How to Stop Dog From Going under The Bed

Since dogs are den animals, they often look for dark and secluded places when they want to sleep.

That explains why some dogs sneak under the bed to sleep. But this can be quite annoying since the dog will most likely try to “dig” in their attempt to fluff up their bed.

So, what can you do about it?

Well, here are some tips on what to do to stop your dog from going under the bed.

1. Find Out If Your Dog Is Afraid

The commonest reason why dogs go under the bed is the fact that they are afraid and find under the bed secure. You may want to find out what your dog is afraid of.

If you have more than one pet, find out if the dog is afraid of one of them.

You should also check to ensure every family member makes the dog feel welcome and loved.

If you got the dog recently, he may just be struggling with adjusting to the new environment.

You may need to go out of your way to make him feel at home and that will make it easier for him to stop sleeping under the bed. 

2. Positive Reinforcement

An effective way of getting your dog from going under the bed is by using positive reinforcement to correct the behavior.

Have some dog treats handy and as soon as he gets under the bed, call him from with the treat in your hand.

For this to work, you will have to wait until he is fully from under the bed before you give him the treat.

Eventually, he will connect the action of being rewarded to not being under the bed and he will desist from the habit.

3. Get Him Another Doggie Bed

There is always the possibility that your dog is no longer comfortable on his bed.

He might have started using the bed when he was a puppy and has since overgrown it.

Or it could still be a new and comfy bed but your dog doesn’t dig it.

You can try getting another doggie bed to see if that will solve the going under the bed problem.

4. Designated sleep spot

Another reason why a dog might go under the bed is the lack of a designated sleep spot.

If you keep moving his sleeping spot, the dog might interpret that to mean that he can explore and sleep anywhere he wishes. 

To stop this, pick a spot where you want your dog to be sleeping and try not to change it.

Obviously, you will need to help him get used to the spot first.

5. Take Your Dog To The Vet

Dogs can also go under the bed when they are unwell.

 It could be something serious like diabetes or it might just be some minor discomfort but almost always, dogs will react by going under the bed. 

You can observe your dog for any other signs of sickness like coughing, pain, vomiting, diarrhea, drastic behavior change, etc.

If you notice such signs, take your dog to the vet immediately. Once he is treated and is feeling better, he should stop going under the bed without any further intervention.

6. Connect With The Dog

Dogs love companionship and there is a good chance he is sleeping under the bed just because he wants to be near you.

Before you think of how to get him to stop, you may want to consider if you spend enough time with him.

Do you play with him in the house? Do you take him for walks?

If you don’t, create time to connect with your dog.

Let him feel loved and wanted and then it will be easy to convince him to stop going under the bed.

7. Invite Him To The Bed

In the wild, dogs sleep in a pack. For the case of domesticated dogs, sleeping under the bed might just be the next closest thing.

So, if you are open to the idea, you can invite the dog to your bed.

However, you may want to ensure there isn’t another reason for the behavior like sickness or insecurity.

 Also, you may want to discuss with your partner first because they may not be open to the idea of sleeping with the dog.

8. Boundary Training

You may also want to consider doing boundary training for your dog.

Boundary training will help you show your dog where he is not allowed to go.

Some experts can help you with this but if you feel up to the task, you can do it yourself as well.

For the boundary training to work, you will need to use some form of correction (for bad behavior) and some form of reward (for good behavior).

9. Dog Crate

Your dog might resort to going under the bed just because he feels more secure.

 It might not necessarily be because he is responding to a threat.

You can solve this by getting a dog crate. A crate is not cruel if it is used appropriately.

For starters, the crate shouldn’t be used as a punishment. Secondly, make sure the crate is large enough to give him room to turn around.

If you use it well, the dog will feel safe and secure and will not need to go under the bed.

10. Use Under Bed Blockers

Another simple hack for stopping your dog from going under the bed is making it impossible for the dog to access the space.

There are two ways to achieve this.

First, you can squeeze items under your bed. If you take this approach, you have to ensure they are squeezed tight or the dog might just push and pull until they are out of his way.

