Dog wont use dog bed

[zozimo]

I have a 13 year old shep/collie mix who just started using our dirty clothes pile as a bed, that is the only thing he sleeps on until we get all our clothes cleaned, any ideas?

[Reilly122602]

Not really. He may just not find his bed comfortable. My pom dosnt like his all too much.

Nothing out of the normal.

[Soleil]

You could try a laundry basket (mind you I have 5, and NONE of them hold clothes- maybe thier defective?!)

Actually here is what I did for the same problem. I washed the bed in the family laundry detergent a couple of times (gets the yucky smell out). I then slept with the bed for a couple of days (actually a week- I forgot about it until my partner asked how much longer he was going to have to share his side of the bed!!) I put the new, 'smell-nice' bed where the pile of laundry WAS. And now it doesn't matter where I put it- our pooch will find it!

Good luck!

S

[kiss98]

ya my jack russel does not like his ethire he likes the couch better!...LOL

[zozimo]

thanks everyone!, Ill try getting him a new bed and making it smell like me, it occured to me just now that his bed might be to thin for him, he has a little arthritus

[Ulven]

That was a brilliant idea to make it smell like you.One thing about animals, including us, is that we like to fluff up and build the bed cloth around us.You could buy a quilt (a cheap but thick one) and fluff it up.And have a sheet ontop so the quilt itself doesn't get too smelly.This way, your dog can dig and push and arrange the blanketing the way he wants.They don't want to just be 'ontop', they want shape it to their bodies.

[brandy pup]

Has he had a gereatric exam? A cbc and urine screen? This will assist in detecting liver and other organ problems.

Also he may be getting stiff joints and likes the pile better.