[NAGDU] Ring the bell

[Tracy Carcione]

Krokus's idea of letting me know he has to go out off-schedule is to come
look at me.  Or it could mean he wants to be petted, or play.  So he had an
accident the other day, because I didn't figure it out soon enough.

I'm trying to teach him to ring some bells on the doorknob when he wants to
go out.  It took about a minute to teach him to ring the bell, using the
clicker.  I'm stopping to have him ring the bell every time before we go out
to park.  This morning, all he wanted to do was ring the bell!  I had to
stop c&T-ing so we could get out the door.

I'd like ideas of how to show him that ringing the bell means we're going
out.  Is there a quicker way than doing it every time we go out?  Should I
have him ring it first, then put on his leash, as I will if he gets the idea
and rings it himself?  Or have him on leash before he rings it, so we're
ready to go?

Now he is ringing it and I have the clicker in my hand, ready to click.  I
guess the next step is to hide the clicker in my fist or pocket, so it's not
a signal to ring the bell?

Thanks for any ideas.

Tracy