Meet Willow the Bell-Ringing Dachshund.

By Melissa Cole

There’s something about a little dog ringing a little bell that has everyone on social media tapping that “like” button. We’re not sure if it’s the big eyes and unassuming face, or the tiny little paws, but when you see it, you’ll agree, it’s pretty darn cute.

Meet Willow the 6-year-old dachshund, and her owner Tracy Kuhrt.

“I always wanted a dachshund. And when COVID happened, I was working from home, and I just decided it was the perfect opportunity.”

Kuhrt reached out to several rescue organizations, but because she lives in an apartment, she didn’t have much luck. Then she subscribed to the American Kennel Club’s newsletter, and when a puppy became available, she took a road trip to North Carolina to pick her up. The little dog originally came with the name Raspberry Beret, but Kuhrt changed it to Willow, inspired by her favorite weeping willow tree.

The two immediately fell in love. But, Willow proved to be a bit of a challenge when it came to potty training.

“When I got her she was so hard to potty train. I was so frustrated. So I researched what to do. And I saw this video about teaching a dog to ring a bell. So I bought a bell and taught her within 15 minutes. It was simple and easy to do. And once she learned, I put the bell by the door and every time we went outside I’d have her ring it. And that was her cue. I could just be sitting watching TV and she’ll go and ring the bell and then I know I have to get up and take her out.”

While the bell is mostly used as a sign to go out for a quick bathroom break, Willow sometimes rings it for attention – especially if Kuhrt is on the phone, or when they’re visiting family in the Adirondacks and she wants to run wild in the open outdoors.

“One day I was sitting in my office and she came in and just started ringing it nonstop, staring at me the whole time,” Kuhrt said. “It was so funny. I posted it on TikTok and within seconds something strange started to happen. It was 100 views, then thousands within just a few minutes.”

That first post quickly went viral, attracting comments from brands like Google and even Jake from State Farm. To this day, that one video has racked up about 20 million views.

Soon, Willow became a household name as Kuhrt created social media accounts under the name Gingertray – “Ginger” for her red hair and “Tray,” a nickname Tracy’s friends use for her. The accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube continue to grow, and on TikTok the duo recently celebrated a milestone of 50,000 followers.

Kuhrt’s next exciting adventure is launching a children’s book this month, you guessed it, all about Willow.

“I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book. I came up with the idea about ‘Willow Rings a Bell.’ I like to do rhyming and I like to be creative. And so it’s all about our journey of how I wanted a puppy and then how I was frustrated with potty training and then I taught her.”

The pages are filled with adorable illustrations, some of the characters inspired by people Kuhrt and Willow see around their West End neighborhood on walks to and from Elizabeth Park. She hopes to get it into libraries and local bookstores and plans to host in-person author events too. Some copies of the book will even include little Willow’s stamped paw print. Kuhrt also wants to bring Willow along for appearances at pop-up events at breweries, vineyards, and craft fairs, since it’s the tiny pup that everyone really wants to meet.

Kuhrt has loved growing the Gingertray brand. She’s become involved with the Women’s Business Development Council, specifically the organization’s Hartford office, to learn the ins and outs of starting a business. From creating an LLC and setting up a bank account to networking and navigating all the details that come with launching a new venture.The timing has worked out well. Kuhrt was laid off from a corporate job in 2025 after more than 15 years in the financial industry. Sharing Willow and growing the brand has given her a sense of purpose, as she continues applying for jobs and figuring out her next career steps.

People who watch Willow’s videos often comment that they brightened their day or helped them through a difficult time. For Kuhrt, those messages are motivation to keep posting and spreading joy, even as she’s facing some struggles of her own. And no one could predict her own frustration with potty training could lead to all of this!

“Its just so funny because just this small thing became this massive sensation. Willow is also my emotional support animal, so she is really great at comforting me. Every time I cry she immediately licks my face, she just provides a lot of comfort, support and joy for me. And I’m just happy I got to translate that and bring other people joy. I get so many people reaching out to me about how much she means to them and how she brightens their day every day, it’s just really nice to be able to give that joy that she brings to others and to me.”

You can follow along on social media:

• @Ginger_tray on Instagram.
• @Gingertray on YouTube and TikTok
• Facebook.com/TheGingerTrayCo
• Website: Gingertray.com

Kuhrt has also posted some tutorial videos on how to train your own dog to ring the bell.

“Willow Rings a Bell” launches March 25, 2026.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.