My dogs go out at 7am until noon in the fenced in area, unless it's raining. then they go back out around 3:00pm until 6:00pm then they stay in and I let then out when they ask. My dogs have a potty bell too! My dogs love to be outside but we will see how it works this winter. Before we got Lou Lou, Winchester would just go out when he wanted to go out! I am home all day with them so if they are barking alot, I let them back in.