My puppy won't stay in his bed

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

We've had our puppy for 5 days now, a Malinois who is about 10 weeks old.

We had everything ready for his arrival: food, bedding, toys...

From the very start, he has preferred sleeping on our rug rather than in his 'bed'. We've had to take the rug up because he kept having accidents on it, but he still hasn't quite grasped what his bed is for. He sleeps on the floor, plays on his potty spot, and so on.

Whenever he tries to get on the sofa, we put him straight into his bed, but he just hops right back out again.

What can we do to help him understand what his bed is actually for?

Thanks

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7 answers
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    My puppy only sleeps in her bed when she’s being punished or when we don’t want her on my sofa; otherwise, she’s always on the sofa at night.
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    Tania28
    Tania28 Icon representing the flag French
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    And some dogs just never want to use a bed...

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks everyone. You're right, if he's sleeping on the floor it's no big deal, but I just thought he’d be more comfy in his bed!

    I’ve started putting him in his bed once he’s drifted off and he stays there sometimes now. So it's starting to sink in. He's very bright, so he'll get the hang of it. Then again, maybe he just prefers the floor—it’s up to him! ;)

    Thanks again for the help, everyone :)

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone

    We’ve had our puppy for a week now and he quite often falls asleep on the floor, then has a bit of a whimper and heads into his bed.

    The breeder gave us a piece of the bedding the puppies used to sleep on, and I’ve put my T-shirt in his bed as well.

    The rugs have been taken up because he keeps trying to eat them lol

    I reckon it’s normal, it’s still too early for them to properly settle in, patience!!

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    Jador
    Jador Icon representing the flag French
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    In the early days, I left some bedding for the puppy with the breeder, so when I brought her home, she had the scents of her littermates in her new bed. Using a few treats alongside the command "bed" really helped too, as did some toys...

    If you weren't able to do that, you could try putting an item of clothing with your scent on it (like a t-shirt) in there. Also, after a good play session and a quick walk, when your puppy is properly worn out, you can carry them to their bed and try to settle them until they fall asleep.

    It’s still early days; they are just getting to know their new home and their new owners. Eventually, once you start teaching them commands—which will be essential for when you don't want them getting under your feet (like when you're doing the housework or have guests round)—it will all click into place.

    But you know, despite our best efforts, some dogs just don't like dog beds, no matter how cosy they are. They might prefer the hard floor or just a simple rug. Also, is the bed maybe a bit too big for a puppy of that size? If it’s an adult-sized bed, they might feel a bit lost in it. Some pups love to be curled up in something where they can feel the sides, creating a safe and snug little nest.

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    Erable
    Erable Icon representing the flag French
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    http://www.dogbedding.com/how-to-get-your-dog-used-to-going-to-their-bed/

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    Erable
    Erable Icon representing the flag French
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    He’s still just a baby; you can’t expect him to learn all the rules in only five days. You’ve got to stick with it and keep repeating the command "Go to your bed," even putting him in there yourself if you have to. If he prefers sleeping right on the floor, it’s not really a problem, is it? As for toilet training, you need to take him out regularly: after every meal, every nap, as late as possible at night, and first thing in the morning. He’s still so young and needs plenty of company; he’s only just left his mum and his brothers and sisters.
    Translated from French

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