If your dog has been pushing you off the bed a lot, this post will show you why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog push me off the bed? Likely reasons why your dog pushes you off the bed are that it is being dominant, it is trying to protect its spot on the bed, or that it naturally just wants to extend its paws.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog pushes you off the bed and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog push me off the bed?
Below are likely reasons why your dog pushes you off the bed and what would make each of them more likely.
Your dog is being dominant
The reason why your dog does it might be that it is being dominant. This would be more likely if your dog also does things such as growl when it is doing it. In this case, it would be best to stop your dog from sleeping with you until it starts to behave.
It is being possessive
It might also be the case that your dog is trying to protect a particular spot on the bed. This would be more likely if your dog does it when you are sleeping near the spot that it likes to sleep in. Again, in this case, it would help to stop your dog from sleeping with you until it starts to behave.
Your dog naturally wants to extend its paws
It could also just be the case that your dog wants to extend its paws. This would be more likely if your dog does not push you off the bed too strongly and if it sleeps in a similar way to how it does during the day. In this case, it could help to try to get your dog to sleep facing in a different direction.
Comfort or showing affection
Another possible cause is that your dog is actually showing you affection. This would be more likely if it pushes its back against you when it does it and if it rubs its back against you.
Encouraging the behavior
It might also be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. If you tend to give your dog rewards such as extra attention, when it pushes you off the bed, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog has always pushed you off the bed
If your dog has not always pushed you off the bed, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as learning that the behavior is rewarded or becoming possessive over its spot.
The body language your dog shows
It would also help to consider the body language your dog shows when it pushes you off the bed. If your dog does things such as wag its tail, it would be more likely that it is showing affection or doing it for rewards. Whereas, if it does things such as growl, it would be more likely that it is being possessive.
What to do about my dog pushing me off the bed?
Below are likely reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make them more likely.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, your dog might have learned that the behavior is rewarded. Instead, it would help to get your dog to sleep somewhere else then to stop giving it attention as soon as it starts pushing you.
Get it to sleep somewhere else
Another option would be to just get your dog to sleep elsewhere. One way to do so would be to put a dog bed down in your bedroom for it to sleep in instead.
Get it to sleep on a different spot on the bed
It could also help to get your dog to sleep in a different spot on the bed and facing a different direction.
Why does my dog push me off pillows?
Your dog likely pushes you off pillows because it naturally likes to extend its paws or because it has learned that the behavior is rewarded. Another possible cause is that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
Why does my dog kick me in bed?
Your dog likely kicks you in bed because it likes to extend its paws and because it has learned that the behavior is rewarded. It is also possible that your dog is being possessive.