You love your dog, but that doesn’t mean you want to smell like him. When you pick up a shirt from your laundry basket, you expect it to smell like fresh, clean detergent, not your dog. If you’ve found your dog sleeping on your clothes, you might wonder what to do. You could be really strict about folding your laundry and putting it in a drawer every time you pull it from the dryer, but not everyone has that kind of discipline. Fortunately, there are some other solutions.
Why Do Dogs Sleep on Clothes?
One of the best things you can do is try to understand why your dog is sleeping on your clothes. Whether it’s a clean pile of laundry or a dirty pile, you don’t want the fur and the smells lingering on the items you put on your body. Some reasons your dog might be sleeping on your clothes include:
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Warmth and Comfort – If your dog doesn’t have his own bed, he’s going to find the most comfortable place in the house to hunker down each night, and that might be your clean laundry pile. If this has started happening, you should buy your dog his own bed. There are a lot of styles, designs, sizes and comfort levels, so you’re sure to find a dog bed your little Fido will love.
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Separation Anxiety – Your clothes have your scent on them. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, he might feel most comfortable and secure when your scent is around. If that’s the case, you could devote one article of clothing to your dog. Perhaps it’s something you’ve worn for a long time but no longer need. Give it to the dog! There are also anxiety relief products you can purchase to help your dog calm down when you won’t let him snooze on your clothing.
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Socializing – Perhaps your dog likes to cuddle up on your pile of laundry simply because of its location. If your dog used to sleep with you when he was young, but you’ve put his new bed out in the kitchen, he might just be lonely at night and wants to socialize. You could consider moving your dog kennel into your bedroom or the room your family uses most on a regular basis.
How To Get Your Dog To Sleep in His Own Bed
After your dog has gotten used to sleeping on your clothes, it could be tricky getting him to sleep in his own bed, but it can be done. Some tricks you can try include:
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Rearranging your laundry system for the time being. This might mean you have to shut some doors, invest in some hampers or spend extra time on your laundry, but the payoff will be worth the effort.
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Placing the bed somewhere your dog will feel comfortable. If you banish your dog to the cold corner of the basement where nobody spends any time, he won’t want to sleep in his bed. If you notice your dog likes to hang out in your bedroom, that might be a good location. If he seems to spend a lot of time in the laundry room because of the warmth emitted by the dryer, you could put the dog bed in there for now.
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Using rewards when he sleeps in his own bed. You could give your dog a special treat when he sleeps in his bed, or you could place a special blanket or toy in the bed and not allow it out. These things could entice the dog to want to stay.
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Hanging out with him while it’s new. Your dog might just be hesitant to sleep in his own bed because it’s new to him. Consider sitting with him for the first few times so he has your scent and knows the bed is safe.
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Creating a routine for bedtime. If you have kids, you likely came up with a bedtime routine so they know when it’s time to calm down and eventually sleep. The same thing can be done for your dog. Maybe you take him on a walk before bed, give him a drink or scratch his belly. You could brush his fur or scratch behind his ears. Many of these things, such as scratching or brushing, can be done while he’s in his bed. If you keep up on the routine, he’ll eventually understand he has to stay in the bed to sleep.
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Focusing on comfort. If you simply put down a couple layers of newspaper, your dog isn’t going to be comfortable when he sleeps. There are a lot of plush beds that come in various styles and colors to keep your dog comfortable. If it feels soft and comfy like your pile of laundry, it will be more enticing to the dog.
When your dog decides your clothing pile is his bed, it can get frustrating. Dogs seem to sleep in the same place every day, so if he’s decided on your laundry, it may last a long time. As you can see, it’s not impossible to discourage your dog from sleeping on your clothes and get him to sleep in his own bed. If this is something you’ve been struggling with, it might be time to buckle down and get it done. It’s going to take some effort, perhaps even some new products and a bribe or two, but you can do it and everyone, including your dog, will benefit from it.
