Tuesday, July 15, 2008

REVIEW: Poochie-Bells

Poochie-Bells
Classic Collection

Where To Find:
Poochie-Pets

Poochie_Bells_2

I've seen doggy door bells before... coming across some in pet boutiques, magazines, online, etc. However, found that a lot of them came from companies that were so pretentious, you practically had to be a millionaire to afford a bell... for your dog to ring when he wants to go out and do a number 2! I'd actually been using an old Christmas bell, tied with a red ribbon to my door handle for years.... but not anymore! Poochie-Bells came to my rescue when they sent out a package for review.

Poochie-Bells are not only made with quality and functionality in mind, but they are chic and affordable too! Each one is handmade in the USA (scoring them bonus points from me!) from durable grosgrain ribbon and heavy duty bells, which are custom made just for Poochie-Bells (no ordinary craft bells to be found here!). The two sets of strategically placed bells are carefully folded and snapped securely into place so that both large and small breeds can easily reach either set - and the durable bells won't be destroyed, ensuring your dog's safety. The four bells are just right so that you can easily hear them, but not so loud that they are overbearing (important for those of us with pooches who are smart enough to learn just how to annoy their humans).

Poochie_Bells

Each Poochie-Bell comes neatly packaged along with a super shiny dog tag and complete instructions on how to train your dog. The dog tag is an adorable extra touch, with the Poochie-Bells logo on one side and "Ring...Ring I want to go out!" on the other (for my fellow craftsters, it looks super cute on your knitting/project bag). The easy instructions are clear and concise, and installation takes 2 seconds - just slip it over any door knob. They would make excellent gifts for all of the doggy homes on your gift giving list this holiday season!

The blue striped Poochie-Bell shown above has replaced that old Christmas bell on our front door and not only does it look great, but we're working on training Sophie to use it now (she didn't really reach the previous old bell).

Check out their website for some fun celebrities & their poochie-bells pics!

CONTEST! Thanks to Poochie-Bells, I have a very chic pink & brown polka dot one to giveaway to one of you! To enter, simply leave a comment here telling me how your dog(s) currently alerts you that he/she wants to go out. Maybe he/she already rings a bell... or does a fancy dance... or howls like crazy? Please be sure to leave a means of contact if your email does not automatically attach to your comment. Deadline to enter is Tuesday, July 22nd at midnight. Winner will be selected by random number generator.

Stay Tuned for Many Upcoming Reviews, including Namaste Bags, PolarKnit fleece yarn, Rachael Ray Nutrish, Paco Collars, Tilli Thomas yarns, brand new yarns from Rowan, Signature Needle Arts and more!

31 comments:

SissySees said...

I used a leather doo-whop that goes around the doorknob with a couple of good-sized bells attached. (I told you privately what happened...) If the Knight would tolerate the bells on the door, I'd be all over it!

Natalie Rush said...

Abby doesn't really necessarily do anything but if she's pacing you know that it's been too long. She rarely if ever paces. :) They get to go out a lot when we are home. Jackjack will stand behind you and kind of herd you to the door. ;) He is a lab not a herding dog but he does this either way!! I'm afraid that if I do the bells it will drive Special K crazy!!!!

Love the reviews!

Anonymous said...

Angel will dance and she will also use telepathy by looking at me then looking at the door. She is part Border Collie and she is figuring out new ways everyday to get her point across.

Anonymous said...

My Duncan rings to go out at our back door. We rigged up a hanging cat scratcher that has a bell at the top. The cats haven't used the scratcher in 2 years, but Duncan is a pro at hitting it with his nose. . .Vashty on the other hand sits and stares at it. Finally she gets frustrated that telepathy is not working and comes and puts her paws on my knee. She's too funny!

Sue said...

We had sleighbells tied on the door for decoration. Boo, my first PWD started ringing them to go out. Now several of the pups have picked it up by themselves.

Others run in circles, staring at me is another technique. With twelve dogs we have a lot of methods.

vegasangelbrat said...

Oh I need this really bad for little pup....when I'm home we're okay but my so called day watchers I'm not so sure..
right now pup lets us know by doing it on the floor...lol Nothing like the nice aroma a warm poo! LOL
Lady on the other hand will come put her head on any part of your body and she makes her head heavy, she will bug you to death...lol

Kenyetta said...

Diamond whines near the door when she has to go at an unscheduled time. Snoop gets antsy but we are still working with him.

Sara said...

Isis Dreamweaver does a happy dance that includes rushing to the door and then rushing back and jumping on my stomach. Prozac (Zac) has learned to used his in-door voice and stands at the door and barks...

I guess I could use a new way for them to alert me...

Oh, and if I win - I will be out of town until the 27th - so don't give up on me...

Unknown said...

We trained Chester with the bell method (christmas bells on a piece of ribbon)- but then he started abusing them. He would ring them whenever he wanted to go out/get attention. At that point he was potty trained, so we took them down. But, this is the method that I recommend to anyone with a puppy or otherwise not trained dog!

Julianne said...

Cooper will scratch at the door to let me know he needs to go out, it would probably be really easy to switch him over to a bell! Trapper just sits by the door. But I've been a SAHW for the last 9 months and they rarely actually have to let me know they need to go out now. Whenever I'm up and doing something I let them out. Cooper scratches to come back in and Trapper does a single bark to let me know he's ready to come in.

Kathy said...

