How to teach your dog to sleep in the dog bed?

The bedding selected especially for the comfort and safety of your pet seems almost intact, and you find yourself sleeping in uncomfortable positions next to your furry friend? Fortunately, there are a few simple methods to introduce your dog to the healthy habit of using its own bed. Here are some practical tips for teaching your pet to sleep in a dog bed.

Dogs love to spend time with other family members. Therefore, it is probably hard for them to understand why they have to fall asleep in their own bed, which, to make matters worse, is often located in a completely different room. Therefore, it is best to find a solution thanks to which the pet will be able to stay as close to its owners as possible, without, however, making it difficult for them to rest at night. Where to put the lair so that our friend would like to use it?

In some cases, it’s a good idea to choose a room that your dog is used to. If your pet usually relaxes in a child’s bedroom, it is better not to force it to suddenly change its habits. If you don’t want to risk your pet following you as you start getting ready for sleep, choose a quiet, cosy place away from the hustle and bustle of the home, where your little friend will be able to feel calm and safe even in the middle of the day. Although it is better to give up passing rooms, as well as a bathroom or kitchen, we also cannot make the pet feel too isolated from other household members. What else is worth remembering?

• Avoid sources of heat, noise and excessive moisture.
• Place the bedding in a secluded, slightly shaded corner that does not interfere with family life.
• Make sure your dog is comfortable with its new location and that guests or family members will not accidentally disturb its rest.

Dog bedding is not only for a peaceful, healthy rest. Ideally, it is a cosy, quiet refuge that increases the sense of security and allows your furry friend to find itself in the home space. How to teach a dog to sleep in a dog bed? First of all, it is worth establishing simple, clear rules that will give it greater stability. A beloved pet should know where it can go if it wants to calm down after exhausting play or a long walk.

Do you need to move its bed to a different, more appropriate place? The change won’t be so stressful if you make sure the dog bed is drenched in a familiar scent. Place in it your pet’s favourite toys or a blanket it uses often. Also, try to be patient; sometimes it takes a while for the dog to acclimatize.

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Most pets get used to their corner relatively quickly, as long as we don’t let them use other furniture. It is best not to make any exceptions to this. When your pet feels a little worse, do you let it sleep in your bed, although access to the bedroom is strictly prohibited on a daily basis? The main mistake of many caregivers is inconsistency. Your dog won’t know what you expect from it if you start changing the rules unexpectedly. So the next time your pet wants to jump on an armchair or couch, give it a clear command “No” and direct it to the bedding. Even if it tries to break the rules, do not wake your dog up too abruptly, and don’t raise your voice.

In order to unlearn a dog from bad habits, we need to react exactly when it is behaving inappropriately. This also applies to rewarding good behaviour. If you try to do this after some time, you will likely be misunderstood and your pet will not associate the praise or reprimand received with the proper situation.

Fortunately, most caretakers do not need long to be persuaded to hug and distribute treats to their pet who has just complied with the instructions given to him. Attractive delicacies will increase its motivation and help to consolidate recently acquired skills. How to teach a dog to sleep in a dog bed? The best way is to reward it with small, healthy snacks or favourite cookies each time it obediently returns to them. Thanks to a bit of tenderness, the new crib will quickly become a synonym for comfort, peace and safety.

Sometimes it is enough to introduce a few simple rules for the pooch to stop avoiding its bedding and finally free up space on the couch. In some cases, however, the answer can be much more complicated. Consistent breaking of the rules may be a signal from our pet that the chosen place to sleep is simply not suitable for him. How to deal with this problem?

First of all, make sure your dog’s bed is neither too small nor too big. Some quadrupeds like to curl up and fall asleep on a soft, cosy, cushioned sofa the most. So they will not be particularly pleased if they sleep on a bed that is too large or the wrong shape. Its thickness and pleasant to the touch, easy-to-clean material are also very important. For example, an orthopaedic bed will be perfect for the shape and weight of your pet.

Read also: Orthopaedic pet beds. How do they work and when to choose them?