Do you let your dog sleep in your bed with you?

Question

So far we have not let Penelope into bed with us. She does cry a little when we go to bed and in the middle of the night when she wants to play. She has a very comfy bed of her own next to our bed, so it's not like she is locked out of our room.

Answer 1

No, my dogs sleep in their crates next to our bed. They love going into their own spaces at night. We don't even have to shut the doors. I don't have a problem with them sleeping in the bed (to all those people worried about fleas...I live in the South where fleas are rampant, but if you take care of your animals with flea prevention medicine, your animal shouldn't have fleas), but I don't think you get as good of sleep with animals in the bed...plus, depending on their size, you have to worry about rolling over on them. Occasionally, when my husband is out of town, I might let them sleep with me, but its very rare (I have 3 dogs and 2 cats).

Answer 2

No. A dog shouldn't be allowed into the bed with you until they are much older and have earned this priveledge. To a dog, the "Alpha" is the one with the highest, most comfy bed. To let a puppy into bed with you may confuse him and create dominance issues.

Answer 3

That's such a stupid question! If you want a stinky smelly mutt in your bed from now until doomsday then go for it. If you want a well trained well behaved pet then make it known to Penelope that she has her own bed and this is where she is to sleep. would you want your 3yr old child sleeping in bed with you? once you start the habit it is nigh impossible to break.

Answer 4

Our dog is a princess... she sleeps where ever she wants... and we love her. She has her own beds all over the house... sometimes she wants our beds and we let her.

Dogs are people too!

ps she is a small hypoallergenic non shedding breed, I may of had a different asnwer if it was a great dane or newfoundland breed 8)

Answer 5

My boyfriend lets his dog sleep in the bed, but its a pain in the butt when I spend the night. I don't mind Belle, but she is very big and likes to stretch out on the bed. He has to change the sheets twice as often because the dogs dirties them up real fast. Don't let your dog sleep in your bed because it will jsut make it smelly. The only reason why Belle is allowed to is because she can jump up there and there is only so much we can keep her from doing.

Answer 6

We always let our dogs sleep with us. It's just the natural thing to do, tho I don't have an opinion on other people's choices in this matter.

I do remember my father forcing our dogs to sleep by themselves when I was a kid. I hated listening to their cries and just felt it wrong.

And of course you should let your kids sleep with you when they're babies. It totally stresses them out not to - they evolved to sleep next to mommy, nursing is enhanced immensely by co-sleeping, it's much easier on the parents.

Imagine cave parents taking their baby to the back of the cave somewhere, putting it down and going off the sleep elsewhere. The physiology, the fear of being alone at night, hasn't changed though our dwellings have.

Answer 7

You need to watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel He's had episodes about dogs that were exhibiting behavior you've described. And no, the dog wouldn't sleep in my bed either.

Answer 8

He can if he wants too but he prefers his bed and he gets on the bed to say good morning or if he gets scared of something

Answer 9

No dog to sleep in the bed

Answer 10

Pets are not your slaves, they are your dependants. They are also companions and friends.

She feels safer next to you. Why take that away from her?

Don't forget that, for a pet, the 'owner' is everything. Look at the happiness in their eyes when you come back home! It doesn't get much more unconditional than that!

Let her enjoy your company at night, it's not like you've got something to lose..

:-)