Ding-Dong

We get a lot of visitors at our door....on our 5+ acres...behind a locked gate!

Many times a day....

Originally we taught the girls to 'touch' a bell hung from the door knob 

to let us know they wanted to go out. 

Kaitlyn is the queen of ringing the bell. 

She is our 'farm dog' and prefers to be out a lot during the day. 

Vickie will occasionally ring it. 

At our previous home we had the bells on the door leading to the lanai.

Once the dogs rang the bell, we could leave the door ajar

as it led to the screened-in pool cage and an opening to the fenced-in dog yard. 

They could come in at will. 

We didn't have that option at our new home. 

Segue....

I have always been fascinated by dogs who learn to touch buttons

to explain what they want or need:

Then I began to think...I have Corgis. They are smart. 

My girls would constantly be telling me they want a treat!

Do I want them to be telling me what they want? 

When they want?

NO! 

But...

What's the best way to have the dogs let me know

when they are ready to come inside?

I didn't want them scratching at the door.

And, if I wasn't in the room near the door, would I hear it?

Could I teach them to bark when they wanted to come in?

Okay...I don't want them to learn to touch buttons...

but what if I used a door bell?

I found a 'doggy door bell' on Amazon for around $30.

Then I found a wireless 'human' door bell for around $10. 

BINGO!

It only took a few days before the girls learned to 'touch' the doorbell pad.

I mounted the bell on the sill of the doors,

one for the front door and another for the back door (with a different "ring". 

This has worked for us....

and our girls!