Biting in Bed - UPDATED
Bear is a crate trained dog. He goes in his crate at 6:30am and is out about 4pm each day. He used to sleep in his crate at night also and would probably still be happy to do so, but I started having a little guilt about him being in there SO much in a 24 hour period that I started letting him sleep in my bedroom about a month ago.
Now, often while we're in bed he'll sleep up at the top of the bed next to my pillow, which is fine. But sometimes he'll lay down by my feet - this is where our problem begins.
If he's comfortable and I move my feet, he does this grunt/growl thing. Never a big deal - but last night he was startled by something and make a weird howl/bark noise. He was so freaked out that I even turned the light on to check on him. He settled back down near my feet and a few minutes later I moved my leg to scratch an itch and Bear BIT my foot like four times - HARD. Hard enough that I turned the light on to check my foot - luckily my quilt is pretty thick and there were no marks.
My questions - should I stop allowing him to sleep with me? Is he not getting rest because he's out of his crate and feels like he's "on watch"? Also, if I leave him in bed with me when he does the grunt/growl thing should I get on him? Was the bite sort of my fault for scaring him?
Bear isn't aggressive at all at any other time - I've never seen him aggressive towards a person or another animal.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE - Bear has been sleeping in the floor since I posted this, but I woke up to a strange noise last night and found him chewing the corner baseboard and drywall in my bedroom. He had a 30 minute walk yesterday and about 15 minutes of play with his favorite boxer next door and I was in the room in bed sleeping - not even 3 feet from him. He didn't seem to think he'd done anything wrong!!!!
1. Does anyone know how to repair a corner? He damaged the wood in the baseboard and the painted wall.
2. He'll be crated at night from now on. ugh - this is the first time he's done anything crazy like this.
Now, often while we're in bed he'll sleep up at the top of the bed next to my pillow, which is fine. But sometimes he'll lay down by my feet - this is where our problem begins.
If he's comfortable and I move my feet, he does this grunt/growl thing. Never a big deal - but last night he was startled by something and make a weird howl/bark noise. He was so freaked out that I even turned the light on to check on him. He settled back down near my feet and a few minutes later I moved my leg to scratch an itch and Bear BIT my foot like four times - HARD. Hard enough that I turned the light on to check my foot - luckily my quilt is pretty thick and there were no marks.
My questions - should I stop allowing him to sleep with me? Is he not getting rest because he's out of his crate and feels like he's "on watch"? Also, if I leave him in bed with me when he does the grunt/growl thing should I get on him? Was the bite sort of my fault for scaring him?
Bear isn't aggressive at all at any other time - I've never seen him aggressive towards a person or another animal.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE - Bear has been sleeping in the floor since I posted this, but I woke up to a strange noise last night and found him chewing the corner baseboard and drywall in my bedroom. He had a 30 minute walk yesterday and about 15 minutes of play with his favorite boxer next door and I was in the room in bed sleeping - not even 3 feet from him. He didn't seem to think he'd done anything wrong!!!!
1. Does anyone know how to repair a corner? He damaged the wood in the baseboard and the painted wall.
2. He'll be crated at night from now on. ugh - this is the first time he's done anything crazy like this.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Hmmm. It is quite possible Bear did not realize it was your foot he was biting, since he was startled and it was under the covers. You might try moving your foot or hand under the covers then pulling the covers back to show him what it is? I know their noses are excellent, but honestly the entire bed is probably so flooded with the "you" smell that he might not be fully aware of where your body actually is. I would correct him for grumbling, though. Jack's a grumbler when I towel his belly or something else he does not like, and I've always stopped him because I don't want it to escalate.
I may be in a minority around here, but I'm not comfortable having a dog sleep on my bed. Would he sleep in dog bed on the floor near you? Or is there an alternative to crating him in the day, so you can crate him at night?
For those of us who work, our dogs sleep a lot during the day and tend to be semi-alert at night, which can make for a less-than-restful night sleep for both of you if you are sharing a bed. Jack and Maddie sleep downstairs. Once or twice before we got Maddie I slept on the couch because of someone being ill or something, and I can tell you that Jack moves around a TON during the night. Keeps changing position, wanders around, whoofs softly at sounds outside, etc. I wouldn't want him in my bed, though I know other dogs apparently make very quiet bed-mates.
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on
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I think you're definitely right about several things. I agree that I should probably begin to correct the grumble. He would probably not have a problem at all sleeping on the floor in the bedroom, and many nights when I move around too much he jumps down onto the floor and sleeps there. He has an extra doggie bed, I think I'll try putting it in my bedroom next to my bed.
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Permalink Reply by Darius on
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Growing up in New England dogs slept on the floor or in the kitchen because they are always either wet, muddy, or both after being outside.
