We have a 3 month old female westie. We've had her for about 3 weeks. For 2 of those weeks, she has been on an antibiotic for a UTI. During that time, she has had numerous accidents in the house-understandably so-due to the nature of her illness. In the one good week we have had so far, she has still managed to have accidents. I've heard of people training their dogs to use a bell to alert them of the need to go outside, but how do you get the dog to "make the connection" between bowel/bladder urgency and using the bell? She understands the concept (and complies nicely and quickly) when I ask if she has to "go outside", but she has never initiated the trip; never let me know when she has to go. How do I go about teaching her to let me in on her need to go outside?? She is in a crate at night and she does extremely well given her medical problem; only a few wet crates in the morning. I crate her at times during the day, even though I'm home, and she does not soil the crate. But, it's always me initiating the bathroom break when I take her out of her crate. Whenever I've tested her to see if she would initiate, I've always had indoor clean up duty. Any help is greatly appreciated!

It seems obvious to people that if the dog needs out, it should go to the door. Some don't seem to figure it out, often the sweetest ones maybe don't realize they can ask. It is common enough that I have my solution in my regular housebreaking advice and will paste it in.

By the time most dogs are about 3 months old, they have figured out that if
They go to the door and stand, you will let them out. The praise slowly shifts
To going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If
Your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it
Even gets near the door. You could also give the bells a ring as you take her out.

Years ago one of the sweetest puppies we ever had was slow about it. At that time I played a computer game a lot where sometimes you popped out the door if you got too close. Aha! Works with the dog. I take a good idea wherever it comes from.

Well, sometimes. The puppy we had 2 years ago decided the mat inside the door
Was an good place to nap.

Usually a dog with come to you and then look in the direction of the door.

Tie a bell of some sort around the door. Every time you take the dog outside, first stop at the door, pick up her paw, and jingle the bell for her. Then open the door. Before long, a dog will realize that all they have to do is ring the bell and magically the owner will come running and let them out. I have trained all of my dogs with this trick, it is pretty simple. Sometimes they will ring it when they just want to go outside and play and don't necessarily have to go potty.

Thank you for the advice. That's exactly what we have done and it's been working beautifully!