Teaching Your Pet to Ring a Bell to Go Out

Teaching Your Pet to Ring a Bell to Go Out

Does your dog or cat know how to tell you when he has to go out? Politely? Yowling, barking, and scratching at the door all work, but most people find these habits annoying. Other pets never learn how to communicate their need to go out. You can solve either problem by teaching your pet to ring a bell to go outside.

First, purchase a large bell from a craft supply store and hang it by a strap from the doorknob. If you have pets of varying sizes, a leather strap with multiple bells works best.

Dogs usually prefer nosing the bell, while cats like batting the bell with their paws.

For dogs, start by putting a smear of peanut butter or liverwurst on the bell Encourage your dog to start licking it off. As the bell makes a noise, say, "Ring it!" Then praise the dog and immediately open the door to go outside. Be sure to go out with your pet and reward him with a quick game or a walk. Don’t just shove him outside on his own!

For cats, decorate the ball with feathers. Remove the bell from the doorknob at first, and drag it around until the cat bats it with his paws. Put it back on the door and jiggle the string to encourage the cat to continue the game. When the bell rings, open the door and go outside with your cat. Sit on the porch and pet him, if that is something your cat enjoys.

When your pet willingly rings the bell on command, it’s time to teach him the association "bell=outside" more formally. Find something your dog or cat really desires—tuna, cheese cubes, a friend with a tug toy—and place it outside the door while your pet watches. You and the pet stay inside. Get your pet revved up and encourage him to ring the bell using the command "Ring it!" Ignore your pet’s attempts to bark, scratch, or push at the door. Even if the ringing appears to be accidental, praise your pet and immediately open the door so that he can reach his reward. For the next week, occasionally place goodies on the other side of the door and repeat the sequence. Insist that your pet ring the bell before he goes outside for any other reason, as well.

As your training progresses, your pet will eventually try ringing the bell on his own when he really does need to go out. (For safe walks, you may  wish to use our our Gentle Leader® no-pull halter with reflective leash or our reflective Easy-Walk® no-pull harness/leash combo, or our cat harness/leash combo).

Be vigilant! If you miss the first couple of tries, your pet may decide that bell-ringing doesn’t work and the behavior will extinguish. Because of this, I take the bell of the door when I’m not home. However, after initial training is complete, your pet will figure out that the bell only works when you are home, and you’ll then be able to leave it on the doorknob. 

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