Morgan grumbles, but it's mostly playful.
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Permalink Reply by Gary, Jackson, and Ollie on
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How old is he?
Jax is 4 and 1/2 months old and I feel guilty about crating him all day, but those were the Vets orders, lol. Maybe crate train him until he is 7 months when his teething is finally over to stop the biting?
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Permalink Reply by Debby on
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I agree with Beth. I have never let a dog sleep in my bed. I was always told that in order for you to be the lead dog, you have to have a higher position. I have given Cody and all my previous dogs their own beds, in fact, Cody has 3 beds and the crate and so has a choice throughout the house. At night he prefers to begin in his bed next to mine, but He moves constantly during the night as do I. My Cody is only allowed on the bed when I ask him to be and that is usually first thing in the morning when we wake up. I do not recommend having a dog sleep in the bed with you.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I gave up on the battle of dogs in bed. I am a light sleeper and not a fan but my husband wanted them in. Since he actually wanted one dog and no cats and we have three dogs and two cats it seemed like a good trade!
Having been a cat person I can say that they play very rough when your hand is under the covers. They don't automatically connect the movement with you. My guess is he did not realize it was you. If your reaction was dramatic enough he probably figured that out now. As far as the growling, Sparty does that sometimes and I just put him off the bed. It does curtail it a little but he is a little grumpy at bed time for good reasons that I will spare you the details of. Usually he is just so glad to be in bed that he behaves very well.
Many trainers will tell you that letting a dominant dog sleep with you causes them to think you are part of their pack instead of the other way around.
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Permalink Reply by Alice on
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We never let Finnigan sleep in our bed. He is crated when we are out of the house and crated at bed time. We brought him up on the bed a couple times just for fun and he wouldn't settle down, so I wouldn't attempt to get him to sleep up there. When I know he won't destroy the house I will start letting him sleep on a dog bed in the room but he will not be joining us in bed. I know I would not sleep as well with him up there anyway.
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Permalink Reply by Wendt Worth Corgi's on
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A few of mine like to play like a cat w/my feet under the covers but once I say SETTLE..they stop and never have they been aggressive but they know what I'm doing and whats under the covers. Definitely correct this behavior and try to get him to recognize those are your feet under there. Try using your hand as well.
I allow my dogs to sleep in the bed. Not all the time and they have to be invited up..if they take it upon themselves to jump up they get told to get right back down. Theres nothing better then to cuddle w/your buddy and they love it but limits need to be set. Just like w/the couches or chairs downstairs. I sometimes will get on the floor w/them and lay down and let me tell you they love it. They are all over me..its funny!!
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So much great information you all! Bear has also never just jumped on the bed, he waits to be invited.
Last night I took him upstairs into the bedroom with me, let him up on the bed for a while to play and cuddle and then I sent him back to the floor. I had brought his bed upstairs with us - he spent a few minutes dragging it around the bedroom, then after a few minutes I didn't hear him jingling and I looked for him. He wasn't in the bed on the floor, he wasn't under the bed - the bedroom door was closed so I turned the light on. He has a crate up there with a blanket in it. He had pulled the blanket out in to the floor and was inside the crate.
He didn't even come out when I turned the light on. I think/hope he was happier in there.
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You know, this might sound silly, but try teaching Bear "excuse me." I know it sounds strange, but Jack learned it quite by accident. Apparently if he would be sitting by me and I needed to get up, I would unconsciously say "Excuse me" before dumping him off me. He learned, all on his own, that if I said "Excuse me" I was about to interfere with his personal space.
Now, if I say "Excuse me" Jack will get off my lap (which he is rarely on), move away from me on the couch, or if I'm sweeping or mopping the floor, shift out of the way so I can sweep/mop where he was sitting.
My cat also knows what "Excuse me" means.
Really you can use any word to be a command for a dog, and it's just sort of interesting when they learn polite human terms instead of rigid-sounding commands for behavior.
So, if you do decide to let Bear on the bed and you need to budge him off your legs, say "Excuse me" and then move him. He'll most likely learn pretty soon that "Excuse me" means you are about to move, and get away from you himself.
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LOL..I do the same thing. If I give a command and one ignores me I say "what did I say?" and as weird as it seems they then do the command. Excuse me works the same way. If one of mine also gets rambunctious I just say "settle" and they calm down. These are words I don't use often so when I do use them it catches their attention because its different. Just like when I call them I will clap my hands, keeps their attention on me and they know they did well and I always say that dogs name first then the command.
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I never really thought of it til you said this, but for me it's "I SAID" and then repeat the command. "I said come!" or "I said leave it!" means I really mean it this time, mister, and if you don't oblige I'll come over there and make you do it....
It's funny what we teach them when we aren't really trying, isn't it?
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