Asking to go out

[Pumpkin the musher]

OK, I'm stumped. My Pomeranian Cricket is now 10 months old and doing well with potty training, with one exception. She does not ask to go out; in fact gives no indication that she needs to go. This is only the second indoor dog I've owned, and the first learned almost immediately to ring a bell to go out, so I guess I got spoiled! I'm not a novice at reading dog behavior, but this has me going. She does do her business when I put her out, but I wish she would indicate when she has to go. Any ideas? :-?

[DogPaddle]

You could try putting a bell on a rope by the door. Every time you put her out, ring the bell, give her a treat and put her out, if possible leave her out till she goes. Then move on. Just before you think she needs to go out do a quick training session teaching her to ring the bell (kindof a directed shake or something) as soon as she rings the bell, even if it is with assistance give her a treat and put her out. Anyone else?

[mouseatthebusstop]

I have only had indoor dogs. Paddy will look at me and whine. Gladis looks at the door. You must have had a clever dog to ring a bell to go out
:D

[Pumpkin the musher]

My first Pom (the bell ringer)has since passed on, and the really amazing thing is that I never really made an effort to teach her to ring the bell. The bell was originally there because my door did'nt close real tight and occasionally the wind would blow it open, and that way I would know when it opened. One day she just walked up to the door, hit the bell with her nose and looked at me as if to say"Well? Let me out!" She used it every time since then until she died last spring of cancer. She was an incredibly smart dog tho- she could retrieve over a dozen different toys by name, including hearing the word on TV. She had a toy named "Snake"just a tube of cloth really, but as my husband and I watched a National Geographic program about snakes, she heard the word and proceeded to produce the toy. Same with Monday Night Football- as soon as the words "are you ready for some football?" came on, out came the little nerf football.
I already have a bell hanging on the door and ring it everytime I let her out treat her when she comes in ,but she doesn't seem to be picking it up.
Maybe it will just take time, and I'm expecting too much too soon.

[alicat613]

We did the early potty training on a leash method. When he obviously needed to go out, and when he was able to hold it better, when he wanted out I would put his leash on, and stand there and tell him "Want outside? Potty? Say woof" over and over, saying woof like he does, until he did. Then I would praise him and take him out. He only gets to go out when he woofs first and he is excellent at it, no accidents at all since he was less than 3 months old, and he always tells us.
I think most dogs will tell you if you teach them how. Good luck!