Sleeping on the bed...

[Bec]

There is a lot of discussion about alpha behavior going on right now so I thought I would ask opinions. Does everybody consider the sleeping on the bed issue a huge no-no always or just in cases of dogs that exhibit alpha behavior?

Personally, I prefer our dogs on our bed. We don't have any food/resource guarding issues. They will pick up little "tidbits" of whatever nastiness is on the ground but when told "leave it" it gets dropped. They also know that they are invited up on the bed only after we are already comfy.

Just curious as to where everyones dogs sleep and why that works best for them.

[Luvs]

Our dogs sleep in their crates. Akasha has slept in my room on two separate occassions. The first time went well but I think we just got lucky. The second time Akasha was into EVERYTHING. I thought I had totally puppy proofed my room but she still found something to get into She has not been allowed out of her crate at night since (this was several months ago) Even if she could be trusted she would not be allowed to sleep on my bed. Akasha and Keil used to be allowed on our furniture, until Akasha decided to pee on my bed about a month ago. That ended their furniture privilages

Keil sometimes sleeps in my daughter's room. He sleeps on the floor next to her bed. Of course her bed is very close to the floor and he can lift his head while he is laying down and check on her. If she hangs her hand over the side of her bed while she is sleeping, Keil will put his paw on her hand and sleep like that until she moves her hand again. :D

[flyballmom]

Charleigh sleeps on the bed, but that was only after earning the privilege...becoming fully crate trained, housebroken, she gets off when asked and knows she's not allowed on the furniture. We, however, don't have any sort of dominance issues, resource guarding or any thing else going on that might raise a red flag that bed-sleeping could cause problems. My little Pit on the other hand...took FOREVER to get him where he won't squall when he's in his crate and likes it now. Has some separation anxiety problems. Is not entirely trustworthy about not pottying in the house-HE sleeps in his crate. Still not for dominance reasons, but because he hasn't yet earned the privilege.

[Judy Chrusch]

As you will see, everyone has their oppinions of this subject and that's o.k I personally never let any of my dogs on beds bc I don't think it's a place for a dog, ESPECIALLY a rottweiler, with their particular personality.

As far as where Czar sleeps, he now sleeps out of his crate but has access to his crate if he wants, and besides that has a very comfy doggie bed :D.

Judy

[Judi W]

I'll try to explain a bit of what goes on. The Rottweiler is a working breed. It does not bond "properly" without some work to do and without formal training. It is through those activities that the dog learns its position and responsibilities. A working dog can be allowed privileges that a dog whose whole requirements in life are to not bite and be petted on, should not. This is when trouble sneaks in unrecognized. The rule about not putting the dog on an equal level physically is in place for the novice owner who is not working their dog and does not recognize rank problems. It is also only fair to the dog.

The Rottweiler should not be owned by someone who only wants something to stroke while they watch television. A cat will suffice quite nicely for that purpose and is not likely to drag the person down the street afterwards. This is a physically and mentally strong and intelligent breed and it is scandalous to acquire one and not respect its abilities and need to use its mind and character. It is insulting to the dog and disrespectful to the breed to use it as a pillow or teddy bear with no purpose in life.

What I most strongly object to is a dog who is encouraged to be equal or above the people in the household and then when the dog takes those messages to heart and acts on them, extremely harsh measures are applied to derank the dog, or even worse, the dog ends up being killed all because the owners did not respect it enough to treat it as an intelligent dog.

So, the "rule" is like a seatbelt and airbag for novice drivers.

[Patty1231]

I don't allow my dogs on my bed simply because I don't want them up there - they're just too big. For me, it has nothing to do with dominance issues. Although I have heard this can be an issue if you happen to be single and develop a relationship with someone after the dogs have established themselves on your bed. I won't get into details there but you get the idea. Both of mine are out of the crate entirely and sleep downstairs on the couches. A lot of people also take issue to dogs on the furniture but I don't have a problem with it. One of my cats sleeps on my bed - he doesn't take up much room. :D One sleeps on my son's bed and the other on my bedroom chair.

[samanthac]

My dogs are not allowed in bed...either at home or in hotels when we travel. Nor are they allowed on furniture. Nor do they eat at the table with me. Nor do I share my food with them. Nor do I sit on the floor with them. Nor do I allow them free roam of the house when Yet my dogs are still loved and well taken care of. It took a long time for my husband to understand why, but now he does and enforces the rules. And therefore I do not have issues with disrespectful or unruly dogs. They have structure, they understand it and they respect it.

