We’ll show you how to potty train a dog or puppy to easily ring a bell when they need to go out. It’s a very easy thing to do, having taught our grown dog to do it in 3 days and our new puppy in about 5 days.
We’ve also got a great tutorial on how to make the posh bell shown including a free download of the “ring bell for service” text! Make sure you check out our other furry friend posts such as Keepsake Puppy Paw Prints and our 5 Minute Puppy Dog Bow Tie!
Potty Bell Supplies
NOTE ABOUT HOOKS: The hook shown was purchased at Hobby Lobby. It’s used upside down from how it would normally be used. Whatever hook you use must have some type of loop that allows for you to hang your bell on and make sure it sticks out far enough to not hinder the bell. We link to one that will work below, on Amazon.
- One bell about 2″ in size Liberty Bells We purchased ours at Hobby Lobby. You can also use a large jingle bell or 2″ cow bell.
- A small wood plaque (we used a 3×5 purchased from Hobby Lobby) Similar plaques (these are a bit larger)
- Paint for plaque. We used Krylon Seaglass Satin.
- A hook that has the correct layout. (We purchased ours at Hobby Lobby.
- Command Strips to hold it
- Silver split ring or ribbon to hold the bell onto the hook.
- Clear Full Sheet Ink Jet Labels Adhesive Backed (optional)
- Poly spray (if you use paper labels)
- Ring bell for service printable below
Rather Buy One?
If you’d rather not make a bell and want to just buy one, check out Amazon. They have several including a battery operated one. (They’re not near as awesome as ours though!)
Downloads
Bell Text in Different Sizes (pdf)
How to Potty Train Using a Bell Instruction Sheet (pdf)
Instructions
Gather the basic supplies.
Paint the hook and plaque.
Attach your hook upside down to the top of the plaque.
Download and print the “Ring Bell for Service” on the paper or sheets of choice.
There are a variety of ways to place this on your plaque. You can Mod Podge it on or you can print it on ink jet clear label sheets which is what we did. Had we used a paper label we would have put a clear coat of poly over it all. I use clear spray coating. 
Using Command Strips, hang your bell next to the open edge of your door. Make sure it’s at nose height for your dog.
Download our instruction sheet on how to teach your dog to use their new bell! Barnaby, shown below, learned in 3 days. 
30 responses
Hi! I love it!!! Totally getting on this asap! Question: what if you dont want to leash the dog every time they go out to potty? Is the leash important to train it? Can I eventually stop putting the leash on and just let the dog out in my backyard?
Hi Tatiana!
The leash is not necessary if your yard is safe. You mainly want to make sure your pup goes before coming back in. Ü Thanks so much for visiting!
Our dog, Golden Retriever, is 2 and is house broken but when he wants to come back in he jumps on the door and is scratching the wood. We are using the bells outside to train him to come in the house. Hoping this works.
Ah… that’s a great idea for another way to use the bells. Good luck Jake!
This is a great idea, and oh so very stylish!
I have never heard of bell training before!
thank you for posting this great idea!
You’re so welcome Rosie. Ü
I love this! Wod you be willing to make one for purchase? TIA!
Hi Shestin! My daughter actually made most of this for me. I’ll have to ask her and let you know. Glad you like it!
Hi Nancy,
This is so beautiful and clever!
I would love to purchase this if you are willing to. My email is premitha@me.com.
Hi Premi!
I’d love to make these available for sale at some point as you’re not the first person to ask but I’m not in a position to do so at the moment. I’m sorry. We’re in a temp place at the moment and don’t have access to our woodworking tools. If and when we do that we’ll put it in our newsletter!
Thanks so much. Ü
Nancy
Sent you an email Shestin. Ü
Nancy could you resend the email to me TIA!
What did you use to glue your clear label to the wood? Did you poly over it?
Hello Frank!
We used a clear inkjet label and didn’t poly over it as it was nice and slick already. The inkjet lables usually come with adhesive backs you peel off afterwards: http://amzn.to/2zpULjw
If you’re using non sticky clear sheets or the paper labels I always use spray adhesive to make sure t here are no lumps etc. http://amzn.to/2zDFhwB If I was using paper labels I’d use poly or a spray clear coat over all of it.
Good luck!
Nancy
FYI I updated the post with some added info as I see that part was not clear enough. So thanks for the email!
I’m using the jingle bells attached to the door knob, but this will eliminate hearing the bells overtime someone opens the door – (sometimes not a bad thing, tho). One thing with the bell training, your pup will undoubtedly learn that ringing the bell can get her outside when she doesn’t necessarily have to go. That is why, as the instruction sheet says, if your pup just lallygags around and doesn’t do its business, then you have to take them right back inside, otherwise every time they hear something outside, or they get bored, they will ring the bell. My lab would even just do a perfunctory squat to satisfy the potty portion of the training, and then expect to go for a walk. She would actually fake it, because she learned that in order to get outside, the stimulus (the bell) was tied to an action (the motion of the pee.) I’m making a few of these sets to give as Christmas presents to some dog owner friends that always marvel at my pup ringing the bells. Thanks for posting.
This works for cats too!! We all love it!
I guess it would! That never even crossed my mind. Thanks Cass!
Great idea! My niece trained her puppy this way and it was amazing…
I’ve been looking for a bell like the one you used, I’m having no luck. Any ideas where to get one.
I know Hobby Lobby has them. And I bought mine on amazon : http://amzn.to/2tbUQ7A I would image you’d have good luck at Lowes or Home Depot, whatever is in your area. It does need to have the other twirl to hold the bell so that can make it tricky. Good luck Aggie!
My friend told me to hang a string with a bell attached on the back door , I thought she was crazy. Every time I let puppy out I would ring it. Now I swear that in 4 rings , I was up in my room I thought I was crazy ! I heard that bell it really work! But..yours is beautiful !❤
Yep those little critters are smart as can be! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Debra. Ü
This is so cute! We’ve got our dogs trained to just scratch at the glass when they have to go out but that’s sometimes hard to hear. This would be easier to hear, prevents the door from getting scratched up, AND it’s adorable! Can’t wait to make this! Thank you!
Hiya thanks for this, am defo gonna give this a go. How do I teach my dog to go potty only in 1 place? She’s 2 & I’ve had her a year.
I’ve never done that but I’ve read that you just take them to the same place every single time. It requires you going with them of course and praising them. Then after a while you go with them off leash and if they stray to another area you say “no” and bring them back to the area you want them to go at. After a while they get the idea and should go where you want them too. Just takes time and work on your part. Good luck!
Here is an article I found by Cesar Milan which is about the same info. You can teach any age dog to do it: http://www.trainingcesarsway.com/easyturf/teach-your-dog-to-use-his-bathroom
Cute! I looked for something like this when we were training our pup and ended up making him a posh set of hanging jingle bells instead. I may have to give this a try in the future. 🙂
This is so great! Our dogs have used a potty bell for years, but this is much prettier than we have. Thanks for the idea!
You bet Tina!
This is absolutely adorable! My niece is teaching her puppy to ring a bell when he wants to go out and it seems to be working!
Sinea ♥