This is a sore subject for me right now. :( But Josie goes to the door and bows. Patrick also goes to the door, sometimes. Neither can be trusted not to sneak into another room. I love the idea of training them to ring the bell!
Ravelry name Chimom
Email chiwawamom@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

Just love these contests you're haveing : ) We have alittle community going on here. Our little Abbie has always been a good girl, in all of her 7 years she's only had 2 accidents, and that wasn't her fault, it was mine, I just wasn't quick enough. Abbie goes to the door, looks at it and then back at me, then back at the door. Her eyes say it all.
eagle1@megalink.net

Kathy R said...

Lucy goes to stand at the door and starts to whine. Or else she'll come up and get in my face and pant loudly, then go stand by the door. Either way, she gets her point across.

Anonymous said...

Our dog sits or lays by the back door. If nobody is in that room to see, he'll eventually give up and go find people and start pacing near them. That escalates to poking people with his nose, "grumbling", and finally barking. ~Aradi on Ravelry

Turtle said...

Oh my gosh this is so cool! My dog right now comes and sits her head on my feet when she wants to go out. SHe gives you the hey there stare and wags her tail/butt when you acknowledge the word..out? On the other hand this would also be fabulous for the kitty who lives here. Outside on the door we have a cork tied from the handle that she uses to ask to come inside. I wonder if both animals could be trained to use this on the inner door to go outside? Very cool!

Unknown said...

Before the doggy door - mine would pace between the downstairs door and a human. If we never caught on - eventually you would step in a puddle.

My friend Jess - uses a bell and since she hasn't installed one at her new house - he dog sits at the door and wimpers, gradually getting louder and louder until he's crying at the door. If I won - I would send this to her.

Nic - how did you manage to get set up in this product review business? It's pretty cool! g

AllyB said...

Hey Nichole! Nice review of the Poochie Bells, those would look great on my deck door. Sam learned to ring a bell to go out as a pup, I wonder if he'd remember now...I'll give them a try if I win! LOL Right now we use the psychic method of potty...they stand and stare at me and wag their tails and I have to figure out if they want to go out or just a drink of water, hahaha.

gypsyknits said...

My daughter (vet girl) trained her two rescue pups with a bell on the door. However Mr. Diablo (german shepherd mix) rings the bell, waits for his owner to get up then leaves the area to go take a nap. She now trains other people's pets to the bell. If I don't win this, I'm going to purchase them for my "grand-dogs" in training for their Christmas gifts.

Thanks for the review.

Anonymous said...

Our first dog, Sadie, gets this funy look her eyes and then gets a little restless. If you say, "potty?" she gets excited so you know it's time. We just adopted two from the shelter and have to do the every hour check until they learn the carpet is not the grass. Poochie-Bells are very interesting. I'm going to talk to the owner of our local doggie store to see if she can order them.

Unknown said...

Cool bells!
My dog faces the door and whines. She's a chatty dog but she makes it known when she wants to go out. If you ask her "out?" and she has to go, it's the only time she's excited to be put out.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the contest. My dog hits the mini-blinds on the back door. He will also hit the door knob if it is the only thing on another door. If he had thumbs, I'm sure he would open it himself. If we are not near a door, he just gives "the look". Our other dog just sits by the front door and hopes someone notices her. Or we get a present. lol

Anonymous said...

I love these bells! What a cool idea.

Currently, my little girl tells me she wants to go out by sitting down near her leash (it hangs in the kitchen), doing a little dance with her front paws, and looking longingly and pointedly at her leash. So cute!

Unknown said...

I'm still trying to find something that works. Right now I ask 20 times and get a blank stare so hustle them out anyway. Would love to have them let me know with 'bells'.

Dianne said...

Great contest! Tara will sit on the rug by the back door and just stare at you. It's like she is trying to get your attention telepathically! Emma will go to the door and yawn. If you don't notice her right away, she does a big squeeky yawn with a whistle at the end. Weird, huh? Cooper doesn't really have a signal yet. I love the bell idea!

squiggi said...

cinnamon and booboo give us the wet and perisitent "nose bump" when they want to go out.
You know, when they stick their cold wet nose against your elbow and push.....
Also the "I want dinner!" signal
I'd love to teach them about the bells.

Criquette said...

Chloe comes over and leans on us and if that doesn't get our attention, will move and lean on us in the other direction.

Abbie is more blatant - she carries over one of her stuffed animals and pushes us with it until we ask her if she wants to go. Then she pushes us one more time before heading to the door.

Sarah said...

Our dogs ring a bell on the floor, but I am in the process of getting everything off the floor. So I just ordered a set of Poochie-Bells. I am hoping the switch from desk bell on the floor to bells on the door won't be a hard transition.

Anonymous said...

We don't have a great system. Right now, Charlie goes out almost everytime I'm in the kitchen. If he needs to ask, he just kind of gets in my face and acts excited. I wonder if he could be retrained to do this?

Laura said...

My dog sits somewhere closer to the door than normal, and gives me a pointed stare. If I don't get up fast enough, he'll stomp over, stand close and stare at me, then go back to sit down with an even more pointed look.

It can be a somewhat confusing signal, since the sit-and-stare also means "you should feed me now." So where he's sitting is important.
lshumar@pobox.com

Sarah said...

My Poochie Bells arrived yesterday and we are already working on training them to use them to let us know they need to go out.

Sarah said...

Elleigh and Lucas are not impressed with the Poochie Bells. They find it to be an intimidating ring as compared to their little desk bell. I am hoping I can still get them to transition to the Poochie Bells. If I have to, I will pull the clicker out and a hot dog and see if that doesn't make the bells seem a little more interesting.

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