How to wean a dog from sleeping on the bed with its owner: the simplest ways. How to wean a dog from sleeping on the bed with its owner: simple ways How to wean a dog from its owner's bed

Why does a dog want to sleep on the bed with its owner?

The most important factor is the lack of proper upbringing during puppyhood and correction of the behavior of the formed canine personality. The owner must understand how he wants to see his four-legged companion in the future. The requirements for a puppy are the same as for an older animal.

But it is customary to identify several reasons why an animal persistently climbs into its owner’s bed:

struggle for leadership;
lack of attention;
pet's age;
feeling of cold, the pet cannot warm up on its own.

Let's look at them in more detail.

Struggle for leadership

Living in the same apartment with a dog means a constant showdown. The owners, for the most part, do not notice the pet’s manipulations. Only when the boundaries of what is permitted are crossed, do owners try to take action and fail.

Every person who dreams of a four-legged companion must remember: a pet will always, in one way or another, test the strength of its owner. Sleeping in the same bed is one way to show who is the true master of the house.

Once on the bed, dogs behave in different ways. Some pets, when trying to drive them away, begin to snarl and show their teeth. For some reason, this behavior often evokes affection among owners of small breeds. In fact, there is nothing to be happy about here. The pet considers himself a leader, and a person is a small fry whose responsibilities include feeding and walking him. In the future, the pet will have problems with obedience, because the dog sincerely does not understand why he needs to listen to someone. Who is this biped? Maintenance staff for four-legged animals. And the older the dog gets, the more difficult it is to prove it wrong and put it in its place.

Lack of attention

The pet is able to climb into the owner’s bed because it lacks attention from the latter. This is how the dog tells the owner that it’s time to switch to him. People who have a pet need to pet it more often, take long walks and be sure to talk.

Age

Puppies or very elderly animals can constantly occupy the owner's bed. Babies, especially those recently taken from their mother, experience stress. The little ones miss their mother and brothers and sisters; before they were in a pack, sleeping with each other, thereby keeping them warm and feeling safe. At a new place of residence, a small pet is deprived of everything listed, he is scared and bored. So the puppy asks to go to the owner’s bed.

Old four-legged animals become stubborn, irritable, often feel cold and look for a warm place. Older people, regardless of breed, are beginning to allow themselves something that was prohibited in previous years. Pets try to climb onto their owner’s bed to keep warm or to show that they, the dogs, are the leader in the relationship.

Feeling cold

Smooth-haired breeds freeze during the cold season. Animals want to stay warm, so they prefer to sleep on their owner's bed.

Why shouldn't this be allowed?

Before you understand the question of how to wean a dog from sleeping on a bed, you need to understand why it is worth prohibiting it from this action.

On the Internet you can find information about sleeping together with a pet, which can provoke terrible diseases. In fact, in order to become infected with something from a dog, you don’t have to sleep with him.

The main reason why you should prohibit your pet from compulsively getting into the owner’s bed is hierarchy. The four-legged animal must be clearly indicated where its place is in the relationship with the owner. The dog is always at the lowest level of the hierarchical ladder in the family. All its members, including children and the elderly, are taller than a dog. The owner is in charge; once the dog is allowed to sleep with him, respect is lost. The animal understands: it is capable of taking certain positions and begins to do everything to overthrow the owner from the “throne”. Some quadrupeds follow their line quite delicately, while others do not mind showing their teeth and forcing a person to give up the leading place with the help of force.

The second point is the difficulty of sleeping together. Large breed dogs take up a lot of space on the bed, constantly toss and turn in their sleep, some of them sniffle and snore, and try to throw their paws over the owner. In addition, in the fall or early spring it is dirty outside. The pet's paws, tail and belly become dirty, although the pet is wiped with a damp cloth after a walk or the lower part of the body is washed, particles of earth and sand remain. It's not very pleasant to shake sand out of your bed.

How to wean a dog from sleeping in the same bed as its owner?

It is much easier to wean a puppy than to retrain an adult. Many owners limit their pet's movement around the apartment. The growing dog has a hallway and a kitchen at his disposal. Access to rooms is prohibited.

An excellent alternative to the master bed would be a dog crate (boxing). Over time, the animal will begin to go into it on its own, and the puppy will be accustomed to the house with the help of treats and the “Place” command:

The owner takes the baby to the box, holding it with one hand and stroking it. At the same time, the specified command is given.
After this is said, the pet is rewarded with a treat.
The door to the cage closes.

