Is it wrong to have your dog sleep in the same bed with you?

Question

Hello everyone. My wife and I have this disagreement. We have a little Yorkie and my wife wants it to sleep in the bed with us. However, I told her that it's a bad habit for the dog. Can anyone give me some input. Thanks!

Answer 1

If your Yorkie isn't exhibiting any behavior problems then consider him a hot water bottle. If either of you are light sleepers, he could wake you up when he moves around or wakes up when he hears a noise outside. It also isn't good if either of you are allergic.

If you are having some behavior problems like separation anxiety then it is not a good idea as he needs to learn to be by himself. Some dogs that are tyrants and don't listen very well should stay off the furniture until their behavior improves.

Once started it is hard to stop. Some dogs don't really want two big humans sharing his bed so he may prefer his own space anyway.

Answer 2

I'm sorry to say this but I am in agreement with....YOU BOTH.
I can see where you are coming from as well as your wife. My suggestion can only come after you ask yourself a few questions. Is the dog kept clean and smelling good? Does the dog behave while sleeping on the bed? Is the dog house trained? And most of all do you look at the dog as merely just a pet or is it a part of the family (like one of the children)?
If the dog is a part of the family and not just another pet and it is clean and house trained then I see no reason not to let it sleep on the bed. Generally speaking it will probably get off the bed during the night anyways. Also it can be an added security for the family during the night. While a Yorkie is a small breed it is still able to bark and could give you and your family a head start in case of fire or worse. Don't worry about the interrupted intimacy between you and your wife; I have found that a pet interrupts less than a child does.

Answer 3

Some people believe it will make a dog "dominant." It's a popular theory, but it's total nonsense in my honest opinion. I'm not the type to believe every little thing I read, and I've yet to see/experience anything that would prove this to be true in any way. So until I do, it's just a silly theory as far as I'm concerned. I've seen others claim it's "dirty." I don't really understand how sleeping with a clean, parasite-free house dog in your bed is "dirty," especially since anything they may have on them (dander, fur, etc...) is already all over the house anyway, but to each their own. The one reason people give that I understand is that it's simply uncomfortable. Maybe they're light sleepers, or maybe their huge dog hogs the bed, etc... It's not an issue I've ever had, but I can understand why someone would want their bed to themselves if their dog is actually interfering with their sleep. I've spent every night since age 7 with at least 1 dog on my bed. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Answer 4

No, it is not wrong. Unless it causes problems. Not all dogs will see it as them now being equal to or higher than a human. As long as it doesn't cause problems go for it. The very first time the dog growls, snaps, or refuses to move off the bed then it needs to VERY quickly removed from the bed and stopped from being allowed on the bed.
I have a Belgian Malinois and guess where she sleeps? Thats right, on the bed. She's been sleeping on my bed since she was a pup. I have no issues with her..NONE. But if she EVER does any of the above mentioned it will be the end of her on the bed.

I've crated dogs at night too and that's ok too if that is what you'd like to do. It's not written in any doggy Bible that you have to do it one way or another. Crating at night can prevent accidents but so can having the dog in the bed IMHO. I woke up every 2 hrs. with my pup to take her out at night until she was 9 mo. old. Crating at night will eliminate the chance that your dog will think it's moved up in the pack. The crate is the best choice to avoid potential problems but thats not to say it can't be done without problems. =) Good luck!!!

Answer 5

My dogs all sleep on the bed with me, there four of them. I am single and have a king size bed and they are my babies.They are a 20 lb, nine year old Chi/Rat Terrier, a four and a half year old, 35 lb Beagle, a 55 lb four year old APBT and a 20 lb, four month old APBT, can't wait till she gets to 50 lbs :). It is really great on a cold winter night, a little warm during the summer. Some nights a couple of them will go and sleep on the couch in the living room.
I guess I didn't help you. Just don't let your wife see my answer. My dogs have full run of the house. I have a dog door and they are trained.

Answer 6

For what it's worth: Can you live with the dog being in your bed? It isn't abnormal for pets to sleep in beds, but the problem arises when one spouse is FOR it and one is AGAINST. There is nothing abnormal about NOT wanting a dog to sleep in the bed either.
Maybe there is some way to compromise, like getting the dog a bed and having times when the dog is not allowed on the bed. I have three dogs and one, a sixty lb. APBT, sleeps on the bed. Thank God it's a BIG bed! lol
We do, however, sometimes kick her out of the bed.

Answer 7

Aww you know I saw something like this on the animal planet show "its me or the dog" and it was kinda sad how it had come to the point where the dog was tearing up the family (but realy, thats what the show is about, isnt it.)

The wife was allowing her two small dogs in the bed and there was no room for the husband.. which lead him to sleeping on the couch for over a year!

Now, I personally am a supporter of dogs sleeping in the bed with you, I will even welcome my lab to do so, BUT I am single, if I had a partnet.. it may be a whole different story. He'd need space too... I guess. lol

You know what I mean. (:

Answer 8

I've read any number of dog behavior books, most say not to have the dog on the bed, especially if there are problems with growling, resource guarding, etc. The owner is supposedly the alpha dog, bringing the pet onto the bed elevates its status and promotes bad behavior. Having said that, both my dogs sleep in our bed, both my dogs are very mellow. If I had an aggressive dog he'd be on the floor.

Answer 9

We have a Sheltie and if she wants, she sleeps in bed with us. She sleeps at the foot of the bed, on top of the blankets and is pretty good about not hogging the bed. We also have a larger dog (Heinz 57) who does not sleep in bed with us because of her size. She does however, take a nap with my husband in the afternoon up on the bed.

Having a dog sleep in bed with you is a personal choice, but both parties should agree on it. Honestly, the little Yorkie will not be harmed by sleeping on the floor or in her crate.

Answer 10

It's only a bad habit for the dog if you don't want the dog to always sleep with you. If you let the dog sleep with you for a while, then stop letting it, it won't understand why it can't sleep in the bed with you anymore and it will be hard to train him/her not to.

Other then that, I don't see how it would be bad for the dog. Just as long as you don't have an aversion to fleas and doggy farts lol