How to Teach Your Dog to Sleep in Their Own Bed

On sale we can find loads of gorgeous dog beds in every size, shape and colour. It's likely that, full of excitement, we'll pick one for the new family member and hope they love it as much as we do.

Our surprise will come when we discover getting a dog to accept sleeping in the bed we've prepared for them isn't always so simple. How to teach a dog to sleep in their own bed? We explain how to achieve it.

Your Dog Adores You, But Not Their Bed

However lovely and comfortable the dog bed is, the truth is that for dogs, the best bed will always be the one we use. Let's not forget that, above their own kind, we're their reference point.

Hence their interest in always staying as close to us as possible, whether we're lying on the sofa or lying in bed. It's worth remembering they're social animals who usually sleep together to provide each other protection and security. It's entirely unusual for a dog to sleep apart from their pack.

On another note, if we let them sleep with us and later change our minds, they won't understand why it's now forbidden, and we'll need to spend time changing the habit. That's why the rules need to be set from the moment they first come into the house.

Knowing How to Choose the Best Bed for Your Dog

First of all, if you want the dog to sleep in their own bed, it needs to meet their needs. Even though for puppies a box with a blanket or some of our old clothes can work, since they'll likely destroy it, for other dogs it's best to choose a comfortable bed.

There are loads available on the market, so we can choose based on our taste, but it matters to bear some aspects in mind. For example, the size needs to be enough for the dog to stretch out and move around in it.

What's more, it needs to be soft enough to insulate them from the floor, and ideally have a removable cover you can put in the washing machine. Bear in mind that the more comfortable their bed is, the more likely they'll be to use it.

Beds for Puppies

Puppies should arrive at their new home at eight weeks old at the very least. By that age they've already received important lessons from their mother and littermates that will contribute to their future psychological balance. Even so, though they can feed themselves and, you could say, cope without their mother, up until then they've been sleeping with her.

That's why, however comfortable their bed is, they're going to feel the loneliness. Years ago it was said they should get used to their bed the hard way. This meant leaving them shut in the designated room and not going to them however much they cried.

Nowadays these methods are questioned, and it's recommended to offer the puppy our company, though this doesn't mean we need to let them sleep in our bed if we don't want them to. It is mandatory to help them settle into their new home, though. You can push their bed against yours and help them fall asleep by stroking them without them leaving their new bed.

How to Teach Your Dog to Love Their Bed

There are dogs, especially those unfortunate enough to have suffered mistreatment or abandonment, who'll adore their bed from the very start. Others, on the other hand, will dive straight onto ours. If we don't want to share it, it matters to bear these measures in mind:

• If the family decides the dog can't get on the bed or the sofa, everyone needs to respect the rules. Otherwise, the dog won't understand why one bed is allowed and the other isn't.
• Put the bed somewhere sheltered, ideally close to you. Especially if it's a puppy. If you spend time, say, in a living room or office, it's a good idea to move the bed there so the dog can be with you without needing to find another spot, or to have a bed in each of these places.
• Build a positive association — that is, every time the dog is in their bed, or to encourage them to go there, you can reward them with food, strokes or enthusiastic praise.
• Always use the word "bed" so they learn the name. This way, it'll be easier to direct them towards it. You can combine it with commands such as "sit" or "lie down" as their training progresses.
• Don't put them in it or keep them there by force, since that would be entirely counterproductive. Remember the bed should always have a positive meaning for them.

What Do I Do to Stop My Dog Getting on My Bed?

First of all, no shouting or using force. Simply, in a calm tone, call them and reward them as soon as they obey. You can redirect them towards their bed, and once they're sitting or lying down in it, give them another reward.

You may need to repeat the move several times, at least during the first few days. Stay calm and patient to get good results. Act the same way every time you find them on beds or sofas if you don't want to allow it.

The Bed When It's Hot

Lastly, it's worth remembering that when temperatures are very hot, it's entirely normal for the dog to lie down to sleep on the floor. They cope worse with heat than we do, and look for the coolness of the floor to feel more comfortable. In these cases, of course, don't force them to lie in their bed.

Bibliography Morris, Desmond. 1988. Observe a su perro. Barcelona. Plaza & Janés.