I have a new little puppy but I cannot remember how I got my last dog Harley to use to his basket. I have put titbits in it to encourage Mason to use . Harley used to sit in it when I was cooking so he was safely out of harms way. I do not wish to use a cage. Any advice would be much appreciated. We had Harley for 13 years and he was such a joy and Mason is just as wonderful. It is 13 years since we ha a puppy so it is hard to remember the finer details. Harleywas a Samoyed and so is Mason. Looking forward to you help.
Eric, my labradoodle, wouldn't use his bed either. So I owuld wait until he was dropping off, pick him up gently and lay him there. with a "dolly" Worked for all of 3 weeks until he got too big to both lift and fit in the basket!! Now he sleeps where he darned well pleases. And once he's in a deep sleep, nothing shifts him!!
my puppies have always gone in a basket....when they are puppies, and now prefer the settee or my bed! Dont worry, he will either take to it or not....he has the choice.
Well I imagine you are training him by now, never too young!! one of your commands will be "Stay" and probably one of the most important!!
Also if you leave a nice cuddly soft blanket for him to sleep on he will probably sleep on it, once he is used to falling asleep on it place it in his basket he will continue to sleep on it, you could also put a hot water bottle under the blanket when he is due for his sleep, this will also help him to settle on it.
With our kitten and my sister's dog,when he was a puppy,something that you had worn so they could get a comforting smell,was the answer.Our lovely Wee Man still sleeps on clothes if he gets the chance!
My cats don't like sleeping in their cat beds unless there is some of my old clothing with my scent in it. I think, as Lindapinda says its a comfort thing when they can smell you. You need to get pup used to your smell first then put some old soft clothing in the basket.
Mind you having said that my 2 both sleep on my bed whether I'm in it or not most of the time.