How to Train Your Dog to Sleep on His Bed
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Introduction
Having your dog pace all night looking for a place to sleep isn’t very fun. You could lose sleep trying to get your dog to lie down and relax if he doesn't know exactly where he should go each night. Most family dogs will attach themselves to at least one member of the family. Your dog may want to sleep with your or with this chosen family member. But that doesn’t mean the dog has to be in your bed. Just in your bedroom. Or even in the hallway just outside your bedroom.
Wherever you place his bed is where he should stay each night. You can teach him where his bed is and to go to bed when it is time to settle down for the night. Once your dog understands where his bed is and that he is supposed to stay in at all night, you both should be getting a full night's sleep.
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Defining Tasks
Training your dog to go to bed--in his bed--is a matter of repetition and comfort. There is a fine balance between finding the correct bed for your dog's needs and putting it in the correct spot to ease any fears or separation anxieties he may have. It may take a few weeks to train your dog to sleep in his own bed, but if it does, it's probably because you need to find a different spot for the bed. Many dog owners don't want their dog in bed with them but don't mind a dog bed in their bedroom. If your dog's bed is already in your bedroom, consider placing it closer to your bed so your dog can look up and see you at night and hear you breathing. He's going to feel safe knowing you or at least another family member is nearby.
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Getting Started
Make sure before you get started training your dog to sleep in his bed you know how your dog sleeps. If you have a small dog who sleeps in a little round ball, he may be more comfortable in a small bed with raised sides he can snuggle into. If you have a larger dog who spreads out once he's in a deep sleep or lies on his back with his feet straight up in the air, you may need a larger bed. If your dog is older, memory foam mattresses provide great support for achy bones. Be sure you have the proper bed for your dog's size, breed, and needs. You will also want some extra treats on hand, possibly even in the sleeping space, to reward your dog for a job well done. Have some patience with this and be open to change. Your dog may not be happy sleeping in the dining room if you're upstairs on the opposite side of the house.
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The Perfect Place Method
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Show bed
Choose a bed your dog will want to sleep in. If your dog is a puppy, he may want a small bed with raised sides for comfort. If he is a larger dog who sleeps stretched out, he may like a large bed without raised sides. To keep your dog in his bed, it will need to be comfortable for him.
Pick a spot
Choose the perfect place for your dog’s bed. This should be a place he will want to sleep. If he is very close to you, he may want to sleep in your room or he may prefer the living room to keep an eye on the house while he sleeps. Some dogs may prefer, or you may prefer, sleeping in a child’s room. Make sure the spot you pick for his bed is a place you can keep his bed permanently.
Command
Use a command you will use each night with your dog to signify bedtime. Use the command and encourage him to get onto his bed. Once he does, give him a treat.
Practice
Continue to practice the 'go to bed' command each time you want your dog to lie on his bed. Giving the command during the day will help him remember the command at night as well.
Bedtime
When it is time for bed, use the command. If your dog does not automatically get into his bed, walk him to it. Be sure to give him a treat. It will take several nights for him to be able to go on his own, but over time he will put himself to bed.
Redirection
If your dog leaves his bed during the night, redirect him by taking him back. You can offer him a treat for going back to bed but only do so once. If he wakes again, he does not get a treat. If you continue to treat him, he’ll continue to wake you for that midnight snack. If he goes potty in the middle of the night, a treat is a good idea once he’s back in bed. Once your dog is about a year old, he should make it through the night without going potty.
The Clicker Method
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Introduce bed
Show your dog his bed and where he is expected to sleep. Be sure this is a place and a bed where he will be comfortable and most likely to stay.
Pat bed
With your dog, pat the bed and encourage your dog to get on it. Click and give him a treat and lots of verbal praise and excitement over the bed. He will feel your enthusiasm and begin to feel the same about his bed.
Command
Talk up his bed with a command. “This is where you will go to bed.’” Say the key phrase often so your dog associates the phrase ‘go to bed,’ or whichever phrase you choose, with the bed.
Nap time
During the day, encourage your dog to sleep on his bed by using the command and taking him to his bed. You may need to wake him from a nap and walk with him to his bed. If he’s sleepy, he may stay longer. Be sure to click and reward him with a treat and use the command even for daytime naps.
Bedtime
Use the command again and walk your dog to his bed. Give him a treat and tell him good night.
Redirect
If your dog leaves the bed, you can use the command and walk him back to his bed. Be sure to use the same command every time. If your dog does not stay, you may need to reconsider the placement of the bed. For instance, does he want his bed in your bedroom at night?
The Bedtime Method
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Command
Pick a command you will use at night for bedtime. You could say ‘go to bed’ or ‘it’s bedtime.’
Place bed
Pick the perfect place for your dog’s bed. Think about where your dog usually sleeps or would like to sleep. Would you both be more comfortable in your bedroom, or do you want him away from your room at night?
Walk to the bed
Take your dog to his bed by walking him to it. Avoid carrying him to bed as he will grow expecting that treatment each time he needs to sleep in his bed.
Treat
Once your dog steps onto his bed, give him a treat.
