Have you ever woken up in the morning to find your dog taking over your entire bed? If so, you’re not alone. Many dog owners struggle to keep their furry friends off the furniture, especially when it comes to the bed.
There are several things you can do to keep your dog off your bed, including establishing rules and limits from the start, using positive reinforcement, and providing an alternative sleeping spot for your dog.
If you’re tired of finding dog hair on your pillows and your sheets, then read on for some tips on how to keep the dog off your bed once and for all.
1. Get Your Dog Their Own Bed
The first step to keeping the dog off your bed is to surprise them with their very own bed. That’s right, their very own dog-sized bed that they can call their own.
These days, there are all sorts of different types of dog beds available on the market, so you’re sure to find one that suits your pup’s needs. Once you have their bed set up in a place that they love, it’s time to start training them to use it.
One way to do this is to reward them with treats whenever they lie down in their bed. This will help them associate lying in their bed with something positive (getting a tasty treat), and before long, they’ll be spending more time in their own bed than in yours.
You can also try using verbal cues like “go lie down” when you see them getting on your bed and rewarding them when they listen to your command. Consistency is key here—if you let them on your bed sometimes but not others, they’ll get confused and won’t know what the rules are.
2. Train Your Dog to Sleep in Their Crate
With a little crate training, you can get your dog to sleep through the night—leaving you to get the rest you need. Here’s how:
Start with Small Increments of Time
The first step is to get your dog accustomed to spending short periods of time in their crate. Start by putting them in for 10-15 minutes at a time while you stay in the room with them. Then, let them out as soon as they start to whine or cry.
After a few days of this, increase the amount of time they spend in the crate until they are comfortable staying in there for 30 minutes or more without whining or crying. Once they can do this, you’re ready for step two.
Make Sure They Get Plenty of Exercise During the Day
A tired dog is a good dog. Dogs that have plenty of energy are more likely to be restless at night. Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise during the day by taking them for long walks or playing fetch or other games with them for at least 30 minutes each day. This will help tire them out, making them more likely to sleep through the night.
Put Them in Their Crate at Night Before You Go to Bed
Once your dog is used to spending time in their crate and they are getting plenty of exercise during the day, it’s time to start putting them in their crate at night before you go to bed. This may take some trial and error to find the right spot in your home for the crate—somewhere quiet where they won’t be disturbed by any household activity during the night.
One final note on crating your dog at night: make sure you take them out first thing in the morning, so they don’t have an accident in their crate overnight! No one wants to start their day off by cleaning up after their dog!
>> Check out our recommendations for the best dog beds for crates
Train Your Pup to Stay Out of Your Bedroom
With a little patience and training, you can teach your dog to stay out of your bedroom and off your bed.
Here’s how:
- Keep the door to your bedroom closed at all times. This is probably the most important step in keeping your dog out of your bedroom. If the door is closed, your dog can’t get in. Simple as that.
- Put a baby gate across the doorway to your bedroom if you can’t keep the door closed at all times. This will help to keep your dog out when you can’t be there to do it yourself. Also, make sure the baby gate is tall enough that your dog can’t jump over it.
- Reward your dog for staying out of your bedroom with treats or praise whenever you see him in another room or area of the house. This will reinforce the behavior you want him to display and make it more likely that he will continue doing it.
- Don’t ever let your dog into your bedroom, no matter what. Even if they’ve been good all day and you feel like you should give him a break, resist the temptation. If you let him in just once, he’ll think it’s OK to go in there all the time, and you’ll have a hard time getting him to stay out again. So, no matter how much he begs or how cute he looks, keep him out!
Keep Them Off All Furniture in Your Home
Every time your dog jumps on the furniture, whether it’s your bed, the couch, or even a chair, you need to immediately redirect their attention and get them off the furniture in question. It sounds like a lot of work, we know. But trust us, it’s worth it!
Why You Should Train Your Dog To Stay Off Furniture
There are a few reasons why you might want to consider training your dog to stay off furniture in your home.
- First and foremost, it’s a matter of respect. Your dog should respect your personal space and boundaries just as you respect theirs.
- Secondly, it’s a safety issue. Dogs can be clumsy, and jumping on and off furniture can lead to accidents and injuries.
- And finally, it’s simply more comfortable for everyone involved if the dog is not on the furniture. After all, nobody wants to share their bed with a shedding, drooling dog! (OK, some people might not mind that last one so much…)
How To Train Your Dog To Stay Off Furniture
Training your dog to stay off furniture is actually easier than you might think. The first step is being consistent yourself. Every time your dog jumps on furniture, you need to immediately redirect their attention and get them off the piece of furniture in question.
You also need to be patient and praise your dog when they do manage to stay off the furniture for even a short period. Like with most things in life, consistency and positive reinforcement are key when it comes to training your dog!
Final Thoughts
Dogs make great companions, but they’re not so great at keeping their fur off of our sheets and pillows.
If you’re tired of finding dog hair on your bedding, then follow these tips to train your dog to sleep in their own bed instead.
With a little patience and consistency, you’ll have your furry friend sleeping soundly in their own bed in no time!