My Westie is nearly 18 months old, but she has never learnt to ask to go out to toilet. Is there some way I can train her to do this?

Thanks

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Personal opinion of course but I tend not to.

I just know the signs when my older dogs need to go and with pups, if your not careful, they will have you up and down like a yo-yo as it becomes a good game going out to chase leaves, etc. etc.

You've not got a problem with her toileting in the house have you?

No she's clean in the house (well not today but she's going to the vets tomorrow for suspected UTI). She never shows signs of needing to go (or at least none that I ever notice ) which is ok because she's usually out in the garden or out for a walk fairly regularly throughout the day, but I thought teaching her to ask to go out rather than wait until I happen to open the door might be a good idea. But if not that's fine too - less work on my part!

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Its up to you really, I can tell when they need the toilet anyway, but sometimes if i'm really busy its nice that they can get your attention.

I train my dogs to bark when they want go out to the toilet. I start by associating the word 'Toilet' with the act of going by saying 'Toilet, toilet, toilet' when they're going with lots of praise. I also teach them the 'Speak' command by catching them barking and saying 'Speak, speak. GOOD BOY!'.

When they've definitely got that, I ask them inside 'Toilet? Do you need the toilet?' and they generally get quite excited. I wind them up a little saying 'Toilet? Toilet? SPEAK! Toilet?' and they generally start to make whining noises. As soon as they make a noise, I let them outside.

My breeder has a bell on the door and her dobe rings the bell when she wants to go out

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Clover just paws me when she wants to go out - she started doing it as a pup. She pawed me, I took her out. So she just learnt the association

Poppy has Poochie Bells(not sure you can get them in NZ but you could always order from overseas if the import duty wouldn't make them too expensive, or if you're handy you could make something similar).



She was already house trained when I got them, I just didn't know when she was asking to go outside as she would sit by the door and not make a sound and the door is not in sight when I'm in the lounge. It took two or three weeks of constant "ring the bell, outside" every time she went to the door before it clicked with her. She does ring them just to go outside and have a wander/nosy as well as to go to the toilet but I don't find that a problem.

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Poppy's blog: Poppy's Puppy Tales

It is not anything I have ever wanted to train my dogs to do, as I have no wish to be their maid!

I take my dogs out at sufficient frequencies during the day that they never HAVE to ask to go out.

But if you want to become Jeeves then see here.........

Poochie-Bells

You can make you your own design however as bells can be bought at most haberdashers..........