Dog Community

I am so sad!

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:00:10 PM

I made a dog bed for Beau because it would be cheaper to just sew one myself than to buy one (especially since I had a feeling he'd eat it) and I just finished it this weekend. It's huge - about 32" by 50" and it fits nicely in his crate and is piled high with soft and snuggly stuffing. I made it out of corduroy and fleece (with the stuffing inside a muslin liner) and I think it's pretty snazzy (also considering this is my first time sewing anything on my own).

I brought it into my bedroom where Beau was sleeping soundly (on my bed I might add) and I put it in his kennel. He woke up of course and we started doing our practicing his obedience with the treats. I told him to "go kennel" and he gets there and bolts for the door.

Ahh... I spent all this time on his bed and he's afraid of it! Ultimate sadness!! Of course I realize dogs have no concept really of knowing that I put my heart into this for him so he should love it - he's probably like "ack! scary fluffy giant thing!"

But I'm still sad. Hopefully he'll learn to like it! It only took him 20 days to stop being afraid of the balloons in the living room from my birthday!

dubilpie

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:07:56 PM

You could try putting a tasty treat on it, he'll probably go on the bed to get at it. That is how I got my dogs in their crate the first few times, I would leave a treat in there now and then and they would go in there to get it, the first couple of times they ran in, grabbed the treat and took off, after that they laid in there and ate it.

MissMandy

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:12:16 PM

I understand your frustration after putting so much time anf effort into making something special for your pooch. I agree with dubilpie though. Make the new bed a positive thing. Encourage your dog to go check it out. Offer him a treat/praise him when he does so wihtout freaking out. I'm sure you can help him overcome his fear with time! Good luck!!

KCSO

Posted : 4/29/2007 5:19:40 PM

If he has a blankie he's used to, throw that on top. Try to get his scent or your scent on it so he realizes it belongs. See if he'll lay on it outside of the crate.

tamoo

Posted : 4/29/2007 6:50:20 PM

He'll sniff it now, but only under duress, and only probably because I have been laying on it and trying to make it seem like an awesome fun thing.

It's just funny I guess because dogs seem to have a way of knowing about these things. Buy them an expensive toy? They'd rather eat a cardboard box (I speak from experience). I'm pretty sure he thinks it is quite hilarious!! [

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erica1989

Posted : 4/29/2007 7:33:33 PM

I went through that with my dog too. I had to switch his crate out for a bigger one, the foster kitten was escaping from it. I figured he wouldn't mind more room to sleep in....so I washed his blankets, put new clean ones in his kennel, and he refused to go in! He will go in now, but I think he can't wait to have his smaller kennel back when the kitten is done with it.....