If you have invested time and money in buying your friend a cozy bed only for her not to sleep in, it can be disappointing. In addition, you will probably result in asking yourself unending questions about why she is not sleeping in her bed. In most cases, there should be nothing to worry about, but in some cases, your dog might be in pain or feeling cold.
When should you be worried, and when should you not be worried? Generally, if you have been sleeping with her in bed since she was a puppy, training her to sleep on her own can be challenging. However, if this is a sudden change of behavior, there is a need to be concerned. For example, it might be she is in pain and is recommended to visit a vet.
Why Does My Dog Not Sleep In Her Bed?
Unbearable temperatures
Your dog is avoiding its bed because it might be too hot, or the spot you chose is a bit cold. A dog’s bed is not only cozy but also warm. As such, during summer, it might get too hot and stuffy to sleep in it. If it is during summer and you observe your dog is opting to sleep on the floor next to the bed, it is a sign it is hot.
However, if it is during the cold season and your dog’s decided to sleep on the floor near the fireplace, it might be a sign it is feeling cold. For example, if you insist on her sleeping on the bed, go for an elevated one. This kind of bed regulates temperature during summer, making it comfortable to sleep in it, and during winter, it can be moved close to the fireplace or in a warmer position.
Uncomfortable bed
Did your dog suddenly stop sleeping on her bed? An uncomfortable bed can be the cause for a sudden change of behavior. Is your dog having trouble sitting or waking up? It is probably sleeping on the floor to relieve itself from the discomfort it has been experiencing.
Check if your bed is worn out, it has soft fur, or the fabric is itchy. All these reasons could drive your dog to sleep on the floor. Thus, buy a new bed, and in the case of fabric texture, consult with the vet for a recommendation on the best dog’s bed.
Wrong bed size
When was the last time you bought her a bed? Was she still the same size as she is now? If she has grown, the issue of not sleeping in the bed could be because the bed is too small for her now. Also, if it is a new bed, it could be that you have selected a small bed, making it uncomfortable for it to sleep in.
Did you know even an extra-large bed is a problem for some dogs? While some dogs might be excited about sleeping in the middle of a large bed, some are not. If your dog’s bed is large, your dog might dislike it as it prefers a perfect size.
Get to understand your dog’s likes and dislikes when it comes to sleeping. This will help you understand it better when it starts behaving awkwardly, like sleeping on the floor. For example, if the bed size is the issue, measure its full length while fully stretched and buy a bed that is of the same size, and your dog will start loving its bed.
The dog is not used to sleeping on her bed.
In this case, there are two situations. First, has your dog is used to sleeping on the floor? If it has always been sleeping on the floor, adjusting to sleeping on a bed might be a huge thing. Dogs sleep where they feel comfortable and if on the floor, it takes time and patients to train them.
If you adopted your dog recently, it might have been sleeping on the floor. She might not know that the bed is just for her. Sleeping in bed might feel like she is doing something wrong, and she will sleep on the floor not to make you angry.
Another reason why your dog does not sleep in its bed is if she has been used to sleeping in your bed. So yes, it will be challenging to teach your dog to start sleeping alone while it has always spent the night next to you.
Whichever the reason might be, take time to understand and offer necessary training for a better transition.
Wrong bed position
Dogs like spending time close to their master; if the bed is away from where you are, even if it is sleepy, it will choose to sleep on the floor to be close to you. If this is the case, try moving its bed closer to your seating or sleeping area. In this way, it will sleep on its bed and yet feel closeness as if sleeping next to you.
It might be in pain
If all other factors are in check and your dog still chooses to sleep on the floor, it might be communicating to you that it is unwell. Especially as your dog gets old, it might be challenging to jump in and out of bed and choose the easy way out by sleeping on the floor.
Joint diseases like arthritis might be limiting its ability to jump into its bed. The change might also be accompanied by crying. In such situations, it is best to visit the vet and have it checked. Do not ignore signs that your dog might be showing you.
Is your dog is old, or is it crying in pain? The sudden change in sleeping behavior might be due to pain. Take it for a check-up by the vet to be sure?
Why Is My Dog Suddenly Not Sleeping In His Bed?
When you have a dog that has always slept in its bed and suddenly stops, it can be alarming. However, in most cases, this behavior change should not worry you. Apart from the fact that your dog might be in pain or getting old, other reasons could include:
It has expanded its safe zone.
