Caldwell’s Potty Bells Dog Doorbell

A nylon strap with bells that snaps closed around a handle, made to stay on sliding glass door handles as well as doorknobs.

Who it suits

Sliding glass patio doors and other curved handles where a looped strap would slip off.

Key facts

• Hangs from sliding glass door handles, traditional doorknobs and lever-style handles (Caldwell’s)
• Rugged nylon strap with snaps; the maker says it adjusts from 30 to 32 inches (Caldwell’s)
• Canine Journal’s tested version had two sets of bells and two rivets to shorten or lengthen the strap a few inches (Canine Journal)

What reviewers say

Canine Journal: Canine Journal’s Chelsie named it the best doorbell for sliding glass doors (September 2023), after finding that most hanging doorbells kept falling off curved patio handles. The snaps held it in place, and her 8 inch Chihuahua could reach it. How low it hangs depends on the handle, from 10 inches off the floor at one home to 5 at another. Her dogs had to nudge it harder than PoochieBells to make it ring, though she could still hear it from any room.

We did not test it ourselves.

Pros

• Stays on sliding glass door handles, per Canine Journal
• Snap closure, no tools
• Length can be adjusted

Cons

• Dogs had to nudge it harder than PoochieBells to ring, per Canine Journal
• Hanging height depends on your handle

Good to know

• Canine Journal says sleigh style bells have a small hole that a pawing dog’s nail could catch in, though none of its testers did. A nose nudge is safer than a paw.
• Check the bells hang at your dog’s nose height once fitted to your handle.
• If your house trained dog starts having accidents, see your vet, as VCA advises (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/house-training-your-puppy).