Expert: Jeff Millman - 6/6/2007

Question
We have a 4 month old cockabichon.  We've had him for 2 months.  We are training him to ring a bell to go outside and "go potty"  Whenever it was time to take him outside, we would go to the door, shake the bell with his paws and say "go potty".  We did this consistently!!  One day he got it!!  He rang it whenever he had to go out.  We praised him and gave him treats!  After about a week, we stopped giving him treats because I thought he had learned this behavior.  He stopped ringing the bell and just stands by the door.  I am showing him once again how to ring the bell each time he has to go out.  Why do you think he stopped ringing the bell???  Because we stopped giving him treats????  Do you think he can relearn the bell ringing again??  How can I get him to ring the bell?
We are going on week 3 of him not ringing the bell and I am becoming frustrated???  What should I do??

Answer
Hi Susan,
For any behavior, there are two components. Teaching the behavior and motivating your dog to do the behavior. Go back to treating for each bell ring and then switch to an intermittent reinforcement schedule once he is reliable. You might reinforce every other ring, every 4 rings, then every other ring, then every 5 rings, etc. You should vary the pattern and try and get more of the behavior each time. If  the behavior falls apart, increase the reward frequency.

To get him to ring it, start by saying "yes" when he sniffs the bell and give him a treat. Then, increase your expectations so he has to nose it and move it. Say, "yes" each time he noses it. Then, wait until he noses it multiple  times before "yes" and treat. Eventually when this is really reliable, wait until the bells actually make noise before you say, "yes" and treat. This will teach him to move it more vigorously.

The next expectation might be waiting until he paws it and makes a lot of noise.

If you ever feel frustrated, go back to a previous level, end on a good note and take a break.

Short sessions are usually the most effective.

Good luck!