Tips To Stop Your Dog From Sleeping On Your Bed
Dogs naturally find the scent of their owners irresistible, and they will find ways to get close to their masters whenever possible. One of their resorts is to lick their owners' feet or face when the latter comes home from work. Others will just brush their body against their masters. But there are dogs that go beyond these physical manifestations in order to show their affection: they jump at every chance of sleeping on their owners' beds.
Most people, especially those who never own a pet, will probably find the idea of sharing their bed with their pet a disgusting one. They may reason out that their beds are not for dogs, and that the latter should have a sleeping place of their own. Others, however, may argue that having their dogs beside them is therapeutic and relaxing. Whatever the arguments may be, having dogs doze off beside humans certainly has its ups and downs.
Now, if it is impossible for you to stop your dog from sleeping with you, you can just face the situation head on. Here are some tips that you may employ when your dog tries to sleep with you:
– Put extra blankets over your bedding. Though the general rule is to never allow your pooch to sleep with you on your own bed or couch, you may simply place another bedsheet or blanket aside from your original bedding. This will avoid your bedding and you to smell like your dog especially when it relieves itself. This will also prevent your dog's mites, ticks, or fleas from sticking on the beddings.
– Put a divider between you and your dog. Here, a pillow will do the trick. Simply put the pillow between your pooch and you. This is to avoid your dog's ticks and fleas to get their way into you.
– Show your dog who's boss. Remember that dogs tend to be dominant or aggressive. You sure won't allow yourself to end up as a stranger on your own kingdom, which is your bed, of course. When your dog starts to occupy the spot that belongs to you, reassert your position. You may opt to banish it to its original place of sleep. When the effort won't work, go for the ultimatum: physically carry your dog off your bed.
– Keep in mind that your bed belongs to you. This, your pet will understand if you provide it with a bed of its own. But do not place this bed or couch in your bedroom as this may encourage the dog to transfer to your bed when it wants to. Moreover, help your pet make it a habit to ask for your permission if it wants to sleep on your bed. This it can do by doing small favors for you before your actual calling it to sleep on your bed.
Whichever of these tips you will adopt, remember that having your dog doze off beside you is not a bad idea after all. However, you should be sensible enough to set the rules before your dog gets too pampered and thus forget that you are after all, the king of the house.
5 Comments on Tips To Stop Your Dog From Sleeping On Your Bed »
June 17, 2009
Jen @ 5:17 pm:
My black Lab Charlee has always had a cage. When he was younger he had a smaller one- and when he got bigger we bought him a new one. Now that he is going on 2 years old- and weighs 100 pounds- he doesn't need to be in his cage when we are not at home. He is now house broken and we use the cage as a "time out" when he gets in trouble. Because of that- he is now use to his cage being the "time out"- he doesn't want to sleep in there at all. My boyfriend and I bought Charlee a real fluffy dog-bed for him, but rather than sleeping on it- he humps it and tares it apart and leaves cotton balls all around the house.
Now we are left with him not sleeping in his cage, and not sleeping on his dog bed. (We have bought more than one doggy bed- he does the same to all of them). He then sleeps with us. I love Charlee so much, but that 100 pound dog in between my boyfriend and I at night is great at first until he climbs up on your pillows and pushes you off the bed. So- when you wake up in the morning, every inch of your body hurts and you are sweating because you are so uncomfortable and hot.
I have tried to have him not sleep with us by purchasing him a new doggy-bed and that didn't work. We have also tried putting treats on his bed and closing our door (because he will end up sleeping with us during the night). When we close the door- he cries and scratches.
I really think Charlee has separation anxiety.
What do you think?
HELP!
January 9, 2010
Debbie @ 1:36 pm:
My Boston Terrier has slept with me since she was a puppy. Now that she is full grown she takes up the whole bed and I can't get a good night sleep. I am looking for tips that will help me train her to sleep anywhere else but in my bed. I have locked her out of the room and she scratches and barks to get in and of course I let her in because she drives me crazy. If anyone has gone through this and has found a way to solve the problem I would like to know about it. Help!
January 27, 2010
Jared @ 1:09 pm:
My wife and I recently adopted a 1 1/2 year old boxer who is very sweet and well behaved. We have allowed him to sleep at the end of the bead on a blanket because he he was determined to sleep with us. We figured we would let him for a few weeks til he got comfortable in the house. We need help to break him from this habit. We really dont want him sleeping on the bed. What Should we do?
February 24, 2010
christin @ 1:45 pm:
Jen, your dog won't sleep in the crate because you use it for time outs which is punishment to him. He does not have separation anxiety, he is being dominant. Put him in the crate with a blanket, pillow or sheet that smells like you and after a few nights he will be fine.
hope this helps.
July 23, 2010
Eddie Gamarra @ 4:56 am:
I have 2 mutts, which are brother and sister. Their names are Frankie and Annette and they like to get on our bed when we go to sleep. Frankie not so much but Annette is terrible with this. I cannot keep her off our bed to save my life. And what's worse is that she licks my side of the bed. I work nights and when I come home my wife is asleep and Annette is right beside her and when I get her off my bed, my side is slobbered on and I end up sleeping on the couch and washing our sheets in the morning. I am tired of getting angry with her. We have 2 dog beds. One in our room and one down stairs. I don't know what ells to do. I tried showing her our bed is off limits but with no success. We need help!