Millie's Tinkle Bells: Who's Training Who Here?

After stumbling upon these cute Tinkle Bells in Etsy Shop Fido's Fashion Collars, I decided to try out the idea of potty training bells with Millie. So I ran down to the local craft store and bought some ribbon and bells and started sewing my own (much more pitiful and not nearly as cute) version of Tinkle Bells so I could see if Millie took to the concept (because though she understands the word "potty" she has no way of telling us that she needs to go)... Turns out, she's a pretty smart little girl.

I hung the training bells on the doorknob where we go out to potty and started by shaking the bells every time I took her out to potty so she would begin to associate the bell with the word potty. Within the first day, she started walking over to the bells and just barely tapping them out of curiosity. Each time she did, we would taker her outside (even if we knew she didn't need to potty). Very quickly she learned that the bells mean that the door opens. Mission half accomplished...

So now Millie knows that she can go outside by tapping the bells. But I believe Millie is smarter than we gave her credit for. I'm fairly certain she has begun to abuse them. After all, tapping the bells opens the front door in Millie's eyes. And outside is for pottying... AND PLAYTIME. So she has now turned the tables on us and trained us to open the door at her beck and call. We will, after all, open it every time she taps the bells, but it's a gamble for us whether she actually needs to potty or just feels like playing.

It's particularly amusing to watch little Miss Mildred tap the bell ever so slightly with her nose, then immediately (and somewhat suspiciously) turn to see if Mom or Dad noticed. She is testing us. She's testing to see if we've learned to come when she rings, like her very own butlers. You rang, Millie? Touche, Millie. Touche.

Have you ever tried the potty training bells with your pup? What system do you have in place where your dog can tell you that he's gotta go?