Is it OK to let my dog on the bed?
www.kathysdogtraining.com.au
(Kathy Kopellis McLeod is a well-respected Dog Behaviour Consultant who has been active in the industry for more than 25 years. She writes a regular column for one of the Sunday papers and there is a lot of good info on her website. Do subscribe to the monthly website where you will get free behaviour tips)
www.kathysdogtraining.com.au
(Kathy Kopellis McLeod is a well-respected Dog Behaviour Consultant who has been active in the industry for more than 25 years. She writes a regular column for one of the Sunday papers and there is a lot of good info on her website. Do subscribe to the monthly website where you will get free behaviour tips)
The question of whether or not to allow your dog to share your bed continues to puzzle dog owners. Supposedly, allowing your dog bed privileges undermines the owner’s position as “pack leader”.
However, the dog’s sleeping on the bed doesn’t have as much to do with the pecking order as it does about enjoying one of the most rewarding aspects of dog ownership.
Some owners worry that their dog will get ideas of grandeur because they’re occupying the bed. It’s not the act of sharing a bed that causes the problem; it’s more the temperament of the dog and your relationship with it. Bed-sharing can exacerbate a problem that is already brewing.
Like us, dogs enjoy companionship and the comfort of having a pleasant place to sleep, irrespective of any hidden agenda.
Here are some tips to help to reduce bedlam in the bedroom:
Bad bed manners – bad luck! I
f your dog abuses the privilege and growls when you roll over in bed, refuses your request to get off the bed, growls at you or attempts to guard you from your partner or another dog, then a loss of bed privileges is in order. It should be noted that even if there are no underlying temperament issues, dogs can snap and bite in self-defence when startled or awakened unexpectedly. These issues should be examined and sorted out before your dog is allowed on the bed. They should be routinely revisited in order to maintain control.
Clingy “Velcro” dogs
These dogs aren’t the best candidates for sharing your bed. They should, instead, be encouraged towards more independence. Sleeping in your bed can fuel your dog’s separation anxiety problem and fuel their co-dependence on you. It is important that your dog learns to be on their own, to feel content and secure when they’re not within your reach. This temporary loss of privileges can be sensibly revised when your dog has attained a little more independence and confidence.
Good behaviour – happy home Having a sound relationship
Based on respect and good leadership skills – is necessary before allowing your dog on the bed. You are your dog’s teacher; it needs to be taught to get off the bed at your command without reservation or challenge. With your approval, there’s no reason why a “well-behaved” dog shouldn’t sleep on the bed.
Clear communication
You want your dog to amicably respond to the “get off” command. Your pet should understand that the bed is your space, which it is allowed to share. Dogs need to know their place in the hierarchy. There should be no miscommunication as to where they are in the pecking order when you do tell them to get off the bed or physically move them. Being clear and consistent when communicating sets boundaries for your dog and reduces confusion.
Having a better understanding of your dog’s true motivation for getting on your bed will ensure you don’t have to miss out on bonding with your canine companion and enjoying your lives together.
It’s your individual choice where you want your dog to sleep, and your bed may not be an option for various reasons. Monitor where your dog is and manage it effectively so that sneaking up on to the bed – without your permission – doesn’t become a habit and a potential behavioural problem.
If you think your house has gone to the dogs, then seek professional help. Remember, it’s not the bed that is the cause of the problem. Struggles associated with the bed are a symptom of bigger issues. The attitude of your dog is at the heart of the problem, and this is what needs to be addressed. If you have a healthy relationship with your dog, based on mutual trust and respect, by all means sleep with your well-behaved dog
However, the dog’s sleeping on the bed doesn’t have as much to do with the pecking order as it does about enjoying one of the most rewarding aspects of dog ownership.
Some owners worry that their dog will get ideas of grandeur because they’re occupying the bed. It’s not the act of sharing a bed that causes the problem; it’s more the temperament of the dog and your relationship with it. Bed-sharing can exacerbate a problem that is already brewing.
Like us, dogs enjoy companionship and the comfort of having a pleasant place to sleep, irrespective of any hidden agenda.
Here are some tips to help to reduce bedlam in the bedroom:
Bad bed manners – bad luck! I
f your dog abuses the privilege and growls when you roll over in bed, refuses your request to get off the bed, growls at you or attempts to guard you from your partner or another dog, then a loss of bed privileges is in order. It should be noted that even if there are no underlying temperament issues, dogs can snap and bite in self-defence when startled or awakened unexpectedly. These issues should be examined and sorted out before your dog is allowed on the bed. They should be routinely revisited in order to maintain control.
Clingy “Velcro” dogs
These dogs aren’t the best candidates for sharing your bed. They should, instead, be encouraged towards more independence. Sleeping in your bed can fuel your dog’s separation anxiety problem and fuel their co-dependence on you. It is important that your dog learns to be on their own, to feel content and secure when they’re not within your reach. This temporary loss of privileges can be sensibly revised when your dog has attained a little more independence and confidence.
Good behaviour – happy home Having a sound relationship
Based on respect and good leadership skills – is necessary before allowing your dog on the bed. You are your dog’s teacher; it needs to be taught to get off the bed at your command without reservation or challenge. With your approval, there’s no reason why a “well-behaved” dog shouldn’t sleep on the bed.
Clear communication
You want your dog to amicably respond to the “get off” command. Your pet should understand that the bed is your space, which it is allowed to share. Dogs need to know their place in the hierarchy. There should be no miscommunication as to where they are in the pecking order when you do tell them to get off the bed or physically move them. Being clear and consistent when communicating sets boundaries for your dog and reduces confusion.
Having a better understanding of your dog’s true motivation for getting on your bed will ensure you don’t have to miss out on bonding with your canine companion and enjoying your lives together.
It’s your individual choice where you want your dog to sleep, and your bed may not be an option for various reasons. Monitor where your dog is and manage it effectively so that sneaking up on to the bed – without your permission – doesn’t become a habit and a potential behavioural problem.
If you think your house has gone to the dogs, then seek professional help. Remember, it’s not the bed that is the cause of the problem. Struggles associated with the bed are a symptom of bigger issues. The attitude of your dog is at the heart of the problem, and this is what needs to be addressed. If you have a healthy relationship with your dog, based on mutual trust and respect, by all means sleep with your well-behaved dog