Raising Robbie: Time to "Tinkle"!
By Craig Garretson, Communications Officer
Housebreaking is the first challenge for any new puppy. Seeing Eye puppies are no exception!
With Robbie, we put him on a schedule where we took him outside frequently — not fun in the winter months! — and when he answers nature’s call, enthusiastically praise him.
Now that he sort of has the idea, we’ve also introduced a set of bells that we hung from the back door we always use to take him into the yard. (I hung another set of bells on the gate for my office door.) The photo shows Robbie sitting in front of the gate with the bells on it.
Whenever I take him outside, I use Robbie’s paw to gently swat at the bells. The hope is Robbie will associate the bells with going outside — and eventually learn that when he wants to go out, he’ll let us know it’s “time to tinkle” by tinkling the bells!
