Is allowing your puppy/ dog to sleep in your bed considered bad training?

Question

Dog owners, please answer!

My husband and I just recently got our first puppy together (a 9 wk old Mini Dachshund). It's his first dog. I have a lot experience with training puppies, and usually I stick to crate training. This time we are allowing the puppy to sleep under the covers with us, mostly because my husband wants to sleep with his new puppy. I don't mind it, because he's so cute. So far, it's going alright but I'm about to switch back to my ways because I wake up with a dog in my face, or he cries to go out. What are your experiences with this? Any suggestions?

He does have a bed on the floor, and usually sleeps there first. When he cries for me that is when I bring him out and then into the bed. For those who don't know, Mini Dachshunds only get up to 10lbs, and cannot jump onto the bed (ours is King sized). Also, Dachshunds are very loyal and constantly want to be with their owners!

Answer 1

Yes. A dog is a pack animal and to train a dog properly, it needs to learn its place in the pack. You - the humans - are the pack leaders, and the dog comes lower down the chain of power. As the pack leaders you get the best, and the first, and the dog waits until you are done. You get the higher softer resting place, and the dog gets a lower one (A basket or crate). You eat first, and the dog eats later (never let a dog beg while you eat). This way he learns his place in your life, and there are no mistakes. A dog that believes he is the pack leader can become aggressive and take over your life. Far better to establish the rules when a pup to avoid problems later on.

Answer 2

I have had a lot of dogs, big and small, and have never used crate training. I find that for me it is better to teach the dog how to integrate into the pack rather than isolate it in a crate. I have 4 German Shepherds and three of them sleep with me most of the time. The female has been doing so since she was a puppy. Worked well with the house training as she would wake me when she wanted out. She still does. The 2 males I got as adults but they have also slept on the bed since I first got them from the rescue group. However, they are not allowed on the bed until I invite them up. Dogs are pack animals, they like to sleep in a pile like they would in the wild. You do get used to dogs in your face, may even get to like it.

Answer 3

I personally have no problem letting my dog sleep in my bed, but it is completely up to you.

You can do both crate training and letting the dog sleep in your bed. Try alternating between the crate and bed on different nights. At first, you'll probably confuse the dog, but in the end, the dog will have two places it feels comfortable sleeping in!

Just make sure you aren't going to mind a full-grown Dachshund wiggling around under the covers.

Answer 4

HI
I allow all of our dogs the option to sleep with my husband and I
We have a California King sized Bed and we also have a Papasan Chair in our room that they can sleep on that and all my dogs are 6 pounds and under we have 5 Yorkshire Terriers and 7 Pomeranian's 2 of the Poms sleep with my daughter but we have the little steps for them to get up to the bed and they can come and go as they please and Not a one of them sleeps under the covers's they all sleep on top of them some sleep @ the foot of the bed and a few will sleep up by my chest but I am so used to them it never bothers me and I am just so used to it as they are my babies and I would feel out of place if even 1 was not there with me
So If you think it is a bad thing to have your pup sleep with you it is your personal decision but I feel it brings you closer together as a family
Happy Holidays to you
Respectfully Yours
Anne

Answer 5

I do snuggle with my English Mastiff but not on the bed or couch. I think it was the last romantic advice my father ever gave me last year when I got the puppy and he looked at me sternly and advised that having the mastiff in bed with me would drive any man away because they wouldnt know if there was any room for them. HA. Personally, I like having my privacy in bed. I take care of my kid and the dog and my job and my clients and who knows who else all day long and when it comes time to sleep, I go to bed with my bf and we get OUR time to rest! My dog has his own bed and a crate which he still sleeps in if he wants with the door open.

Answer 6

You need to be sure that you are diagnosing the problem correctly... could it be protective of you or your room? Have you tested that theory with other people coming into your room? Also, pinning a dog in the corner is probably not the best idea, especially by someone who is 'aloof' when it comes to dogs. If it really is the fear aggression, then what your mentor suggested should work... But I would make it a much more structured environment than just your dad walking around with treats in his pockets waiting to go into the same room as her...

Answer 7

It is all a matter of preference, but just make sure you are completely comfortable with this because retraining her to sleep elsewhere in the future will be hard. I imagine that there are times when having a dog in the bed is NOT going to be appropriate so it's up to you. I personally do not allow it unless I tell him its OK. This way, I am in charge, But of course in the beginning, you need to send a clear, consistent message when training.

Answer 8

While I've always had dogs sleep with me, I've never let a dog get under the covers, nor would I do it with a puppy. My dogs have always been crated at night until they're reliably house trained and well past the chewing stage. When they've earned the right to be loose in the house, they're welcome on the bed - they also have to learn the rules. The bed is mine and they're allowed to share it and they all know that, so no problems.

Answer 9

I did not allow my dog to sleep with me until she was fully potty trained, that way she wouldn't poop in the floor while I was sleeping.

I don't see anything wrong with having a dog sleep in your bed. Don't use it as an excuse by saying it's bad training, if you just don't want the dog in the bed. If you don't want the dog in the bed, tell your husband.

I love snuggling up with my dog at night. She's a bed hog at a large 70 pounds, but she sleeps right next to me and I love it.

Answer 10

I always crate train puppies, then when they can be trusted in the house, make no mistakes, have no accidents, then I'll give them a chance out of the crate at night.. Crate first... bed next.