Scared of Bed

Question
Hi Patti,
My boxer dog is scared of her bed.  She is almost 3 years old and I have had her since for around 2 years (she came from another home before that).  We have always had trouble with getting her to bed (and her staying in there all night).  She gets on her bed (or we put her on there if she doesn't want to get on) and she is fine (sometimes for the night, a week or months), but once she starts moving to get into a different position this scares her and she jumps off.  She will then sleep elsewhere (out in the wet garden somewhere)and it will take days/weeks to get her to be confident with her bed again.  We have used two different trampoline beds and also have a 'special' blanket that goes where she sleeps (she is happy just to sleep on the blanket on the ground).  I have considered using a kennel, but I do not think that she would like it as she does not like being in confided spaces.  I don't really want to take one step and then two steps back.  Is there anything I can do or a different type of outdoor bedding I can use to make her go to bed and stay there?
Thanks,
Ashley

Answer
Hi Ashley,

Since your dog will gladly sleep on right the ground or on a blanket if there's one on the ground, I think your dog finds the springiness of the trampoline style bed unnerving.

It's a good idea to have your dog's outdoor bed raised off the ground a few inches, which is the basic concept behind a trampoline bed. If there's a way to secure a piece of plywood on top of the trampoline beds, that would be a simple way of transforming your existing dog beds into a firm sleeping surface, though you'd need a cushion or other soft bedding at that point.

Maybe you could build a simple platform to keep a dog bed on, or find a wooden palette (some hardware stores or lumber yards give them away for free!) to use as a bed platform. A wooden palette would need a sheet of wood to cover it's top, otherwise your dog might object to walking on slats of wood.

There are many weather proof dog beds, or you could even use a vinyl bean-bag chair for your dog's bed. Using a cushion meant for use with garden furniture is another weather-proof bedding option.

If by a "kennel" you are referring to a dog crate, your dog might enjoy one more than you think. Dogs have a natural "denning instinct", most feel secure in a small space.
Your dog needs shelter of some kind if she's kept outside. If your dog won't go inside a small space such as a crate, how about something like a dome tent? They make them especially for dogs, you can see an example here:

http://livingcomforts.com/ab_Tent.html

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti