Dogs are a significant part of our lives and soon become bonafide family members when we accept them into our homes. However, dogs are pack animals and just love to have the company of their owners close by.
The problem is when they want to sleep in the same room. This post will solve that problem.
Training your dog to sleep in a different room will take patience and perseverance. At first, it’s a battle of wills. Make a space for your dog personalized with a few toys, and make your dog tired before placing him in his new sleeping environment.
If you want to get your dog to sleep in a different room, there are a few steps you can try:
- Make the new sleeping area comfortable and inviting: Use a cozy bed or blanket, and consider adding a nightlight or white noise machine to help your dog feel more at ease.
- Gradually move your dog’s bed or crate to the new location: Start by placing it in the same room as you, but gradually move it further and further away until it’s in the desired location. This can help your dog get used to the new sleeping arrangements.
- Reward your dog for sleeping in the new location: Give your dog treats or praise when you catch them sleeping in the new location, to reinforce the behavior.
- Ignore any whining or barking: If your dog starts to whine or bark when you leave them in the new sleeping area, try to ignore it. Responding to their barking or whining will only reinforce the behavior and make it harder for them to settle down.
- Consult a veterinarian or trainer: If your dog is having a lot of trouble adjusting to the new sleeping arrangements, it’s a good idea to consult a veterinarian or a professional dog trainer. They can help you determine the cause of the issue and provide additional tips and strategies for getting your dog to sleep in a different room.
There Are Benefits To Not Sleeping With Your Dog In The Same Room
We love and enjoy our four-legged friends, they can be smelly, dirty creatures, and it’s not always feasible to keep them well-groomed and bathed.
As much as we don’t like talking about it, dogs can carry some horrible things in their coats that are only too happy to jump onto our beds and nest in the warm cozy bed linen.
Having fleas is an unpleasant experience, and once they infest your bedroom carpet and bedding, you’re left with only the option of using toxic chemicals to remove them from your home.
Is it bad to make your dog sleep in another room?
If you suffer from allergies, you will know hairs can it set off, making your life miserable.
So having your dog sleep in a separate room may be the only option you have if you want to keep your canine friend in the house with you. Don’t beat yourself up over this decision. It’s not bad making your dog sleep in a different room.
Of course, antihistamines resolve the problem short term, but we can’t live our lives taking medication because our dog enjoys sharing the bedroom with us.
Not to mention that dogs can snore and fart like a drunken sailor.
How do I get my Dog To Sleep In Another Room?
First of all, it doesn’t happen overnight and locking them in another room doesn’t.
If you lock your dog in another room to sleep, they will constantly bark and do a fair amount of damage to try and be with you.
This is in the pack animal nature, but dogs have intelligence, so with perseverance, you can make your dog sleep in another room while you sleep in your bedroom.
Why Shouldn’t your dog sleep in your room?
Dogs are pack animals, and despite all of their loveliness, they will try to dominate you if they get the opportunity. Making your dog sleep in another room enforces your dominance as the pack leader.
Plus, you will sleep peacefully without the grunts and snorts through the night.
Select A Room
Choose a room where the dog can be comfortable, and temperature is essential to make the room cool but not cold, similar to what the dog has become accustomed to while being indoors with you.
Bring the dog’s bed and favorite toys into the room. If your dog has a blanket it sleeps with, bring it, to make them feel comfortable in the new room.
Spend time in the room with your dog during the day. You could bring your desk in the room and do some work, the dog needs to understand this is normal, and the owner or pack leader likes this room also.
Spend as much time in the room as you can, particularly if your dog likes to nap during the day. Get the dog used to sleeping in the dog’s bed.
It’s a good idea to place some of your old clothes in the room. Your dog will recognize your smell and feel safe in his new environment.
Make Sure The Dog Is Tired
If your dog is bound with the energy, you will need to release some of the energy by exercising the dog for long periods.
This may include walking or running the dog before bedtime to drain as much energy as possible.
After the dog has eaten and done his business for the evening, lead the dog to the room and make him rest on his bed.
If your dog is tired enough, he will sleep anywhere, so his new room will be the ideal place.
Dogs like humans respond to light, so make sure the dog’s room is dark if you want him to sleep into the morning hours.
You may want to invest in a perfect sturdy dog crate. Dogs are quite happy sleeping in a crate, providing you put their toys and bedding in it for them.
Adding familiar items will make the dog feel secure.
We all know that dog treats can be our best friend when we want our dog to do something when training the dog.
Use treats and tempt your dog every step of the way.
If the dog is resisting, don’t force the issue, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Forcing the issue will make the dog feel there is something wrong, and the dog could associate the room and bed with anxiety.
Is it OK for my dog to sleep alone?
Yes, and once the routine has been established, he will enjoy his new environment. Of course, he is a pack animal and would prefer to be with his owner. But, dogs enjoy routine, and establishing a routine will help your dog feel calm and happy.
Routine
The more routine you can place in a dog’s life, the happier the dog will be. He likes to know when it’s time to walk and eat in many ways like a human.
Once you have your dog in the routine of going to his sleep room or area, you are halfway there to achieve your goal of getting the dog to sleep in a different room.
As part of your coaxing routine, use treats. You could make a pathway of treat that end in his bed.
Have fun with your dog, and remember your dog will respond to praise far better than fear. Dogs like to be rewarded; who doesn’t?
Boundaries
Dogs are very similar to children. When they start to feel confident, they will try to push the boundaries as far as possible.
This can be witnessed in the dog world, and when enough is enough, the alpha dog steps in and puts the dog in his place.
Your dog sees you as the pack leader, so you need to behave like the pack leader. If you don’t act like the head of the pack, guess what? Your dog will assume that position, and then you will have a real battle on your hands to regain control.
There is never any need to threaten or beat your dog. Just show you are the leader of the pack, and what you say goes.
Do this with encouragement and a firm touch if needed.
If your dog is acting up, you may need to give them a firm tap on the leg to change their thought process. I’m sure you have all seen Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, do this when training a dog.
Age Of The Dog
Training a puppy will be much easier and more fun as they explore and get up to all kinds of antics during the process.
But as a rule of thumb, training a young puppy to sleep independently in a different room to you will be easier than training an older dog.
Both the puppy and the older dog will respond to treats and commands over a while.
If the older dog is well trained and trusts you, then it may be the case the transition from sleeping in your room to another will be plain sailing.
Still use praise and treats to reinforce your wishes and show the dog he is doing well.
If your dog is old and possibly from a shelter or a rescue dog, you will almost certainly require patience and care when training this dog.
Expect the process to be longer, and accept the dog may have some hidden fears of being alone. In these cases, it pays to be gentle and just wait until the dog is ready. It will happen in their own time when confidence levels increase, and they know it’s secure.
Is using A Dog Crate Cruel?
No, not in the slightest once the dog is used to the new environment, he will be happy in the crate.
When training a dog, you need to be patient; if your dog hates the crate at first, don’t force him to use it.
Leave the door open to the crate and place treats inside. They will soon get the feel of the crate, and no, there’s nothing to fear.
The first time you lock him in the crate, stay in the room and give lots of praise to the dog. Sit with him for a time and then let him out.
As soon as he knows he will be released as part of the routine, the dog will have no problems sleeping in a crate.
With crates being open meshed wire, he can see 360 degrees which will increase his confidence.