Secondly, you can block the openings the dog uses to access the space.  For instance, you can use under bed blockers to create a barrier.

Using bed blockers is a safe and easy way of blocking your bed to ensure there your pet doesn’t get under the bed.

Talking of under bed blockers for dogs, here are the best options in the market right now.  

4 Best under Bed Blocker for Dogs

I. QIYIHOME Gap Bumper for Under Bed

The QIYIHOME Toy blocker is a great barrier that will stop pets from getting under your couch or bed.

The blocker is made of steel frames that are fitted with environmentally friendly resin panels. The result is a sturdy and durable blocker that will serve you for a long time.

It is also waterproof, so cleaning it or the surfaces around it is easy.

It typically comes in white color and this makes it blend easily with any furniture.

In fact, it will fit in your décor and appear like it comes with your couch or bed.

Pros

• It’s a six-pack that makes a total of 78” in length. This means it can comfortably cover all around the bed

• It is made from steel which makes it firm and durable

• It comes with free zip ties and a double-side tape which will help to give it a perfect grip to the floor and the bed

• It is easy to install and blends in well with your furniture.

Cons

• If you don’t use the double-side tape and zip ties, it will not install firmly and can fall when touched by a pet

• It may not work well with tall beds

II. Zodight Toy Blockers for Bed/Furniture

Zodight Toy Blocker was designed for blocking toys and other items from going under the bed but you can use it to block your pets too.

It is made from PVC material and is therefore flexible but durable.

The flexibility makes it easy for you to bend it to fit in any gap as long as it is under 3.3inches.    

One of the biggest advantages of the Zodight Toy Blocker is you can customize it to your unique needs by cutting the PVC to the dimensions you need.

Pros

• It comes with a traceless tap that has a very strong double-sided adhesive. The adhesive is not only strong but it is also easy to remove without leaving ugly traces behind.

• It’s made from PVC material, so it’s easy to cut according to your unique length requirements.

• If you run out of your traceless tape, you can just get in touch with the company and you will be given another one free of charge

• It comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month replacement  for all customers

Cons

• It is made from PVC material which means it’s not very sturdy. If the pets find a way of stepping on it, it will eventually give way.

• Tape is perfect for wooden floors but it doesn’t work well on carpets

• Getting the adhesion might require a couple of attempts

III. Gap Bumper for Stopping Toys/Pets from Rolling/Going Under Furniture

The Gap bumper blocker is easy to install and doesn’t need any cutting or measuring tools.

You just roll it around your furniture and then fasten it securely on the legs.

In other words, you don’t have to use any adhesive to make it stick.

It is 10 feet long, so you will have more than enough to run around the bed or couch.

However, it may not work for tall furniture because it is only 2.5 inches high.

Pros

• No adhesive is required—you just run it around the furniture legs for support.

• Since no cutting and measuring is required, you can set it up pretty fast

• It’s also very good at keeping dirt from accumulating under the bed, couch, or any other furniture.

Cons

• It’s 2.5 inches tall, so it  is only good for furniture with a 2-3 inch gap to the floor

• It’s made of rubber, so it might not be very sturdy. It might wobble if not fastened tightly.

IV. T & R Design Clear Blocker for Furniture

The T& C blocker is made from polyethylene terephthalate and is perfect for stop dogs, cats, robotic vacuums, and toys from getting under the bed.

This pet blocker also comes with a strong grid adhesive for installation.

The T& C clear blocker also has a protective layer on both sides to make it even stronger.

Pros

• It comes in different sizes which gives you the flexibility to buy one that fits your bed

• Has extra strong adhesive to make it stand firmly in place

• The adhesive used works with all floor types

Cons

• It holds well when new but loses adhesion quicker than other brands.

Closing Thoughts

If your dog is going under the bed because he is sick, don’t be in a hurry to get him out.

You could just let him be until he feels better. But if it’s for another reason, try to curb the behavior before it becomes a habit.

The steps and resources shared above will help you with this.