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Why Won’t My Dog Sleep With Me Anymore? 11 Reasons & What to Do
There are few pleasures as rewarding as having your pooch curl up next to you in bed. Feeling their warm body pressed up against yours, listening to them snore, and feeling their slobber pool on your pillow. Well, those last two might not quite be so rewarding, but overall, having a dog in bed is extremely comforting. But what are you supposed to do if your dog suddenly stops wanting to share your covers?
If you’re curious as to what caused this sudden change of heart—and what you can do to resolve the situation—this guide will fill you in on everything that you need to know. So why won't my dog sleep with me anymore?
The 11 Reasons Your Dog Won't Sleep with You Anymore
1. Your Bed’s Not Comfy Enough
Dogs have opinions on bed quality, just like humans do. Your mattress might be too soft, it might be too hard, and there might be too many decorative pillows on it—the possibilities are endless. Ultimately, though, if your dog doesn’t feel like they can get a good night’s sleep on your bed, they’ll find someplace more suitable for them.
What to Do About It
2. Your Bed’s Too Small
While you may appreciate the closeness that you get from sharing a twin bed with a Great Dane, your dog may not be quite as thrilled with the setup. This is actually an individual quirk that varies from dog to dog rather than breed to breed. Some animals like to curl up next to you—the closer, the better—while others prefer to stretch out and take up as much room as possible.
If your dog falls into the latter category, they may have left your bed to find someplace with more legroom.
What to Do About It
3. They’re Not Tired
Dogs need plenty of physical and mental stimulation every day to exhaust all their energy. A tired dog is a happy dog, but a dog that’s not tired is one that likely won’t be convinced to sleep next to you.
If your dog doesn’t get any physical activity during the day, they’ll likely be wired at night. That could mean that they’re hyper and begging you to play, it could mean that they try to destroy your couch or shoes, or it could just mean that they roam around the house looking for something to do.
Regardless of how the behavior manifests itself, one thing’s for sure: It will keep them out of your bed.
What to Do About It
4. All the Spots Are Already Taken
This one is similar to not having enough room, but in some cases, it won’t matter how much room you have.
For example, if you have cats or other dogs that have already staked out their claim to the bed, your pup may not feel comfortable trying to hop up there. Those other animals could be guarding their spots fiercely, and you run the risk of having a scuffle break out if you force them to share.
What to Do About It
5. They’re New (and Lonely)
If you just adopted your dog—especially if you just took them as a puppy from their family—then they may just be lonely and not yet ready to trust you.
They’re used to snuggling up next to their mother or siblings, and since they’re in a strange, new place, they’re not sure what to do. It may be asking too much to have them crawl into your bed during the first few days.
What to Do About It
6. They’re Stressed
This typically occurs in dogs that have already been established in your household.
Dogs are creatures of habit. If you’ve moved recently or some other major event has happened that’s upset their routine, they may be stressed. That stress can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, but one of the major ones is difficulty sleeping. If your dog can’t sleep, there’s no reason for them to get in bed.
What to Do About It
7. Something is Going on Elsewhere
Sometimes, there’s just something happening that’s more interesting than making a nest in your bed. There might be an animal outside or a strange sound that needs investigating. As exciting as you may be, it’s hard to compete with strange sounds or smells, which is why your dog wants to be somewhere else.
What to Do About It
8. They’re Being Bribed to Sleep Elsewhere
Sometimes owners accidentally incentivize their dogs to sleep somewhere other than the bed. If you’ve been giving your pooch extra attention or treats when you find them in their bed or on the floor, they may start preferring to sleep there instead.
If you’re not doing this, you should check with other members of your family to see if someone else is. All it takes is one person to throw off your dog’s groove, so this might require a family meeting to resolve.
What to Do About It
9. They’re Being Protective
Some pups just aren’t able to turn off their guard-dog instincts. They feel the need to stand guard, even at night—after all, that’s when everyone is most vulnerable. If your dog prefers to sleep by the door to your bedroom or the stairs, they may be looking out for your well-being rather than looking for free snuggles.
What to Do About It
10. They’re Physically Incapable of Getting in the Bed
If you have an older dog or one that suffers from afflictions like hip dysplasia or arthritis, they may be unable to get in your bed. That’s especially true if you have a bed that’s high off the ground. This can also be an issue with smaller dogs and tall beds or dogs that have recently suffered injuries.
If your dog is big enough and seemingly healthy, their refusal to jump up could be an indication that something’s wrong, so that’s worth checking out.
What to Do About It
11. It’s Something Else Entirely
If none of these suggestions check out, you should double back and consider what else happened when this behavior started. You may be able to figure out a cause that’s not listed here. For example, if they stopped hopping up on the bed when the weather changed, that may be what’s behind it. The possibilities are endless, so it will take detective work on your end to figure it out.
What to Do About It
Why Doesn't My Dog Want to Sleep With Me?
There are quite a few reasons that your dog might decide to sleep somewhere other than your bed. It may take time and guesswork on your part, but sooner or later, you should be able to figure it out and solve the problem.
Once you have the issue resolved, your furry pooch should once again be curled up right next to you every night.
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Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
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Quincy never intended to be a cat person. He grew up around dogs, and when his wife brought home a kitten one day, he told her she had one week to find it a new home. That week turned into 10 years (his wife moves very slowly), and that kitten turned into three (they got two more, the kitten didn't self-replicate). After a decade of sharing his home with three cats, one horrifying realization finally set in: oh God, he's a cat person now, isn't he???
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