Training my dog to stop sleeping in my bed

Personally, my previous dog used to get up on the bed at home when it was just me.

But she knew that if there was a guy around, she wasn't allowed. She’d happily settle for the sofa instead.

Mind you, guys or friends snoring was usually enough to drive her away 😅 as if to say: "Right then, I'll leave you to it, I've no idea how you manage to sleep through that, I'm off!"

@Musher, obviously it won’t work for every dog—that’s exactly what I said. Every dog has their own personality.

If it doesn't work out, then it’ll be time to just ban it altogether.

@Party, yeah, I don’t think my dog is dirty, and I do use a throw that I wash regularly. It’s much easier to wash a throw than a massive duvet.

I wash the dog’s mats and blankets just as often specifically to keep him clean.

Mind you, I don’t consider myself dirty either, yet I still wash my sheets just the same. It’s the same principle.

And if I ever "adopt" a bloke, he’ll be well set up at mine. He won’t have a dog bed; he’ll have a recliner (one of those fold-out ones). So I’m quite nice really, it’s still pretty comfy. Provided my dog is willing to share, of course, because it is his chair after all. Otherwise, he’ll just have to have a mat on the floor! 😁

I don’t care anyway, I’ve got my big pooch to keep me warm, plus three or four cats—I don’t even need the heating on! 😅

Hehe!

The yo-yo approach really doesn't work with cats... Joking aside, I’m tempted to say a dog is more loyal than a bloke, but I must admit that a dog’s intense staring during ‘the act’ is likely to kill the mood. It’s a bit like trying to have a wee when someone’s watching—I just can’t do it!

Maybe you could try a two-stage approach: first, give him his own dog bed or a mat to sleep on in your bedroom, but make your bed strictly off-limits.

Then, move that mat into a different room while putting a second, brand-new (and scent-free) bed in your room.

In any case, don't completely train him out of sleeping with you altogether, because when the next bloke moves on, you'll be glad to have your dog back! 😄

Hi Margot

I don't believe in a "yo-yo" approach. In my opinion, the solution is to move their dog bed out of your room and strictly ban them from entering, once and for all. Regardless of the time of day, your dog should wait for you in another room and the bedroom door must stay shut.

You’ll have a few days where you’ll just need to be assertive and stay more stubborn than he is. You just have to be firm about this new rule. Your dog will get used to it.

That said, I’m convinced that keeping the bedroom off-limits is a basic rule of hygiene when you have a dog. I highly doubt your dog gets a shower every night before bed. I love my dogs and I’m certainly not stingy with affection, but I always wash my hands after a cuddle session or if I let them lick my hands. The bedroom, and especially the bed, are strictly out of bounds.

@Margotdu66 my dog sleeps with me as well, but if I tell him no, he goes to his armchair.

To make sure it's allowed while remaining a privilege, I'm the one who decides. I've taught him to get down when asked and not to jump up if I say no.

An outright ban might not be necessary, but you need to make your dog understand that sometimes it's allowed and other times it isn't.

If you enjoy having your dog with you, there's no reason to stop doing it, as long as you set a few ground rules. You're the one who decides when, not him.