So to train Toby (3 years old) to stay off the bed......

[Sandy]

What should I do?  If, tonight, he balks at his crate again and I want to leave him out, but not have him on our bed, how do I go about starting that training?  I realize it means he can't go on the bed ever, but we've always allowed it (because it has never been while we were sleeping).  I guess we shouldn't have.  What do I do now?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I wish I had something positive to say but all I can say is I empathize.  My DH lifted our Maltese onto our bed when he was five months old and he's been there every night since.  I would definitely tire him out before bed. I would go out even if the weather is bad, just wrap up well.  Good luck.  I will be following your discussions to see how you get on.

[Lindsey]

It's possible, but it's going to take you and your DH being consistent. Keep removing him from the bed everytime he jumps up there and say "off". You could even, if he is treat driven, give him a treat everytime he moves from the bed to the floor. Though I would only give him a treat every other time, or every hand full of times you tell him "off"...you don't want him thinking that he is being rewarded for actually jumping up on the bed and then back off of it.
Also, try not to put your human emotions on him (most of us doodle lovers struggle with this) you might feel bad for him that "poor doodle can't sleep on the bed" but don't think that way, he is a dog and his crate or his own doggy bed is just as cozy as your bed.

Good Luck!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm not sure why you think this means he can't go on the bed ever.  My guys are allowed on the bed until it's time for us to go to sleep, and then they have to get off.  If you just tell him "off" when you want him to get down, and then physically remove him, he'll get the message after a few times.  If he tries to get back up, just say "no" firmly and remove him.  As I mentioned before, it only took us one night for this training.  The thing is once you tell him "off" you have to follow through...every time.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Ditto.  Peri is allowed to sleep at the food of our bed until the lights go off - at that time we say firmly "off".  I have had to remove her a few times, but she gets it now.  She also wakes up when the sun comes up and if we are not ready to get moving, we invite her up on the bed. Basically, she is trained to come when we say "come on up" and knows to get OFF when it is dark in the room. 

[Frannie & Callie]

Since I have to work on not being offended if Callie chooses to not sleep with me, I have no good advice. HA!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I agree that he should be able to go up there except when you are ready for bed, then tell him off sternly. Keep doing it until it works, you might want to go to bed a little earlier though to allow time for this. Good luck.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Thomas goes to sleep somewhere in our house...usually in the hall at the front door.  BUT...he joins us in our bed every morning when the sun comes up.  We have a king size bed so it is not a problem...we like it....he goes to sleep and when he heres us stirring he comes up to cuddle.  He makes us wake up with a smile on our face!  DH gets up first and the dog follows him to the bathroom and lies outside the shower waiting.  So cute.  When my husband is out of town on business trips...Thomas lies and sleeps at the front door....not with me in the bed.  I guess he is waiting for his "master" to return.

[Jodi and Stella]

This is sweet Debbie!

[Jennifer Tramell]

It's possible that you won't have to do official training.  He never slept with you in bed so why should he think he can now?  I'd go through your regular bedtime routine but if he doesn't get in the crate, just act like that is normal and leave his crate door open.  Go to bed and if he jumps up just tell him to "get down", scoot him off, and go back to bed.  If you go on the assumption and he won't join you, maybe he won't.   Good luck!  I'll check in the morning for an update - hopefully you won't be updating in the middle of the night :-)

[Sandy]

My husband says to assume it will be back to normal tonight.  I have repositioned the crate directly in front of the window, which will be open.  I have brought a small fan in and placed it on the floor about 3 feet from the crate.  Our ceiling fan is on.  Barring turning our room into a walk-in freezer, that's all I can do.  We'll see how it goes.  :)

[Sandy]

All day yesterday I told Toby "Off" sternly whenever he looked at our bed.  I left the door closed when we weren't up there.  He stayed off last night!  So proud of him.  :)  We did try the crate when he first went to bed but it was standing there and panting almost immediately.  He wandered a bit, but eventually settled in the bathroom on the tile floor.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Great!