Often your do knows that he has to go outside at potty time but has no way to let you know that he wants to go.
This step by step guise will show you how to use a clicker to train your dog to let you know when he wants to go outside.
The secret of successful clicker training is to "click" as soon as the dog shows the behavior you want.
This way the dog associates the behavior with the click and the reward.
STEP 1: GETTING YOUR DOG TO TOUCH THE BELL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Hold the bell near the dog. St this stage the dog doesn't need to ring the bell but does need to show interest and then touch the bell. If he does not show any interest, move the bell a bit closer to him.
STEP 2: AS SOON AS HE TOUCHES THE BELL REWARD HIM
As soon as the bell is touched click and treat.
STEP 3: MOVE THE BELL AROUND A BIT
Repeat the procedure a few times until your dog has got the hang of it. Don't forget to reward him each time he touches the bell. Now, move the bell around a bit, rewarding each time he touches it. Between repeats, hold the bell out of reach of the dog so that he can't touch it without being rewarded.
STEP 4: MAKE SURE YOU REWARD WHENEVER YOU GET THE ACTION YOU WANT
It is important to click and reward each time you get the action you want.
STEP 5: MAKE IT A LITTLE HARDER
When he is reliably touching the bell each time, make it a little harder so that she has to actually ring the bell to get a reward
STEP 6: MAKE THE DOG MOVE FURTHER TO RING THE BELL.
Throw a treat a meter or so away so that he goes to get it. As he comes back make sure the bell is there. As soon as he rings it click and treat. Increase the distance your dog has to move each time before ringing the bell. Occasionally, you dog may fail, in which case, you may have to decrease the distance again and start over.
step 7: hang the bell on a door
Now, hang the bell on a door. Let your dog see you put it there. Don't let your dog touch the bell until you have the treat ready.
STEP 8: YOUR DOG RINGS THE BELL HANGING ON THE DOOR
Your dog should ring the bell hanging on the door. If your dog is having trouble with this step, you can stand up and walk them towards the door.
When your dog has completed this step, all he has learnt is that ringing the bell gets him a treat. It still does not mean that he wants the door opened.
STEP 9: TOSS A TREAT OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Toss a treat outside the door and let your dog see you do it.
step 10: He may not realise he has to ring the bell
This is the most difficult step. Because the treats have been coming from you, he may not realise he has too ring the bell to get his reward. Just wait him out. You may need to move closer to the door to get some action. As soon as he rings the bell, open the door to let him out.
STEP 11: lET YOUR DOG THROUGH THE DOOR
As soon as he rings the bell, open the door to let him out. When you repeat this step you should find it takes him a shorter time to ring the bell. Eventually, ringing the bell will become synonymous with the door opening.
STEP 12: YOU CAN MOVE THE BELL TO ANOTHER DOOR
You can move the bell to another door and continue opening the door as he rings the bell. After this behavior has become routine, you can stop putting the treats outside. Ringing the bell will still be associated with the door opening.
Your dog will ring the bell to go outside. When the dog rings the bell, make sure you do let them outside. If you don't, the whole point of the training has been wasted.
It is not a bad idea to remove the bell when the dog is being left home alone.
Watch the video below to see the full training.
