If your dog doesn’t want to go into your room, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why won’t my dog go into my room? Possible reasons why your dog won’t go into your room are being too hot or cramped, thinking you do not want it to be in there, being protective, not wanting to be trapped in there, or wanting exercise.
There are a number of possible causes and it might be due to a combination of causes. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main reason and there are a number of things you can do about it.
Reasons why your dog won’t go into your room
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.
Too hot or cramped
The cause might be that it does not like your room because it is too hot or cramped. This would be more likely if it does stay in your room when it is cooler in there. In this case, it could help to make some more space for it and to try to cool the room down if possible.
It thinks you do not want it to be in there
Another possible cause could be that your dog thinks that you do not want it to be in your room. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats, or extra attention, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards. If you want it to stay in your room, it would help to reward it when it does go in your room.
It is being protective
The cause might also be that it is being protective. This would be more likely if your dog chooses to stay in an area where it can monitor the house more easily such as by the front door or by the entrance to your room.
It does not want to be stuck in there
It could also be the case that it thinks that it is going to be trapped in there. This would be more likely if you tend to shut the door when it goes into your room.
It wants exercise
Another possible cause is that it is bored and wants exercise. This would be more likely if it does it more before getting exercise and it is willing to stay in your room after getting exercise. In this case, it would help to ensure that it is able to get the recommended amount of exercise for its age and breed.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider about the behavior.
What else happened when it first started
If your dog was willing to go into your room, in the past, it would help to consider what else happened when it stopped doing it. If it stopped doing it suddenly, it might be the case that you punished it for staying in your room, or it found a space to lie down that is more comfortable.
What is different when your dog does go into your room
If your dog does go into your room sometimes, it would also help to consider what is different when it does go into your room. For example, if it does it when another animal is not around, it might be doing it because it is avoiding the other animal.
What to do about your dog not going into your room
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Reward it
As mentioned above, your dog might have learned that it gets rewarded for not going into your room. Instead, it would help to reward it when it does go into your room and to avoid rewarding it, with things like treats or extra attention, when it does not.
Give it space to lie down
It would also help to ensure that it has a space to lie down comfortably so that it does not feel like there are better places to lie down elsewhere in the house.
Give it exercise
As mentioned above, it might be doing it because it is bored. It would help to ensure that it is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its age and breed if it is healthy.