Dog on the bed... need help, advice and thoughts!

[lovebug]

ok a little background on me. DH and i are going to start TTC again. right now we are getting use to life together again after a 15mth deployment to Iraq. we have 3 dogs. we plan to co-sleep and do all the AP parenting we can!

We have out dog that likes to sleep in bed with us. he is very stubern and hard headed even when we try to move him to another spot on the bed. he is so not graceful and would hurt a baby if we co-slept.

here is my questions:
so what are your thought? should we move him out of the bed NOW? or can it wait until we find out i am pg? what is the best way to go about moving him out of our bed?

also he is very protective of me. how can i break him of this?

any advice is welcome! if you need more info please ask questions. i really need to start looking into this now

[Ola_]

Originally Posted by lovebug

he is very stubern and hard headed even when we try to move him to another spot on the bed.

Just from this part of your description, I would say that this is not a dog that should have bed privileges. For our dogs, we did not give bed access for a while after we got them, but when we did we taught them to go up on the bed on command, and get down on command at the same time. Anyone who tries to complain about getting off the bed loses access until they get their attitude adjusted.

I would start now and work on getting off the bed on command - you can have him drag a light leash to enforce him getting down when he doesn't want to. Then I would tell him to get down every time you did not invite him up. I think this will take a while if he already doesn't want to move when told, so I would work on it right away.

Re: protectiveness, the first thing is how much training have you done with him? A lot of times the instinct comes out if you have not established enough leadership with the dog and so they are trying to figure out on their own what you need them to do. You need to have some rock solid commands you can use during these times (i.e. down-stay or go to your bed and stay there) to tell him that no, he does not need to intervene. I'm not sure of the extent of the protectiveness, so professional help may or may not be needed here.

[lovebug]

Perfect thank you! he does get down on command, but then jumps back up if i ask him nice to move he does so however if i try to force him (like pull his collier, try to scoot him or push him to 'his spot) this is when he resists and will try not to move :

as for training- we got him from a friend. he was a BAD BOY when we got him. he has come a long way, but still has a long way to go. we work with him, but he is hard headed (that goes with the breed) when we command him he will do as we ask but 5 mins later he is back at whatever it was he was NOT supposed to be doing!

do i just keep saying the command over and over again every 5 mins?

also he is much better with me then DH! it is almost like he mocks DH. this dog (out of all our dogs) in not the leader of the pack! and the other 2 know DH and i are the leaders of the pack. what am i doing wrong with this one?

[Sailor]

I would never let him on the bed. A dog that acts that way does not respect you as alpha.

I have a GSD, and I don't let him on the bed. Ever. He used to sleep with me, but always would ask my "permission" to get on the bed first. Since I moved in with my partner, though, he's always slept on the dog bed.

My dog doesn't respect my partner either, but this is my partner's fault. He lets my dog boss him around, and has NO idea how to be alpha - despite my instructions.

I would start the training now. The bed is off limits. Period. So either crate at night or get him a dog bed in a corner of the room. Each time he gets on the bed, say no in a firm voice, lead him to the dog bed, put a treat there and praise when he lays on the dog bed. You do this every single time, consistenly. No exceptions.

Saying the command over and over again, while the dog does nothing, teaches him that he doesn't have to obey that command.

Forget the command you're using if you've been saying it over and over with no results, switch words. Make that word a command that he has to obey EVERY single time. Which means, don't say it unless you can enforce it. If he won't get off the bed, clip a leash on him, and get him off that bed. Once he gets off say "good off" or whatever word you choose to use. Then bring him over to his dog bed, and when he lies down there say "good sleepy" or whatever command you want to use. I find the "y" ending words sound more exciting to dogs.

This has to be utterly consistent, though, between you and your husband. No exceptions.

[lovebug]

We worked on this last night. it did not go so well i am going to have get out the crate. i will have to keep him in one spot. if i dont he jusmp back up every 10-20 mins. oh well...

any other advice?

[Sailor]

I think the crate is a really great option. It's going to take awhile to re-train. He's used to being on the bed, so it's harder than training from scratch. Right now, it's only been one night. This is something that could potentially take several weeks, potentially months. First days of re-training are never great. It always feels like you're losing and it's impossible. Just stick with it.

When you're in the bedroom, and he's in there with you, leash him to you and never let him on the bed. If he manages to get on, say no and get him off. If you're on the bed, and he's in there with you, then either crate him or leash him to something too far from the bed. But, I wouldn't go to sleep with him leashed to something - he may tangle in it.

The crate is really the best solution for night time, though.

Just put a treat in the crate each time he goes in in the evening. Never leave him alone in the room if he's outside of his crate (as he could get on the bed then). Eventually, you'll be able to leave the crate door open at night. Dogs can be re-trained - it just takes much longer. Which is why it's helpful to do it now, versus when you're caring for a newborn.

[Shera971]

I think that there is some good advice here from pp. And I'd like to add: don't give up! It will be really hard, but if you give up or become inconsistent, it will make it that much harder the next time you try.

I would also like to suggest that you and your partner continue to show dominance throughout the house. For example, if the dog is allowed up on other furniture I would also stop that. Making sure the dog moves out of your way at every opportunity, perform a sit stay before feeding/a walk/a head scratch etc. Practice heeling on walks.

As you know, it is important that your dog listens to you and especially if you are bringing a baby into the house hopefully someday!