Yup, I love my poochie bells also! Boone just wasn't getting the hang of the whole "asking to go out" thing. I got the bells started using his paw to hit them before I'd open the door, and within 3 days he was ringing them on his own.
Yes, he rings them when he wants out to play, but I don't mind. He abused them for a while (ringing them over and over, go outside, then want right back in), but now he only rings when he wants out.