My dog learned how to ring a bell to go outside... but now she abuses it

I got this bell training kit from PetSmart back in February and hung it on the back door. Within 3 days my golden retriever Penny figured out she could ring it to go potty which was amazing at first. But now a month later she rings it every 20 minutes just to chase squirrels or bark at the mailman. Last Tuesday I counted 12 times in one afternoon and I fell for it every single time. My neighbor laughed and said her lab did the same thing for 6 months straight. Has anyone else had a dog that learned a trick too well and just uses it for attention instead of its actual purpose?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantf737d ago

Read a whole thing online about how dogs figure out cause and effect way faster than we expect, then they just start testing boundaries for fun. Sounds like Penny learned the bell means "human comes running" which is probably the best game ever for her lol. Mine does the same thing with her food bowl, acts like she's starving 20 minutes after breakfast.

the_nathan7d ago

Wait, 20 minutes after breakfast? That is a whole new level of manipulating you @grantf73.

robertb477d ago

Lol @the_nathan it ain't that deep. Dogs just want food.