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and I have a leather strap with sleighbells hung on the doorknob, they soon learn how to ring it,

I just cannot grasp this. I want my dog to potty when I tell them to potty, when it is a good time for ME. (of course, this does not apply if the dog is sick). Not have him twist me around his little finger and have me jump to it every time he rings the bell!

Best thing that works for me, is to teach the dog to potty on command. It is easy to do and works very well in cold weather and late nights <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> On a quick potty break wi takes me less than 5 minutes to have 5 dogs do 'both'.

I'm with Sammy on this one! My dogs know I let them out for regular intervals. Bell ringing! No way! Especially when your a shift worker! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> If a dog is having an issue (need to go now!!!!, they let me know with a nose nudge, that's OK.)

Same reason why they will never, ever get a squeeky toy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

First thought: Teach my OCD little terriers how to ring the door bell. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Second thought: Take 9mm, shoot self in foot as a reminder to NEVER have first thought again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

LOVE your thoughts Bob! I agree - my dogs are let out when I get up, when I feel like it, sometimes they are left out and sometimes they are left in for too long - but they go out on my schedule. If one comes to me and gives me "the stare" then I know they need to go out NOW. If I'm sleeping when this happens, then a nudge or a very restless dog will get me moving quickly. They will let me know IF they really do need to go out NOW - otherwise they wait for my schedule - no bell-ringing needed, thank goodness (and no squeaky toys either - not that the squeaker lasts very long when they do get ahold of one)

molly

For whom the bells ringth... Death!!!

I agree... NO bells! Both of my dogs, old and new, learned to just go over to the door and sit when they wanted out. If I wasn't paying attention they would come over walk in front of me whine and go sit by the door again. This was their signal that they needed to go out. Most of the time I let them unless they just went out and just wanted to go run outside.

As far as a good game of Tug, hunting dogs are never to play tug. But for my GSD it helps build the drive and solid grip. I use it just like Ed and Flinks teach... and it is great. Most of the time she wins, whenever she has a good solid bite, or she regrips for a better bite... as they get older the longer they have to go before they can win. But I also teach the out with it. They out and sit, as I hold the tug over my head. Then as they sit and pay attention... they get the tug again and the game begins anew! The game always ends when I take the tug and put it away in the closet. Always leave them wanting more!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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First thought: Teach my OCD little terriers how to ring the door bell. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Second thought: Take 9mm, shoot self in foot as a reminder to NEVER have first thought again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

LOL!!! When I mentioned this clever plan to my daughter with the two BTs, she laughed hysterically at the very idea of giving them such a tool.

Maybe I will stick with the paw-touch on my foot after all............

Not to dig up an old post or anything - but Great Danes are huge with big clumsy paws - one paw in the face and you have a scratch down your cheek for a week. A friend of mine has a dane and my other friend was at this friends house, that dog LOVES to paw and it drives me NUTS, he was lucky she didnt get his eye because he had a scratch that started above his left eyebrow all the way down his left cheek for about 7-10 days because the dog pawed him in the face. Whenever she tries to race her paw at me (usually while sitting) I'll push the opposite shoulder so she almost falls over, she's kinda learning that if she lifts that paw at me, she's gonna get pushed over. It's not my dog so I don't wanna go and grab the ecollar n shock the crap outta her (although sometimes I really wish I could), but pawing is a big no no, I don't care if it's dominance or play or whatever, it's dangerous when the paws are that big.

Oh oh and my friends dane is trained to nudge a bell on the door handle to go out because she kept jumping up on the door n breaking the blinds when she had to go out - now she decides "hey I wanna go play" and keeps ringing the dang bell, ALWAYS right when we're all sitting at the dinner table ready to eat <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You're not wrong there Mike (about the paws) and I've also found that when we've met dogs out, everythings fine until he decides to clobber them with a paw (in play) but they all seem to see it as a threat and have a go at him, so I'll definitely try your idea to stop this or at the least reduce it because it is very annoying at times and he's gonna start to think all dogs have a problem with him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
With my Dane it's more of a 'Hello' thing rather than dominance with dogs and with me it's 'Oh come on, lets play.' He's such a big softy!!!
Cheers for that!

Tug has been an awesome training tool for me and mine. So far, it's the only time she is lightening fast on her commands, even better than food. But, she has never even looked cross-eyed at me for taking away a toy so I guess it depends on the dog. She "drops" instantly and will obey "wait" no matter where I wave or throw the rope. Mind you, it's always more play than training. As far as "winning", I drop it all the time, and she just gets dissapointed that we stopped and immediately brings it back for more. Now, Ed is going to get me because he says I have a dominant dog in the making. Crap, I didn't want to have to give up our tug time. Oh, well she likes her ball too, just not as much.