Frequently Asked Questions
Does Poochie-Bells work for large dogs?
Definitely.  Your dog just needs to nudge the bells or anywhere on the ribbon.  This will move the ribbon and jingle the four bells
so you can hear it.  We've had terrific feedback from both large and small dog owners.  Examples are greyhounds, labs,
dalmatians to the little guys such as terriers.

Do I leave the bells on the door all the time?
Yes. Your Poochie-Bells should hang on the inside doorknob all the time when training, for your dog to be able to ring them
when he needs out. In addition, having the bells on the door reinforces your dog's understanding and association that when the
door opens, the bells ring - when training your dog. He/she will associate the bell sound with the door opening by having the
bells there consistently.  Once he/she is trained, you can move your poochie-bell if you like to a hook next to the door within reach
for your dog to ring.

Does my Poochie-Bell have to hang on the doorknob?
Great question...Your Poochie-Bell can hang on your doorknob or you can hang it right next to the door on a small hook.  Take a
look at our
accessory page for more options.

What retail stores sell Poochie-Bells?
Poochie-Pet products are sold in select retail pet and home & garden boutiques through the U.S. & Canada.  Visit our Signature
Store listing or send us an email at orders@poochie-pets.net if you want to find the location of a store near you, or feel free
to order on-line.

Many professional dog trainers & breeders  also carry Poochie-Bells - be sure to ask yours about Poochie-Bells.

Can I just use a bell like a hotel bell on the floor?
Sure that is another method for bell training.  However, please keep in mind that Poochie-Bells are designed for dogs. A hotel
bell can be moved by passing feet, lost or even carried away by the family pooch or children.   Poochie-Bells are specifically
designed for safety and effectiveness while looking great in your home.

Does Poochie-Bells attach to any door handle type?
Yes!  Poochie-Bells are designed to attach to most door handle types.  With a typical doorknob, you can just slip your
Poochie-Bells over it and you're all set.  With a slider or other type of door handle such as one with a push-handle type opener,
you can unsnap the top hanging loop and loop through your door handle and re-snap into place.  

My dog is very small and short...can you make Poochie-Bells longer for me?
Yup!  If you feel that approx. 25 in. isn't quite long enough for your dog and that he/she may not be able to reach them, just let us
know.  Send us a note on your checkout page in the comments section to make a bit longer for your dog.   You can also hang
your Poochie-Bell right next to the door
(with a small hook) so that you can hang at just the right length for your pooch.

What if  my dog rings the bells all the time?
As with any training procedure, it is important that you remain the authoritative leader.   You can rectify this behavior by controlling
the frequency you allow your dog to go outside.  If you dog just went out, and then rings the bells shortly after coming inside, do
not let him back out until a reasonable amount (no more than once an hour)  of time has passed and he re-rings the bells.  Your
dog has learned the behavior, you just need to modify it.  He will soon learn not to abuse his new communication tool with you.

Can I use treats to help with my Poochie-Bells training?
We recommend that you try training without treats first.  You want your dog to understand the reward of ringing is your attention
and the ability to let you know effectively that he needs out.  If, though, you find your dog hesitant or nervous to ring the bells due to
the sound, you can smear a little peanut butter or cream cheese (just a dab) on the bells to let him know the bells are his friend
and not to be scared
(be aware of food allergies first).  Giving your dog a food treat may speed up your initial training, however, your
dog may learn to ring every time he would like a treat and not just when he needs out, so we recommend bell training without
food treats.

How old should my puppy be before I start trying to use Poochie-Bells?
We recommend that your puppy be at least 12 to 16 weeks of age before trying to train him to use Poochie-Bells.  As with any
training program, your puppy needs to be old enough to understand the training concept.  

How long does it take for my dog to use the Poochie-Bells consistently?
Well....this one is up to you.  Depending on your dog's ability and YOUR consistency in training and praise, each dog may adopt
ringing the bell differently.  Bottom line, don't get frustrated with your training and be realistic about the time it takes to teach your
dog this new habit.  We've had feedback that some dogs have adopted the bells as quickly as a few days to several months.

Are Poochie-Bells just for puppies or can any dog be trained to use the bells?
Old dogs can learn new behaviors!!!  Poochie-Bells are definitely not just for puppies.  

How do I get other ribbon styles?
Check our the Extra Ribbons Page on our web site for more options.

My dog uses several doors to go out...which one do I hang the Poochie-Bells on?
All of them unless you want to train your dog to use a specific door.  Poochie-Bells are made to be able to fit on a variety of door
knob types.  The snap enables you to attach easily to a variety of door handles.  

Can I hang my Poochie-Bells on the exterior of my door so I know when my dog wants to come in?
Poochie-Bells are made for interior use.  Long term exposure to Mother Nature may harm your Poochie-Bells.  Hearing bells
from outside within your house may also depend upon weather, closed windows, doors, etc. and you may not be able to hear the
bells from inside the house if they are placed outdoors.

Should I train my dog to use his nose or his paw to ring the bells?
Whatever works for the dog.  However, we recommend training your dog to use their nose so that you minimize scratches on
your door, or the dog knocking the bells off the door knob or tangling the Poochie-Bells.  The key is re-enforce and be consistent
EVERY TIME you go out with your pooch.

Can I get Poochie-Bells on eBay?
The authentic  Poochie-Bells product is not sold on eBay.  

If my pet uses two different doors, should I order the same color for each for my pet's training consistency?
No.  You do not need to purchase the same color for multiple doors within the same house.  We have found that the consistency
of the size, shape and placement of the bells allows for your pet to recognize  Poochie-Bells regardless of the style ribbon you
select.

Does Poochie-Bells support any charities?
Yes!  We have sent MANY free Poochie-Bells out to charities across the country as well as our new campaign of selecting one
association  per quarter and donating a % of sales to that cause.  Our latest was the
Southern California Greyhound Association
(which you can find out more about on our Favorite Links Page.  We also encourage the use of coupons with Poochie-Bells in
which a % of the coupon used is donated to a specific charities.

Some of the past charitable organizations Poochie-Bells has supported with free Poochie-Bells are:  4Paws Inc.; West End
Animal Shelter; Legacy Boxer Rescue; Newfoundland Dog Rescue and the Havanese Club.

Can I submit my pet for Poochie-Star of the month without purchasing Poochie-Bells?
Sorry - wouldn't be fair to our other Poochie-Stars.  We love hearing from our clients and learning how their dogs implemented
Poochie-Bells.  

I have a doggie door, why would I need Poochie-Bells?
Having a communication tool for you and your dog alerts you to when your dog needs to go outside.  By hearing Poochie-Bells,
you know that your dog needs to go out.  You can control when your dog is outside rather than having your dog come and go as
he pleases.  Outside threats such as other animals, cars, weather, etc. are factors and knowing when your pet is outside gives
you control instantly if your dog is out or not.

Does anyone famous use Poochie-Bells in their home?
Privacy among our clients is part of our business philosophy.  We can't tell - sorry!  But...we will say that even if we do have
famous pooches as our clients, all dogs are created equal in our eyes and all are stars!  
You may want to check out our picture
page of celebs and their poochie-bells.

What type of dog is Oscar (on the main page)?
Oscar is a carrin terrier/poodle mix.  Wonderful dog!
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Patent Pending Poochie-Bells 2008
Beebles learning to use
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