Dog Won't Use the New Bed? What to Try and What Your Refund Rights Are

Is it normal for a dog to ignore a new bed?

Yes, it is common, and it does not always mean the bed is wrong. Dogs are creatures of habit and often prefer an old, familiar spot, a sofa or the floor by your feet. A new bed also smells of the shop, not of home.

Give it a couple of weeks before you decide. Make one change at a time so you can tell what helped, and do not push your dog into the bed, because forcing it can put them off.

Where should the bed go?

Put it where your dog already likes to rest, rather than where it suits the room. Dogs Trust advises choosing somewhere the dog can relax, away from busy thoroughfares and not near a ground floor window where cars or people can be heard at night, and keeping it easy to reach and clear of hazards such as wires. Close to the family often works better than a far corner.

Our bed for a senior dog who struggles to get up guide covers placement for stiff dogs, and keeping a senior dog comfortable in winter covers warm, draught-free spots.

How do you make it feel familiar?

• Lay a worn T-shirt or familiar blanket over part of the bed, so it smells of home and of you
• Sit near it and drop a few treats on it, without calling your dog
• Let your dog explore it in their own time, and leave it down
• Dogs Trust suggests introducing a bed during the day, then settling your dog on it before you go to bed yourself, and says an appropriate chew can help if it is right for your dog

Reward calm visits. Do not lift a dog into a bed they are avoiding.

Could the bed itself be the problem?

Possibly. Check these before you give up:

• Size: your dog should be able to stretch out. Measure stretched-out length plus about 15cm and see the dog bed size chart
• Shape: a dog who likes something to lean on may prefer a raised rim, and a sprawler may prefer a flat bed. See curled up or sprawled out
• Surface: our Classic bed has a plush paw-print cover. Some dogs do not like a new fabric, or a floor that lets the bed slide. Our page does not state a non-slip base, so try a rug or non-slip mat underneath
• Firmness: a memory-foam base feels different from a soft cushion, so some dogs need time to get used to it

Our Classic bed has a 9cm memory-foam base and no raised sides. Our Round Comfort Bed has a raised, padded rim and is a soft bed rather than an orthopaedic one.

Classic Orthopaedic Memory-Foam Bed
A 9cm memory-foam base to keep hips and elbows off the floor. View

When should you ask your vet?

If your dog used to settle well and now avoids every bed, seems stiff, hesitates before lying down or struggles to get up, mention it to your vet. Pain or discomfort can make a dog avoid lying down, and only a vet can tell. A new bed will not solve a medical problem, and we cannot tell you whether your dog has one. See why is my dog stiff after sleeping for what to tell your vet.

What are your refund rights with us?

These are described on our delivery and returns page, and the table above sets them out. In short, you have two periods that run alongside each other.

First, a legal right to cancel any order for any reason, without giving one, from the day you place it until 14 days after the day you receive the goods. To cancel, tell us by emailing hello@thepawsupport.com, by using our online form or by using the model cancellation form. We refund the price you paid and the standard delivery charge within 14 days of you telling us you are cancelling. We do not need the goods back and we will not charge return costs.

Second, our own 30-day policy: for 30 days after delivery you can ask for a refund for any reason, and we will refund you and let you keep the item. A photo or short video is optional and helps us process it quickly. Faulty, damaged or not-as-described goods have separate rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, in addition to the above.

Refunds go back to the payment method you used, and for a bank transfer, to the account you paid from. After we send a refund it can take a few more working days to appear, depending on your bank.

What if it just is not the right bed?

That is a normal outcome, and why the policy exists. Do not wait for day 29. If after a couple of weeks of trying your dog still will not use it, email us with your order number, or use the refund form, and ask. You do not have to post anything back, and you may like to give the bed to a local rescue or friend. Then think about what your dog was telling you, such as a different shape, size or firmness, before you buy again.

Before you buy another

• Watch how your dog sleeps for a few nights and write it down
• Measure again, and check the space
• Compare specifications, not just photos: orthopaedic dog bed under £60 explains what to check
• Ask your vet if your dog seems uncomfortable

Our Classic Orthopaedic Memory-Foam Bed comes in Small (60x45cm), Medium (75x55cm), Large (90x65cm) and XL (105x75cm). If you are between sizes, the page advises choosing the larger.