Do you adjust things in your life for your dog's comfort?

Question

Right now I'm struggling to type with one hand because my dachshund insists my arms are for sleeping this morning. My lap or her bed just won't do. My arm in ready to fall off! :) Another example: instead of going somewhere exotic on our honeymoon, my husband and I took our dogs with us and enjoyed a beautiful week in a cabin by a lake in Wisconsin. One of my friends never gets a good night's sleep because she lets her three dobes sleep in the bed with her and her husband.

Let's keep this fun everyone! :)

As I said before, I want to keep this fun. A lot of dogs are obedience trained and know what's expected of them. Our two male German shepherds are obedience trained and very well behaved. We're working with our dachshund. We just rescued her three months ago. She loves to be held, because she was kept in an airline crate and not socialized most of her life. Dachshunds are a challenging breed to begin with. I have owned them my whole life. She doesn't demand to be held, but I give into her sometimes because I love her and she missed out on a lot of human contact. Please know that I am not in any way condoning spoiling a dog in place of proper training or care.

I love your comments so far! Makes me know I am not alone! :)

Veterinary Receptionist 18 years

And yes, all three of my dogs are crate trained. They do not sleep in my bed, but I swear their beds we got them look more comfortable than ours! LOL!

Answer 1

I'd never really thought about that before, but yes I do completely. I have spoiled her rotten! She's got to be by my side, on my lap or in my arms at all times! She rests in my lap with her head out the window when I drive....I wake up some nights and she's completely taken over my pillow so I've got my head hanging off the bed.....When she's in my lap I've got to hold her "chewy thing" for her b/c otherwise she'll drop it and bark until I pick it up for her....The list is endless! I guess I'd never thought of it b/c she's so important to me that making sure she's happy, makes me happy!

Answer 2

Absolutely NOT!!!! It's your life and he's just a dog!!!! I love my pitbull. He is my kid and baby and I couldn't live with out him but my comfort comes first! I like you had the same problem. Except my dog was about 40 pounds (now he's 68 pounds)
I know it's hard. When I finally decided enough was enough and claimed my bed back it was NOT easy. But I started by making him sleep in his crate with his favorite toys and the blankie we shared when he slept with me. The firts two weeks he cried and cried and I cried because he cried. But after that I slept better. My back didn't hurt from having to adjust myself around him. And he got used to his crate. Now he sleeps on a doggie bed next to my bed or his crate (which is now left open). I did this before my wedding. And my husband appreciates it inmensly. Can you immagine...newly weds fighting over their bed with a dog. What about when you're trying to make things happen? You should really reconsider what's more important. Your sleep or your dog. Think about it. At the end of the day, your dog will love you the same. Your husband will love you more. and you'll be able to sleep better with out your arm falling off.

Answer 3

I know exactly what you mean!!! We haven't taken a vacation since we got our dog, 15 years ago, because we don't want to board him. It's the same story with our cat. My dog sleeps in the same bed as my parents and the tiniest movement they make he growls and snarls at them and I can hear him all the way in my room! I'm like, why don't you just make him sleep on the floor, he has a really nice doggy bed, but my mom said she feels sorry for him because he's so old. Oh well, I'm moving out soon and it'll just be my parents and the pets ... and I'm going on VACATION!!!!

Answer 4

It's fun to let dogs be a part of your family, but just like kids, the dogs DO need boundaries. In the dog world, height is dominance. Rather than let the dog on the couch or bed, snuggle up to him on the floor! Think of it this way - did your parents allow you to sleep in the bed every night until you were 18?

I don't think a vacation would be a vacation without the dogs, personally. I think if someone accepts the responsibility of a dog, they ought to be prepared to allow for dogs on a "family vacation."

I love my 2 dogs very much. They get 'walkies' every day, get a ball thrown for 'em every day, and firm loving leadership from the human pack members. Other than that, sorry - No, I don't adjust things in my life for my dog's comfort.

Answer 5

My pets definitely rule the roost! My dog likes to lay on the floor vents when the air conditioning is running...so we have to walk around him/over him. We keep the house cooler during the summer than what we need (both when we're there and when we're gone) because the dog likes it. We delay going to the bathroom or the fridge, etc. simply because the cat has decided that moment is the best time to lay on that person's lap. We make sure our plans work in taking care of our animals (instead of staying out all night, we get home to take care of them). There are many nights I have trouble falling asleep because my 80 pound dog has himself wedged between us on the bed, usually on my arm, and won't lay still. He's even been known to lay on top of me!!

Answer 6

I have a miniature Dachshund he's 3 years old. and is a big baby, these dogs need lots of love,mine demands to be held or in my lap constantly.But they are the sweetest little things and very protective of their families, so I guess the least we can do is make adjustments

Answer 7

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I will avoid going out on Saturday night if I went shopping Saturday morning because I don't want my dogs to get upset because I am never there. My pomeranian has to sit in my lap while I play on the computer and she has to follow me EVERYWHERE I go. Kinda bothersome when you are trying to take a shower and she wants to be in the bathroom with you. I have spent my last $20.00 to buy her treats and toys instead of buying something I really wanted. It sure does make me wish I was a dog, but with my luck I would be one of the stray dogs you see starving on the street.

Answer 8

My two mutts (Border Collie Mix and Black Lab Mix) sleep in bed with my husband and I -- typically they're both on top of me. I'll adjust where and how I lay to accomodate them. Sometimes I'll sit further down on the couch or on the love seat because one of the dogs has my seat occupied.

I do the same thing for my cats too -- my husband gets irritated with me, "They're animals, we're people -- make them move." LOL - he loves all of them too though :o)

Answer 9

Ya, you definitely have to make some changes when you get a dog. I never had one til I was 20 and it took me a while to accept/realize that he needed to be fed...haha, that sounds funny, but seriously its tough going from not having to think about that to making sure that every day he has water and food. Its all worth it though, when my little buddy comes scooting to the door EVERY time I come in wagging his tail, its nice to have someone or somehting that is always that happy to see you!!!

Answer 10

Yes I have 3 dobermanns, a german shepherd, and a rottweiler. It is quite a riot in the house, but it's fun.