Sleep
Anytime your dog is sleepy, walk with him to his bed and give him a treat once he’s on the bed. Use your command to 'go to bed'.
Bedtime
Repeat the steps above at bedtime. It may take a couple of weeks using his bed each night to get him to stay in his bed all night. If he leaves the bed at night and you’d like him to stay, simply redirect him by walking him back and giving him the command to go to bed. Keep practicing, he’ll get it with time and practice.
By Stephanie Plummer
Published: 11/07/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
More articles by Stephanie Plummer
Training Questions and Answers
Ozzy
Shorkie Tzu
8 Months
Question
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How do I fix my puppy’s sleepy aggression when he sleeps in the bed with me. I want him to be able to sleep in the bed with me without me having to worry about him biting me if I move/scooch him over.
June 10, 2022
Ozzy's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Jayden, First, know that some dogs will bite because they are not fully awake of their surroundings and are having a defensive reaction to something that they perceive in their half awake state is a threat - you waking them up by touching them. When that's the case, you can practice saying pup's name when they are toward the end of a nap, to wake pup gently, then tossing them a treat as soon as they stir, so pup expects something pleasant when woken up most of the time, instead of feeling scared. Doing this can help pup bite less often, but dogs who are easily startled in their sleep can always be that way, and putting them in a situation where they are being woken up often by touch can actually increase aggression and defensiveness. What they really need is for you to practice saying their name and rewarding when they wake up, then leaving them alone when they are asleep the rest of the time - which means maybe snuggling with pup a little before you go to sleep and when you wake up in the morning and they are awake, but sending pup to their own dog bed next to your bed when it's time to sleep. Some dogs will intentionally bite when woken up, not because they weren't aware of their surroundings or scared, but because they are actually trying to punish you for doing something they find acceptable - this type of biting in this situation is a sign that you have bigger problems with pup being aggressive toward you and lacking respect for you, there may also be some trust that needs to be built, since pup may not feel you are trustworthy in their space while in a vulnerable sleeping position. A dog doing this for this reason SHOULD NOT be sleeping in your bed. Not just because of the risk of a bite but because it can make the aggression worse and makes it harder to address the real underlying aggression and lack of respect. That dog needs some strict boundaries, like sleeping on their own bed, not being allowed on furniture without being invited, and having to work for things they want to build respect for you. Working method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you I hate to disappoint you with my answers. Hopefully pup is a bit skittish about being woken up and nothing more and you can at least get some good snuggles in before sleeping time. When a dog is skittish, more often they will nip, realize who you are then stop right away, maybe giving submissive body language. When a dog is aggressive and aware of what's going on but trying to punish you for waking them, the nip might be quick but if it's repeated with a few attempts or really noisy, that's more likely aggression and pup being angry at you than pup being unaware. Pup's body language looks different in both cases though. One will look fearful then submissive or withdrawn after, the other will look more confident and riled up. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 10, 2022
James
shar pei x mastiff
2 Years
Question
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0 found this helpful
james will not sleep in his bed at night, we have tried every method possible and he will get onto his bed but as soon as we get into our bed, he jumps up straight away or starts crying, we don’t know what to do please help
May 22, 2022
James's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Tayla, I recommend crate training pup, having pup sleep in the crate for a couple of months. Correcting pup with a pet convincer when pup cries in the crate, then once pup is doing well in the crate, you can transition to the door open, then pup's dog bed out of the crate, and correct with the pet convincer if pup tries to jump up or cries in protest. By that point though, pup should be in the habit of sleeping on their bed so it should be easier to enforce and less of a fight while you are half asleep. First, work on teaching the Quiet command during the day using the Quiet method from the article linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Second, during the day practice the Surprise method from the article linked below. Whenever pup stays quiet in the crate for 5 minutes, sprinkle some treats into the crate without opening it, then leave the room again. As he improves, only give the treats every 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hour, 2, hour, 3 hour. Practice crating him during the day for 1-3 hours each day that you can. If you are home during the day, have lots of 30 minute - 1 hour long sessions with breaks between to practice this, to help pup learn sooner. Whenever he cries in the crate, tell him "Quiet". If he gets quiet - Great! Sprinkle treats in after five minutes if he stays quiet. If he continues barking or stops and starts again, spray a quick puff of air from a pet convincer at his side through the crate while calmly saying "Ah Ah", then leave again. Only use unscented air canisters, DON'T use citronella! And avoid spraying in the face. Surprise method: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Repeat the rewards when quiet and the corrections whenever he cries. Practice for a few days until he is doing well during the day. You can either continue what you are currently doing at night during this process or go ahead and jump into what I explain below for night time training - waiting until the day is good before starting the night or starting the night and day both at the same time. When he cries at night (in the crate - where he needs to be sleeping for now) before it has been 8 hours (so you know it's not a potty issue), tell him Quiet, and correct with the pet convincer if he doesn't become quiet and stay quiet. If you go straight to nights and days like this you will probably have about 3 rough nights, with lots of correcting before he gets quiet - don't give in and let him out or this will take much longer! You may want to go to bed early the first couple of nights while practicing this so you don't loose much sleep. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
May 23, 2022