he has to go to the bathroom.

I think its best to use a schedule personally, like at set times or after a certain amount of hours has passed. I take my dogs outside approximately every 6 hrs whether I think they need to go or not.

For your situation, you might want to just try more frequent trips outside than you are currently doing. If you currently take the dog out every 3 hrs., try every 2 hrs instead. As the puppy gets older you can gradually adjust the length to a longer time frame.

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

As for the bell ringing. WE have bells on our doors and at my Moms. Her cat also uses the bells. I will tell you Rio is an accomplished bell player. He can play JIngle bells with one pay. Nicholas can do it too. They pick up the bells really fast. Issue is as stated that they will ring the bell also just to go out. I dont mind my guys are in and out dogs but they love it and why not let them out if they want out. If I tell them no not now they are good about it. They let me know if they have to do their business, they do their doggy dance or stare me down.
Rio&Nickysmommy