I am looking for tips on how to train my dog Daisy to sleep in the new bed I have purchased for her. I have made the mistake of letting her lay on the couch with me and sleep in the bed with me.
She is now 2 and 1/2 years old and is not the little dog that I adopted. She is part Jack Russell and part Fiest and is very loving and loyal. She is a little hyper, but I would not take anything for her. She knows when I am sick or get upset. She really gets upset if I cry and she will not leave my side if I am sick or upset. I have always been easy on her and not spanked her because she came from an abused home and was so timid when I adopted her.
I may be trying the impossible to get her to sleep on the new bed, but I still want to give it a shot, so please send any ideas that you have. I'm sure I am going to need all the help I can get. Thanks.
By Melissa from Cullman, AL
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I know it's wonderful to have you dog sleep with you. However, it is important that the dog have his/her own sleep area. The Alpha has the best sleeping area. You can not allow the dog to sleep on the same level as yourself. It will cause issues.
Also, dogs are den animals. They feel very comfortable in an enclosure. This is the reason crate training works so well.
I would suggest that you crate train your dog. You don't have to leave him/her in the crate during the day or anytime that you don't want to. However, if you keep him/her in the crate at bedtime this will become his/her bed.
He/she will probably not be thrilled with it at first, however, I promise it won't take long for him/her to get the idea. If you stick to it. You can't let her out when she cries. She'll stop and she'll be fine.
I'd suggest you maybe include something of yours, with your smell, in the crate. This will comfort the dog. I would start by keeping the crate near you. Where he/she can see/smell you at bedtime.
Also, keep the crate door open when it isn't bedtime.
Let her come and go in the crate when it isn't bedtime. She will start taking naps in there.
DO NOT use the crate to correct the dog. Don't put him/her in the crate when you're upset with him/her. This will make it a bad place in the dogs mind.
If you allow him/her to get use to and enjoy the crate he/she will come and go from the crate during the non-bedtime hours it will become her bed over time and you won't have to close the crate at bedtime.
I'm sure you've heard that dogs are pack animals and pack animals are ruled by a pecking order. The ruler of that pack is known as the Alpha. If a dog doesn't believe that someone else is taking the lead role, or being the Alpha he/she will take that role. This is the reason the dog becomes upset when you are upset or ill. He/she feels that there may not be anyone in control. If you haven't made it clear to the dog that you are the Alpha he/she will not obey very well.
Things such as sleeping arrangements tell the dog where he falls in the pecking order.
Just a side note, you don't need to spank a dog to get them to listen. Actually, spanking doesn't get the dog to listen. The key to a dog that listens or behave really boils down to making sure the dog understands you're the Alpha. He/she makes that determination based on the freedom he/she has. If you want to gain control you control EVERYTHING the dog does. Eat, potty, sleep, roam the house, everything. You only have to do this for a short time. Dogs learn quickly.
I hope you find this helpful.
I put my Pom's bed on the bed with us and every night directed him into it. He soon learned, in just two/three days, that was HIS space.
Jron7667 has the best and most logical and kind advice if you no longer want her to sleep in your bed with you! Personally, I wouldn't care if she were a Great Dane sleeping in bed with me because our fur babies are our pals and love us even more than we love them! In response to another poster, in my heart and experience, a pet sleeping with you has nothing to do with alpha but rather with love and appreciation.
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