If the puppy begins to whine and tries to escape from the box, the owner approaches him, opens the cage again, holding the baby, and gives a command.

When a pet, being locked up, is indignant, barking and whining, you cannot follow his lead. The owner strokes and calms the baby, but does not let him go.

If there is no box, the animal leaves its place, enters the bedroom and jumps onto the bed. The person takes the dog back to the bed and gives the above command. After several such trips, the puppy will stop trying to climb onto the bed.

The same applies to an adult pet. Sometimes he protests, bares his teeth and growls at the owner. The latter takes the insolent man by the scruff of the neck, shakes him thoroughly and gives a prohibiting command. The dog must receive negative reinforcement in order to understand that it is not worth showing aggression towards the leader. As for hitting an animal, a pet that does not respect its owner may respond by biting.

Another way to wean a four-legged dog from sleeping with a person is a good evening walk. The dog must be given the opportunity to run out, outdoor games, obedience training, a walk in a field or forest will lead to severe fatigue of the animal. Upon returning home, the pet will eat and immediately go to its bed.

When the owner is away from home

Let's talk about how to wean a dog from sleeping on the bed in the absence of the owner. The solutions to the situation look like this:

Lock your pet in a box (if you have one). But it’s worth understanding what constantly being in a confined space leads to. The pet becomes hysterical because there is no outlet for energy. The animal remains in a lying position most of the time. The box is ideal for short-term use during the day or overnight stay in it with subsequent release of the dog.
Closed doors to rooms are another option. The four-legged animal moves freely in permitted places (hallway, kitchen), however, access to the bedroom is prohibited. The animal is not tempted to climb onto the owner's bed, because the dog does not see it.
Perfect obedience. When dogs are prohibited from entering rooms, this should always be the case. Regardless of whether the owner is at home or not. This is what obedience is needed to be confident in the dog’s actions when it is not possible to see him.

The ideal option is a prohibiting command

It is extremely rare for pets to go against the will of their owners. After fulfilling the request, it is advisable to call the companion to his new place and give him a toy or treat and praise him. A shaggy friend should associate his dog bed only with positive emotions.

If you decide to take the issue seriously, be consistent. You weren't allowed to climb onto the bed? From now on, the path to the top is completely closed for the pet! The ward can be cunning, come to you at night, wake you up, be the most gentle and affectionate... Do not give in to persuasion. If you let it go even once, all progress will be reset.

Pets sense our mood. They know when we are irritated or very tired. Pets can use this. The dog will probably at some point try to board you: climb onto your bed when you come home from work tired. Your loved one understands perfectly well that you do not have the strength to fight. Here you will have to use all your willpower: drive your pet away until you are blue in the face. Hold on!

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It is worth mentioning one more important detail. If you have several pets, you will have to prohibit everyone from climbing on the furniture. The dog simply will not be able to accept it if you give another dog or cat more privileges.

Necessary conditions for a pet's sleeping place

The animal must have its own place to sleep. The following are used as a recreation area:

Cage or box. They are suitable for any breed and are selected based on the size of the pet. You should give preference to a box with a plastic, retractable bottom; it is easier to clean. Once a week the bottom is taken out, washed well, dried and put back in place.
The bed is ideal for small pets. It is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the material; it should be easy to clean from wool.
Mattress for large breeds. The requirements are the same as for a bed.
Orthopedic mattresses for old pets and dogs prone to joint problems.
Warm blanket or blanket.

The sleeping place is chosen in such a way that the pet can observe what is happening in the room where his “house” is located. The cage, bed or mattress is placed in places inaccessible to direct sunlight, drafts and the smell of tobacco smoke. The dog should feel calm and secure in its own “bed”. If there are children in the house, they explain that they should not disturb their four-legged companion while they are resting.

Video: how to wean a dog from sleeping on the bed with its owner? Trained by Antoine Najarian

On the pillow

As a rule, the softest place, on the pad, is chosen by small and very tiny dogs. First of all, this is because it is softest there and the dog, due to its small parameters, fits. Plus, you put your face on the pillow, and the dog in this position is in the closest emotional proximity with you. If your pet chooses this particular place, it means that he loves you endlessly and is attached to you more than anything in the world.

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