Train Your Dog To Sleep In His Own Bed

Today, I read an article titled "Is it safe to let sleeping dogs lie in your bed?" by Dogtime. In it, the author discussed about pet-to-person transmissible diseases like Chagas, Cat Scratch disease, and the notorious Bubonic plague. This made me recall the story my sister once shared with me about a colleague's story of Lyme disease.

Honestly, I really don't mind having my dog sleep on my bed. Chooey and Peanuts used to sneak up when I'm asleep. However, being asthmatic, having the dog in my room (but not beside me) is a more beneficial set-up on my part.

This pillow used to be mine...

Training your dog to sleep in his own bed can seem like an arduous task, especially when that cute little face is looking up at you. Therefore, it is better if you teach your dog to sleep on his own whilst he’s a puppy, as it can be harder with a more mature dog.

So, what are the benefits of bed training? 

• Some experts believe that it teaches your dog his place in the ‘pack’ or hierarchy in your home.

• It trains your dog to be alone sometimes, and can guard against separation anxiety.

• Your tiny puppy won’t stay small for long. Some breeds can grow to a huge size, and you could be the one with no space in your own bed!

First of all think about the type of bed you’d like. Choose one that your dog can grow into, as he will grow quickly. Smaller breeds and puppies do like to feel secure, so a round, donut type bed is a good idea. Make sure that there are no loose edges, or parts that could become loose and a choking hazard. Swell Pets has a variety of different beds you can look at for inspiration.

Since Asti doesn't like staying inside a crate, we opted for this type of round bed. It's made of plastic and easy to clean.

If you have an older dog, or one with joint or mobility issues, consider a heated bed. These can be ‘self-heated’ and work off the dog’s own body heat. Others are thermostatically controlled to a temperature just above the ambient room climate. The gentle warmth will soothe old bones, especially in the colder months.

Consider a crate too. More pet owners are using crates to give their dog a place of his own to sleep or just to rest. For puppies this can be a good idea to get them used to being alone and also to save your possessions from little teeth.

Training Time!

Before you begin training, remember to go at your pet’s own pace. This will give you the best result and cause the least stress for everyone.

Pop an old t-shirt of yours in the bed, this will add your smell to the bed. Also pop one of your dog’s toys in there too to add his scent. This will make the New Bed seem a much friendlier place.

Show your dog the bed and let him have a good sniff to acquaint himself. Then place it in the agreed place. This can be in your room, or on the landing nearby if that is better. Wherever you put it, make sure that it is a quiet place in the home that doesn’t have a lot of activity. It needs to be your dog’s retreat, so must be peaceful.

And if your dog is this cute, sometimes it's just too hard to say no. 
My Female Dog Sleeping in My Bed by Rafel Miro, CC BY-ND 2.0

If he seems reluctant, pop a few treats in and around the bed. This will help him associate the bed as a positive place and somewhere he wants to be. 

When it’s time for bed, simply take your dog to the bed and place him gently inside. Saying the word “Bed” each time will help him associate the word with the act. 

Older pets can be taught to sleep in their own beds, although if they have spent years sleeping with you, this could take more time. Simply follow the steps above, and don’t give in!

This video has about 21 million views. It's about the smart pittie who takes advantage of his master's absence. I've seen this a couple of times already, so I definitely want to share it with you.

You may experience a few tiresome nights of taking your puppy or dog back to their bed, but the repeated action accompanied by positive words and lots of praise should soon have everyone sleeping soundly – in their own bed!

Read More

How to Train Your Dog to Use a Crate

Crating your dog can seem a little harsh at first, especially when you consider shutting your precious puppy away! However crate training has been found to be beneficial for dogs as it promotes a range of advantages:

• Provides a safe place for your pet to feel secure
• Encourage bowel and bladder control – dogs don’t like to mess where they sleep/eat
• Perfect for travelling; using a crate keeps you both safe and secure in the car
• Great to ensure your pet doesn’t cause any damage when you aren’t around to supervise him.

Dogs were originally pack animals that lived in small dens for safety and comfort, so they like to have a safe place to retreat to. A crate can replicate this, and provide a place of his very own. For young dogs, or those who get bored easily, this can also mean you can leave him for short periods without the risk of carpets or furniture being chewed.

Never leave your dog in a crate for too long.

A key point to remember, is that the crate should not be used as a punishment. You want your dog to feel safe and comforted in his crate, and be eager to go inside. Associating it with negative connotations will mean he is reluctant to sit inside. 

Ready to give it a Go?

So, when you feel the time is right to crate train your dog follow the guidelines below for a fuss free transition;

Choose the right size for your dog. Remember, if he’s a puppy he will grow, and fast – so choose a crate with growing room. Make sure you opt for one that your dog can fully stand up in, and turn around easily. There is lots of choice in stores or online, Swell Pets have a huge range of crates that are perfect from Chihuahuas to Dobermans.

Buchi's five-year-old wire crate

Make it comfortable and appealing. Add some soft bedding and even a favorite toy to make the crate feel and smell like home. At first just leave the crate door open and make little fuss, if he does go in, don’t close the door. Allow your dog to go in and out as he wishes. Remember, patience is the key here!

If in Doubt…Food!

If, after a while your dog isn’t interested, maybe try popping a few treats inside and around the crate. There’s very few dogs who can resist a tempting treat. Again patience is vital, so go at your dog’s pace.

Another idea is to put your dog’s food in the crate, right at the back. If he goes in to eat, this will form a positive link with the crate. When he is eating close the door, but once he has finished open it. This reinforces the link between food-crate-happy dog. Keep the door closed for slightly longer each time, to make him realize that the crate is a good place.

These Shih Tzus were just too excited about it. The moment I opened our new collapsible wire crate, off they went inside. Chooey even strikes a pose.

If you think your dog is happy in the crate, try leaving him for very short periods and build up slowly. 

If you don’t have much luck at first, don’t worry. Simply take time and patience to ensure your furry friend feels comfortable in his crate. With a little hard work and perseverance, he’ll soon be happily curled up inside.

Buchi: Get out of my crate, Chooey! I have an appointment with the pretty vet lady today.

Sorry I'm a little under the weather, bloggy friends. Buchi's immuno-compromised body requires tender, loving attention twice a day, seven days a week. 

On the bright side, it's been a month since we've visited our favorite vet. Although, we might have to drop by her place tomorrow since the itchies is getting worse again.

Read More