Question:
question: My Chocolate Lab knows he is supposed to go outside to use the bathroom but if he goes to the front door and no-one sees him he will not alert us in any way and will go right there. We rent our house and putting in a dog door is not an option. What can we do so he will bark or scratch or something?
Answer:
I think the first thing I would do, is set up a regular schedule for this dog. I would try to feed at the same time every day and Take him out at regular intervals whether he asked out or not. The reason for this is to set the stage for our training and also to prevent further mistakes while you work on having him speak when he wants to go outside.
To get him to speak to alert you that he wants to go out may have a small drawback. You will not be able to determine if he 'needs' to go out or if he just 'wants' to go out. If you go this route you must be prepared to take him out every time he asks and you must not reprimand him for asking out when he doesn't need to go to the bathroom. Still, going out occasionally for no reason is better than having him making mistakes in the house.
Find something that makes him bark. Some dogs bark when they hear a doorbell, or a knock at the door. Some will bark if you act like you are going to play with them. Whatever makes your particular dog bark, you will need to reproduce it many times until you can associate the command "Speak", and a signal such as "opening and closing one hand" or "opening and closing one finger", with the barking.
Always use both command and signal. Eventually, he will respond to either one or the other, but using both is a much stronger influence.
Let's assume he barks when he hears the doorbell. Every time he barks, give the command speak, and at the same time, show him the signal. Praise lavishly and encourage him to speak. Have someone ring the bell to assist you, or, after a few successful trials you may be able to ring it yourself and get him to speak. Do this several times a day, and especially each time before you take him for his regularly scheduled outings.
When he is responding well, take him to the door, and without ringing the bell, give the command and signal, get him to speak and immediately take him outside. Repeat this routine for a few days until you are sure he has it right, always asking if he wants to go out, and then having him speak. Revert to ringing the doorbell if/when necessary.
Now, when it's time for his scheduled outing, sit at the kitchen table or stand at the counter. Call him to you and ask him if he wants to go out ( "outside?" ). When he looks at you, give the command and signal, and when he speaks, praise him and take him out. Try to get him to speak before you go to the door, but if he doesn't, keep trying as you go toward the door.
Some dogs will learn to speak very quickly, but you will need to repeat this many times after he gets the idea to make him reliable. Just because he gets it right a few times doesn't mean you can quit. Always have him speak before you take him out. Call him to you at various times and places in the house and ask if he wants to go out, to get him used to coming to you and speaking when he needs to go out. No matter what you are doing if he asks out, take him out immediately.
When all this is working well, try testing him by leaving him until you think he must need to go out. Watch him closely during these testing periods to be sure he doesn't go to the door unnoticed and revert to his old behavior. Pay attention to him as the training progresses. If he comes to you and just looks at you, ask him if he wants to go out, but don't give the command or signal. If he responds to your question by speaking, or if he heads for the door, praise him and take him out. Be sure to always praise when he is in the act of relieving himself outside.
Don't expect this training to progress without a hitch. Some days he may do very well and the next he may act like he doesn't know what you're talking about. Patience and perseverance will get you there.