Many problems can result from your dog sleeping in your bed. If you haven't allowed this, it's best not to start; once you start allowing your dog to sleep in the bed with you, the habit will be a hard one to break. Howver, with a little hard work and patience, this habit can be broken. Before we discuss one of the most effective methods for training your pet to stay off the bed, continue reading to find out the effects of allowing or encouraging this type of behavior.
Effect on the Household as a Whole
According to experts, not only does allowing your dog to sleep in the bed with you have a negative impact on maintaining your leadership role in the household, it can also have a negative affect on other pets in the household. Granting your dog a space in your bed places him on a equal plane with you, meaning he will challenge your authority more often, and a higher plane with other pets in the home—pets that should to be treated equally.
This means he will be more territorial around you (and towards you). Dog’s who sleep with their owners also experience a significant amount of separation anxiety and stress when their owners are away. This can lead to excessive barking, marking his territory more often, and chewing on just about anything in his path.
Sharing Your Bed With Your Dog Affects You
Besides blurring the lines between pet and owner, when you allow your dog to sleep in the bed with you, you are also allowing your dog to bring a host of dirt, bacteria and other substances from outdoors right into bed with you. Most professionals would agree that this practice is very unhygienic.
Not only can you body suffer from bacteria, but any conflict between your and your dog's sleep cycles, or the sound of your dog's snoring or his movement on the bed, can prevent you from getting the deep, sustained sleep you need.
Keep Your Dog Out of Your Bed
If you want to restore order in your home and maintain a sanitary sleeping space for yourself and your family, there are several ways to stop your dog from sleeping in the bed with you:
- One of the first things you can do is purchase a comfortable dog bed for your pet. To start the transition, place the new dog bed right next to your bed. Placing the bed anywhere else in the home would be too much of a shock for your pet. Take it slow to ensure a smooth transition.
- Teach your dog to stay off the bed by using a leash and the word “off”. Your dog will learn to stay off the bed through repetition. All you have to do is take your dog into the bedroom on a leash. When he jumps on the bed, simply pull him off (gently) and say “off”. Once he’s off, tell him to sit. Praise your dog after he jumps off the bed and sits. He will associate your praise with the action, so it will encourage him to keep up the good work.
- After your praise your dog, lead him to his bed and have him lie down. Once he lies down in his bed, praise him again. You can even use a dog treat to reward him. Do this occasionally, not regularly, as excessive treat feeding can cause weight gain and it can encourage whining and begging.
- In most cases, your pet will begin sleeping on his own bed regularly after a few weeks. Eventually, you will be able to move the bed to another area of the house with no problem. Although not likely, if your dog does not respond to this training method, you can always hire a professional dog trainer.