After living with your dog for several years and making it feel cozy around the house and everyone else, it will become comfortable to stay in any location of the house. Thus, in this case, there is nothing to worry about as your dog wants to experience sleeping in different house locations.
Change in preference
Could it be possible that your dog’s change of sleeping area is a matter of change in preference? Dog preferences can change. That even includes its sleeping area. As your dog gets used to a soft surface, it might feel the need to experience a hard surface. Also, if he prefers sleeping in your bed, it might be because you are entertaining him. If he is used to sleeping next to you, he will immediately stop sleeping in his bed and come to yours instead.
It enjoys variety
Some dogs do not like sleeping in one position every night for a long time. So when your dog avoids its bed, where does it sleep? If it sleeps on the floor, jumps on a sofa, or a couch, it might be because it enjoys variety. Give your dog time to enjoy and experience different locations, and it will settle in one in the end.
Need to provide protection
As much as he is your best friend, he understands the need to offer protection to the family. Which is the best location for him to offer complete protection? Is it near the main door or outside your bedroom door?
The dog will change its sleeping position as it tries to figure out the best way to offer maximum protection.
It loves Cuddling
Have you previously slept with your dog close to you? For example, when you sit on the couch, do you cuddle? If yes, your dog might have gotten used to cuddling and cannot stand a single night sleeping without you close.
If you have noticed that he is avoiding his bed only to jump into yours, it is because he misses you. You can develop a new routine of cuddling before bedtime only, and afterward, it has to sleep in its bed.
Why Is My Dog Sleeping On The Floor Instead Of The Bed?
Have you just bought your friend a cozy bed only for it to choose the floor? It can be heartbreaking and confusing at the same time. You are probably burning with questions. However, do not beat yourself up; the following are some of the reasons your dog prefers the floor.
The floor is comfortable.
You are probably wondering how he can find the floor more comfortable than the bed? Despite having a bed, your dog might still prefer sleeping on the floor as it feels more comfortable. One of the reasons why he prefers the floor is if the bed fur is itchy or smooth. Alternatively, the bed might be worn out and not comfortable anymore.
It is not used to sleeping in bed.
If you have just adopted your dog recently, where it is coming from, it probably was not used to sleeping on the bed. As a result, even when you provide it with its bed, it will still sleep on the floor. Therefore, you will need to train it to start sleeping on the bed.
The breed type
Does your dog belong to the hairy breed? Dogs with a lot of fur do not like sleeping on the bed. This is because it becomes hot quickly, making it challenging to sleep. Thus, you will always find them sleeping on the floor as it is cool.
Something is wrong with the bed.
The bed may be no longer comfortable as before. It could be that the bed is worn out, making it uncomfortable for the dog to sleep. In this case, your dog will start sleeping on the floor, usually next to its bed. If you notice the dog starts sleeping on the floor next to its bed, it is not that it dislikes sleeping in it, but it is no longer comfortable. Try replacing the bed, and it might go back to sleeping on the bed.
Being protective
When it senses any danger, it will want to protect you even if it is not a real danger. For instance, when you have many guests in the house sleeping over, your dog might decide to sleep outside your door or near the main door to ensure it sees who goes in and out. Observe whether, when it changes location, there is a change in the environment.
It prefers tight spaces.
If your dog is not sleeping in its bed, where does it sleep? If you notice that your dog always leaves its cozy bed to sleep on the floor under a sofa or bed, it is searching for a tight space. This may happen if one has previously been used to sleeping in such places or is afraid.
If you still insist on sleeping on the bed, you could accommodate its desire for a tight space by providing a box or a house-like structure over its bed. In this way, your dog will sleep on the bed and still enjoy a tight space.
How Do I Get My Dog To Sleep In His Bed?
Teach your dog
The best way to get your dog to sleep in his bed is to offer him training. Most of the time, they fail to sleep on the bed because they are not used to it. However, if it knows how to obey commands, training will be easy. For example, you can command it to jump into his bed, then tell him to sleep and applause him for doing that. Do this repeatedly at the same time, and your dog will get used to sleeping on the bed.
Bed positioning
Place the dog’s bed at the spot where he likes sleeping. In this way, you will avoid him leaving bed to go and sleep on that spot. The dog will have no reason for not sleeping in his bed.
Make his bed comfortable.
One of the reasons why dogs avoid their bed is because it is uncomfortable. So, if you want to encourage him to sleep on his bed, you have to make it as comfortable and attractive as possible.