It might seem that I'm asking for the world !. My nearly 5 year old Border T has always been wonderful in the house. He was housetrained before we got him at 17 weeks and apart from 3 little tiddles on paper in his playpen (the first 3 mornings we had him - before I learnt to creep downstairs and silently pick him up and put him out before greeting him) he has never had a single accident.
Anyway, I would like him to 'ask' to go out. If I'm in the kitchen it's easy as he sits by the back door and I can see him. If however I'm upstairs or watching tv it's only when I notice he's disappeard that find him sitting there.
Is there a way of getting him to bark or do something to let me know that he needs to go out ?. As I say, maybe I'm asking too much from such a good dog, but I would hate him to ever be so desperate that it upsets him. When he does go out and perform, even now I still praise him and just before bed I send him out and he will always tiddle.
The thought of him sitting there with his legs crossed because I've assumed he's asleep somewhere worries me.
I also don't want it to become a game.....him thinking if he sits there I'll give him a treat !.
Any suggestions please ?. He is bright and picks up tricks etc quickly so I think he can do it.

Thank you

Be careful what you wish for   I think with an adult who has plenty of bladder control waiting for the opportunity to go is by fra the best way.  It is so easy to teach our canines that we are at their beck and call.

We taught ours to "show me" what they wanted, sounds great.

I get 1 dog standing in the water dish barking and telling me to top it up
I get another barking at the paddling pool yesterday telling me she wanted the paddling pool out.
I get them barking at toys up on the side
I get them barking to be let out then let back in.

This is bulldogs and rottie doing it lol

See be thankful for the doggies that wait hopefully and patiently :D

Wish my lot would wait patiently!  They batter the patio door when they want in or out

Sarah.

We have one boy who when he needs to go....Will open the back door!

If he's desparate he might surprise you. My dog has something the size of a keg installed in him so usually waiting until someone is downstairs works. However, the other day he really needed to go and let out a woof; something he usually reserves for cats at 6:30 AM on Sunday mornings :-D My puppy has learned to come get me when she needs out - it's up to me to think about why I'm getting a visit at my desk. You're little guy will probably find a way.

That is what most of mine do you find them staring intently at you and then go and open a  door, much nicer than the barking that my first two dogs did, and then it was in ans out.  Hence my back door is open at all times except the most inclement weather.

I should have said the woof was only because I was upstairs. Normally I get the sit in front of the door and look back too. Much nicer than a bark!

As neither of mine can bark to tell me when they want out I put a wooden windchime at their level at the side of the door and trained them to rattle it!! They don't actually have to do it very often though as I don't work they go out on several good length walks through the day.

Mine don't really need to ask to go out :) They get taken out four times a day so don't need trips to the garden in between. First thing in the morning Tara is the only one that usually needs out and she just goes and stands by the back door :) Of course, in good weather, the back door is always open. As someone else said, I wouldn't want them just asking to go out just for the sake of it :)

Daisy

1 of mine just waits till you let her out, the other starts winging at mine and the 3rd just wont settle, its not very often as they get walked 3 times a day but i find when the weathers hot and they drink more they want to go out more, its funny how they all have there own way of doing things even after living together for so long.

I wonder then, maybe if he gets really desperate he will tell me. I guess I'll find out one day !.
He stares and whines if he wants a tennis ball which has rolled under the sofa so he can ask for things !.

Thanks for your replies.

Why should your dog get desperate ?? If you walk him or let him out in the garden at regular intervals he shouldn't need to go :)

Daisy

Well, I do hope he never does........................but things can happen........just like with humans. Have you never been anywhere and had to look for a loo ?.

Mine always seem to make me notice if they have a problem :) But I'd rather have the very odd accident than be pestered for them to go out when they don't need to :)

Daisy

We had a similar issue with our Ridgeback pup - we got this  http://www.thedoggiedoorbell.com/index.html - its really just a hotel ring for attention style bell - however it works well - the only draw back is that once in a while our boy will use it when he just fancies a spell outside regardless of whether he NEEDS to go out or not!

To be honest from puppy-hood my dogs are given appropriate opportunities to go outside, very frequent to every so often. 

So they never need to ask to go out.  This makes life so much easier when away from home travelling or visiting.

They are let out at my convenience not theirs, though their needs are always considered.

Arched we have the exact same problem,same breed with almost exact same disposition :D I have been wondering how i could teach my female to let me know she needs out,but it sounds as iff we should be thinking ourselves lucky that we dont have door yappers ;) One of my dogs will grumble at the door or come and get me with a desperate stare,but my female has never done any of this,she can go almost 24 hours without peeing,i give her many opportunities to go out but she never does.She does however pee/mark alot when we go out for walks,last one being around 10 at night,most nights,so this is obviously enough for her.We do have a doggy door(briliant invention of all time),but i have been keeping that closed in the evenings lately because i am paranoid about rodents getting in(neighbour has a problem :rolleyes: )

None of my dogs have ever bothered me to let them out for no reason,as if i'm not out in the garden then neither do they want to be,they are always by my side,be it in the loo,shower... wherever! :D

I go to the loo more times than the dogs do during the day and night so i assume they need to go as often aswell...maybe they dont??

Hi Ktee

Funny aren't they !. I obviously worry far more than he does !. Maybe as he gets older he'll need to go more often (bit like me !).
Prehaps we should get them together and see if they can train us !.

Val

I'm lucky. My little border collie is small enough by miles to fit through the cat flap so whenever she needs to go she just lets herself out!

Border Terriers are small, maybe try that!!

Jack my GSD rattles the keys in the door with his nose when he wants to go out, failing that he will come and stand in front of me. We have'nt taught him to do this he just does it.  It was quite strange at first to hear it again because my Gordon Setter, Ollie always 'asked' that way too.