Teaching your Boston Terrier to ring a bell when they need to go potty is an incredibly useful skill that can help prevent accidents in your home.
It’s a great way for your Boston to communicate their needs without having to rely on verbal cues or commands.
Here’s how you can teach them this valuable skill and make sure that they get outside in time!
Teaching Your Boston Terrier To Ring Bell To Go Potty
Why would you want to teach your Boston terrier to ring a bell to go potty?
Teaching your Boston to ring a bell when they need to go the bathroom is an incredibly helpful skill for both you and your pup! Not only will it help keep your home accident-free, but it also provides your Boston with an effective way to communicate their needs. It can be difficult for them to rely solely on verbal cues or commands when they need to go outside.
Do you dog owners actually teach their dogs to ring a bell to go potty?
Yes, some dog owners do, in fact, teach their dogs to ring a bell as a signal that they need to go potty.
After doing a poll on the Boston Terrier Society YouTube and Twitter Communities there are a number of dog parents who do this. See the results below…while they are not a majority, it does show training your Boston to do this is possible.
Youtube:
Twitter:
What should I avoid when teaching my Boston terrier to ring a bell to go potty?
When teaching your Boston terrier to ring a bell to go potty, it is important to avoid any actions or behaviors that could negatively affect their learning process. For example, never yell at or scold your pup for ringing the bell, as this could discourage them from continuing to associate this behavior with going outside.
Additionally, refrain from punishing them if they make a mistake; instead, remain patient and consistent with the training process.
When should I start teaching my Boston puppy to ring a bell to go potty?
When it comes to teaching your Boston puppy to ring a bell to go potty, the best time to start is as soon as possible! As soon as they are able to understand basic commands and have a basic understanding of the concept of going outside, you can begin introducing them to the skill.
Are there other commands I should teach my Boston before teaching them how to ring a bell?
Before teaching your Boston Terrier to ring a bell when they need to go the bathroom, it is important to ensure that they are familiar with basic commands and behaviors. This includes teaching them how to sit, stay, come, and lay down. It is also important to make sure that your pup knows their name and can respond to it when called. Once you have a good handle on these commands, you can move on to teaching them the bell-ringing technique.
Step by Step – Training Your Boston To Ring A Bell To Go Potty
Step 1: Get a Training Bell
The first step is getting a training bell and hanging it near the door your Boston uses most often when going potty. Make sure the bell is hung low enough that it’s easy for them to reach. You may want to buy two bells—one for inside and one for outside—so they can easily tell which door they need to go through.
Check out some doorbells for dogs on Amazon here: Doorbells.
Step 2: Introduce Your Boston to the Bell
Bostons learn best through positive reinforcement, so start off by giving your dog some treats each time they sniff or paw at the bell. Eventually, they will begin associating the sound of ringing with getting treats, which will help make it easier for them to remember what they are supposed to do when they need to go potty. Be sure to reward them with lots of praise as well!
Step 3: Practice Inside Before Going Outside
Make sure your Boston Terrier is comfortable with ringing the bell before taking them outside. Take some time each day to practice inside by ringing the bell while you wait with your dog in front of the door he or she needs to use when going potty.
When he or she rings the bell, open up the door and give them plenty of praise and treats as soon as possible after doing so.
This will help reinforce that ringing the bell leads directly into going outside (where there are even more rewards!).
Step 4: Take Them Outside After Ringing The Bell
Once your Boston has mastered ringing the bell inside, start taking him or her out after ringing it every time you want them to go potty. When they ring it before going outside, be sure to reward them with verbal praise and/or treats right away, so they make an association between ringing and being rewarded every single time.
It may take some practice before they understand what exactly you are trying to teach them, but once they do, you’ll see just how helpful this trick can be!
Video – How To Teach Your Dog To Ring Bell To Go Potty
In this video, Marissa explains how she trained her dog to go potty using bells. While her dog is not a Boston I think her video is one of the best on Youtube when it comes to someone actually teaching their own dog how to do this.
How long will it take to teach my Boston Terrier to ring a bell to go outside?
It is going to take, on average, 12+ tries before your Boston is going to pick up on this new command.
These findings come from a poll conducted on the Boston Terrier Society’s Twitter community. With over 44+ Boston Parents responding, the majority state it takes their Boston 12+ attempts before they learn a new command.
See the poll here…I may have spelled try funny, but the information is all the same 🙂
What other cool tricks can I teach my Boston Terrier?
Apart from teaching your Boston Terrier to ring a bell when they need to go potty, there are plenty of other tricks you can teach them. One of the most important commands that your Boston should be familiar with is “leave it.” This command helps stop unwanted behaviors like chewing on objects they shouldn’t.
You can also teach your Boston Terrier to fetch, play hide and seek, or even take them on an agility course. Not only are these activities fun for you and your pup, but they can help keep their muscles toned and their minds sharp – making for one very happy Boston!
Final Thoughts
With patience and positive reinforcement, teaching your Boston Terrier how to ring a bell to go potty can truly be an invaluable skill–not only does it save you from having any unnecessary messes in your home but also provides peace of mind knowing that both you and your pup have adopted this helpful habit!
If you want to learn more commands and tricks you can teach your Boston Terrier, be sure to visit our article, 49 Commands And Tricks You Can Teach Your Boston!