My grandma fell and broke her arm, so I’m taking care of her dog while she recovers. Her dog is used to sleeping in the bed with her, but I prefer not to have the dog in my bed.
At bedtime, I can get the dog to start off sleeping on the floor, but every two hours during the night, she tries to get into the bed. She claws at the side of the bed, barks, and whines to get my girlfriend and me to notice her. I then have to point to her dog bed to get her to settle down and go back to sleep. This cycle repeats all night long.
I realize that giving her attention when she barks is part of the problem, but I’m not sure what else to do.
Any advice would be appreciated. Putting her in another room isn’t an option, as she would go crazy.
You might lose some sleep, but here’s a helpful solution. Wait for a moment of silence, even if it’s just a few seconds. Make a clear gesture with your arms and give a treat, pairing it with the word “quiet.” Choose the dog’s favorite treat, something quick and not crumbly. Keep this up, and eventually, the dog will learn the term “quiet” and feel more comfortable.
Whenever the dog tries to jump up, use a simple “Off” command without showing any emotion, and make sure the dog goes back on all fours. When the dog is quiet, reward her with plenty of love and affection. It’s also good to ensure the dog can see you. If it helps, you can even dangle an arm off the bed to touch the dog for extra comfort.
You could ignore her till she calms down, but get used to the same reaction for a time. She’s used to sleeping with her human at night, and it’s difficult to break her habit.
Poor dog! They miss your grandmother. They’re in an unfamiliar environment, used to cuddling, and you’re refusing to soothe the dog. That explains the behavior. I am astonished it is only every two hours!
It will just require a continuous reminder to the dog to go to her bed. It’s annoying, but the dog has spent its entire existence, most likely sleeping with Grandma, and is now dealing with a significant change in addition to missing her. Dogs are quick learners, so she should pick it up quickly, however your sleep will suffer slightly. Tips: Make sure you address all of her needs before bed, go out for a pee immediately before bed, and then give her a reward in bed. Dogs prefer consistency. Also, if the dog is old, it may require a pee break throughout the night and is signaling to you that it has to go out. Ask Grandma.