Its all goes back to what Judi W says.

[Judy Chrusch]

RUTT ROW Samantha, I guess I did a boo boo when Ken and I were over bc I sat on the floor with Athena . Why didn't you tell me that was a no no in your house :D or does aunt Judy have exceptions, lol? I'll go along with any rules one has in their home but heck, I'm on the floor with Czar alot bc I simply like the floor. Where was I when you were over, on the floor :D. I'm a floor person, what can I say. I think you have to know your dog, be dog smart, as I think I am and if and when Czar or any dog goes to sit on me that's a NO NO and Czar knows his boundaries when I am on the floor. O.K. so I'm not allowed on your floor to give sweet Athena belly rubs anymore, sorry but that just won't happen, lol :D . Athena and I have a special bond, REMEMBER???

Judy

[babybluetx23]

We allow our German Shephard and the Rottie on the Bed, However they can not sleep there. Harley is still too small and too young. He still has his own room he sleeps in. As for the German Shephard, we allow her to sleep in the ROOM with us but not on the bed, There just isnt enough room for her. If she were considerably smaller we would allow it.

[lblax]

well in my opinion furnature is made for people whether it be a bed a couch or a chair.. and there is no way a dog can earn that privelegde.... ive often wondered why any one would want something that sheds constanly --- walks through and sometimes eats others feces----rolls in dead animal matter-- takes a bath once or twice a year and never wipes there heiny(except by scooting across the carpet or the grass) in there bed any way.. not to mention fleas-ticks and mites.... in my opinion kee[ping your dogs off the furnature the last thing i would worry about would be dominance issues

[spoteet]

Sajan sleeps in his crate. He has free roam of our tiny home during the day which means he can sleep on the couch, the bed, the floor or his crate. He does not get on the bed when we are in it unless told to and he gets off immediately when told to. Same for couch. He likes to lay on the ned becuase he can see out all the windows in the RV without moving :p If I am sick and in bed, I'll let him up there with me for a while. I sit on the floor with him a lot, especially with him laying across my lap chewing on a bone that I hold for him, been doing that since he was a pup. He does not eat with us nor get food from us while we are eating at the table. We don't have any roles issues from doing this. He is reminded daily in little ways where his place is in the pack.

[Judy Chrusch]

Haaaaaaaaaaa!!! Larry you're too much but I have to agree and I worry most about fleas . Ya know, this has nothing to do with this but you made me think when you mentioned about what a dog rolls in etc. I was at my sisters one time and I accidently walked on the baby blanket that was on the floor and her husband freaked out at me bc I had my shoes on and that I should take them off , OK but in the meantime, their cat walked across the blanket and even laid down on it so I guess it's o.k for a cat to kick it's poop and pee around in the litter box but I can't accidently walk on the blanket :p . Just something to think about with animals in general and especially on the furniture.

Judy

[Mary Bouchard]

Of our three rotties only one sleeps on our daughters bed the 11 month old puppy. And as she has a twin I like to peek in and laugh over how the two of them fit on it!

Our male sleeps on the floor on my husbands side of the bed every night, he calls him his 3D rug.

Our rescue female sleeps on an old beaten up loveseat in the livingroom.

During the day I usually have one nap in front of each door and one with me till we go outside to train.

[Bruce Lanthier]

Some dogs can sleep on beds and there will never be a single problem, other dogs can't even be allowed in the bedroom or they get delusions of grandeur. The problem is when the owner doesn't have the slightest clue to which dog they have.

Personally I agree with everything Larry said but, if you know your dog and what makes dogs tick, and still want to let them on furniture and your bed, more power to you.

[Denise L.]

Richard sleeps on his owner's bed so I always let him sleep on mine when I babysit him. Richard, me and cat. So cozy.

When I started researching the breed in more depth and learned that can be a bad idea, I almost stopped Richard from sleeping on my bed. I discussed this with his owner and as he has no issues we considered it a non-issue. Richard, however, only goes on the bed when invited. He was over when I had bad cold and I just didn't want ANYONE on that bed and it didn't phase him in the least to sleep on the floor.

If the day comes I have my own Rottie, I will not let him sleep on the bed.