5 Tips to Keep Your Dog Off Your Bed

If you own or live with a dog, chances are you’ve had to deal with the problem of your dog jumping on your bed at one point or another. It can be annoying and inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to sleep, but the good news is that there are several different things you can do to keep your dog off your bed without resorting to violence or hostility. Here are five tips that will help you deal with this common issue in the future.

Tip 01: Keep Your Dog’s Bed Next to Your Bed

If you leave your dog’s bed next to yours and want to to keep your dog off your bed, he will probably sleep on it, but if you put it somewhere else, he might not. And you’re not sure where to put his bed, just put it in another room. If that doesn’t work either, get rid of his old one and buy a new one. He’ll think it’s time for a change and will find somewhere else to sleep.

If you don’t want to spend any money, ask family or friends for their old dog beds or use an object that is bigger than your dog such as upside-down garbage can lid or box. Sometimes doing things out of character helps dogs understand they should stop something immediately. For example, when I stopped putting my dog’s food dish under my desk at work, she stopped eating at my desk! It was like her training had suddenly clicked into place.

Tip 02: Introduce Them Slowly

Introducing a new pet into your home can be an exciting time for everyone involved. However, you’ll want to ensure that both pets are adjusting well, and that means taking precautions when they’re in close quarters together.

When introducing a new dog into your household, it is important that you introduce them slowly and gradually so that there aren’t any surprises along the way. This includes getting them accustomed to each other’s smells and sounds without putting them in close contact. Slowly introduce their scents—like wearing one of their collars or dog beds—so they can get used to each other before getting too close.

Tip 03: Don’t Let Them Sleep On It First

This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t follow it. You want your dog to associate certain items or places with good things, not bad ones. So if you invite your dog up on your bed for his nightly cuddle time, but then tell him no when he tries to sleep on it after that, you’re actually teaching him that he can’t sleep there—which is likely why he was doing it in the first place!

This may work better if there’s another pet in your house who has free access to whatever item or area you’re trying to teach your dog not to use as a bed. You can train them separately so they both learn to share without feeling left out. If you do have another pet, make sure they’ve been properly trained before putting them together in any environment where they could potentially get into an altercation over territory.

Tip 04 Bedding Matters

 

One reason dogs like our beds is because of how they smell—we use them, which can make our sheets and pillows particularly attractive. Additionally, dogs have a heightened sense of smell compared to humans, so they’re also more likely to pick up on any lingering scents on our belongings. For example, if you’ve been out at a party all night with friends who have dogs and come home later on intoxicated, your dog might think it’s a good idea for you both to share some drunken cuddles!

To stop dogs from jumping onto or settling into your bed while you sleep, wash all linens frequently and invest in specialty detergents meant for keeping pet odors at bay. Always let pets outside after waking before bringing them back inside again, as well as after exercising or playing with other animals. Remember that their senses are much stronger than ours; even small clues may lead to unpleasant surprises once we’re under covers together. Best way to prevent unwanted nighttime company? Close doors before getting cozy at night! That way, your dog won’t be able to invade whenever he feels like it without having to jump over furniture first (which could result in an injury). Better yet: close doors completely when you know Fido’s around—it’s easy enough for many dogs to open latches unassisted if something happens to grab their attention.

Tip 05: Take Them For Walks Before Bedtime

Dogs who get enough exercise during waking hours are more likely to sleep well at night. If you can’t take them for a walk before you head to bed, be sure they’ve had an hour or two of run time earlier in the day. You could also invest in one of those remote-controlled toys that roll around on its own for hours—if your dog is anything like mine, he’ll chase it all over until he’s ready for sleep. He should be! Giving him some me-time can do wonders for his energy levels and overall health, so it’s a win-win all around.

Plus, there will be less pawing and jumping if you give your dog something fun to do when he starts to stir. It might not seem possible, but once you see how easy it is to limit their roaming between dusk and dawn (one fewer thing!), you might even find yourself sleeping better too! Dogs who get enough exercise during waking hours are more likely to sleep well at night. If you can’t take them for a walk before you head to bed, be sure they’ve had an hour or two of run time earlier in the day. You could also invest in one of those remote-controlled toys that roll around on its own for hours—if your dog is anything like mine, he’ll chase it all over until he’s ready for sleep.