Springer Refuses to Sleep in her Bed?

by janet
(swansea)

My 18 month year old springer refuses to sleep in any bed we buy her and sleeps instead in the down stairs toilet on the mat. She seems afraid of bed although she has never had a bad experience and slept in one in a puppy pen when she was young.

Hi Janet sorry for the late reply but I have been on hol. Ok Janet, it seems strange why your pooch is choosing to sleep in the toilet. Is there a reason for this? Is there anything that your pooch associates with this toilet? The first thing I would ask is - can you buy a new bed as it would be good to start from the beginning. If there is a real problem with allowing your pooch to sleep in the toilet then you need to find a place in the House where she feels happy. Firstly I would close the toilet door (after I had cleaned it thoroughly) I would then place the new bed somewhere in the House where you feel she would be happy. Make that place a bit special - feed her there, play games there and associate good times with that space. Start placing treats on the bed and every-time she gets on the bed give her praise. Increase the delay after you give the praise and before long she will start to feel comfortable with her bed. Keep practicing and before long you will be surprised how much she likes her bed but it may take a few weeks.