Question:

I have a situation - one of many but here goes:

Loki will be lying down quite happily on the floor in the living room at night but when it is time for bed (he isn't allowed to stay in that room on his own) he ignores all calls and requests to leave the room completely. He becomes doggie-deaf. I know full well he understands "come" as he obeys it at other times, and I've tried calling him out in a happy, squeeky voice and a stern, commanding voice but he still ignores me.

So how do I get him out? If I try to grab hold of any part of him, push or pull, he rolls onto his back and either goes limp or twists around, so I'm left with a choice of leaving him there, trying to ease him out in his chosen position or dragging him out, none of which are acceptable.

Obviously I don't just give in and I have tried turning all the lights off and leaving him there but he just lies back down again (no doubt thrilled with himself - ARGHGHGH!), cheerfully easing him out of the room with him refusing to get up and in a less patient moment, forcing him out, which gets him very annoyed indeed. It annoys me too and makes bed time an unpleasant time.

Last night I enticed him out about half an hour before we were due to go to bed, and that worked okay, but I really want his obedience when I ask for it.

I love this dog to death but he will be the death of me, the clever, stubborn brute.



Answer:



i have absolutely no advice - however it certainly seems like Loki knows where the comfy place is !!
Cheeky wee monkey - hope someone much cleverer comes along and tells you how to sort him out ......

......off to persuade bruno to get off the sofa !!!!.........................

Answer:



Funny you should mention sofa wars Dani - that's another one of our issues

Answer:



You have my sympathy LS. My Sparky does exactly the same thing, how he knows it's bedtime I don't know. If I try to move him he emits a low growl from way back in his throat (which gets him ejected even quicker) In normal circumstances he never, ever, leaves my side, even when I want him too. But now at nightime and about a half hour before bed, he saunters nonchalantly upstairs and onto our bed. No doubt figureing that when I've turned out all the lights etc and made my weary way upstairs, I'll be to scunnered to take him down to the kitchen again. And often as not he's right...little bu**er. It's now an ongoing battle of wits at bedtime. So, sorry, no advice I'm afraid, only empathy...

Answer:



Is there a reason that he is not allowed to sleep in that room? If he is unlikely to be destructive then leaving him there is the easiest solution Does he go willingly to his bed during the day when he is told to do so? Do you have a command word for bed? If he is resistant I would not use the word 'come' as it may start to have negative associations for him.

I would put his lead on, put an arm under him and hoist him on to his feet if he won't move, and walk him out in a calm but no nonsense manner. No enticing with food, toys or a cajoling voice. Once you have got him to his bed heaps of praise and perhaps a goodnight biscuit or some other treat. If you are consistent in this, and it may take a while, he will realize that resistance is futile and doing what he is told, when he is told to do it, is much more rewarding.

As you found out, changes in routines can help, but he needs to learn that 'bed' means what it says.

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Totally agree with SB - shame I can't sort my own little monster out.......


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I had the same problem with Murphy, loves the comfort of the front room too much lol

Luckily, I don't have the same problem with Jesse (GSD) as the minute I get up and go into the conservatory and put out there duvets she knows it's bedtime.

What I do is go into the kitchen, give a loud whistle, open the fridge door (the dogs are usually at my side by that point - very food orientated), get a cocktail sausage, go to the back door (they're tripping over each other to get the sausage at this point lol), I break it in half and throw it into the garden, Murphy gets half and so does Jesse and I leave them outside for a few minutes so they do their last wee's and during this time I shut the lounge door and then I let them back in and they go and lie down on their duvets and sleep-bye's.

A few times I have just whistled them and not given them the sausage and they have done as I have asked, but I always like to give them a little treat before bedtime, it's the only time I allow Murphy a treat as I have to keep his weight down.

Answer:



I echo SBs words regarding the solution may I just add a couple of comments ..

He becomes doggie-deaf. I know full well he understands "come" as he obeys it at other times, and I've tried calling him out in a happy, squeeky voice and a stern, commanding voice but he still ignores me. Loki has discovered you don't really mean it when you give a command, he has the option not to obey there should be no choice in the matter and repeating a command in different tones will make no difference .

So how do I get him out? If I try to grab hold of any part of him, push or pull, he rolls onto his back and either goes limp or twists around, so I'm left with a choice of leaving him there, trying to ease him out in his chosen position or dragging him out, none of which are acceptable Loki has also discovered if he refuses to move he gets a great game with you

Loki should be be given one command only, his refusal to move should not be made into' a big thing' by doing this he is being rewarded with extra attention and a game.

So first he needs to learn the meaning of 'bed' and this should indicate ''go to this place and you will get lots of praise and a reward sometimes'' practice the command during the day always give lots of praise when he reaches the bed. Then at night give the command once, then as as SB says on with the lead no fuss,use a bright 'I mean business voice' take him to the bed and lots of praise when he gets there.

Added having to smile to myself, I know someone who had the same problem with their Lab, having spent ten mins telling me how hard it was to get her to move I slipped the lead on her and she obediently trotted to bed

Answer:



Aw thanks guys for your brilliant advice - I will take all this on board and give the ideas a try.

The only reason Loki's not allowed in there on his own is because he goes on the settee and he's not allowed on there at all because he makes it dirty and smelly . Because of this, as soon as he gets the opportunity (eg if we leave the room for a second even) he makes repeated attempts to get up on there; he's nothing if not dogged . So at night he has access to the kitchen, hall, stairs, landing and computer room.

He can be a bit destructive but only if we leave him alone in the house - usually belongings though, not furniture. He's fine if he knows someone is there, even if in a different room. So when we leave him, he's usually confined to the kitchen where all his food, water and bed is (behind a safety gate - we don't shut the door) or he gets the kitchen, hall, stairs, landing and computer room.

Answer:



Originally Posted by Minihaha
Added having to smile to myself, I know someone who had the same problem with their Lab, having spent ten mins telling me how hard it was to get her to move I slipped the lead on her and she obediently trotted to bed This made me laugh - isn't that typical?