Sleeping in bed

[RowdyRottie]

I've seen in several different threads the talk of our dogs sleeping in our bed being wrong. Can I ask why?

[SABELLESMOM]

Depends on the dog and the owner. First personal perference. Some people are agast at having a hairy pet in bed with them. Some dogs are bed hogs, some are not. Depends on what you feel you can live with.

I've never had a problem. My dogs do not disturb or impede my ability to turn in bed. I'm comfortable and do it because I enjoy them being nearby.

The other part is the attitude of the dog. I would stop if either if them began taking advantage. For some dogs sleeping on the bed puts them at an equal level with the owner. Some will push boundaries, perhaps sensing it as some sort of weakness, perhaps.

I have strong minded dogs, but I'm stronger. My position is not challenged by the fact they sleep in my bed.

There are many here who, I'm sure will offer deeper insights, regarding jobs, training and temperaments. Did you read the threads you mentioned?

[mana0615]

I don't think anything is wrong with it. My 125lb girl sleeps with hubby and I every night. Just make sure you bed is big enough. LOL

[moondog]

Chili sleeps on my bed along with BamBoo (kitty) and me, as my Lunabug also did.

I've never had a problem, but then again I like sleeping with the critters and we have no confusion here as to who is the leader, either. The people who object are either those who don't want animals on the bed, or where leadership is in question, or who are concerned about whether the leadership is in question for someone asking the question.

If you don't mind your dog sleeping on the bed and your dog understands that it's your bed being shared with him rather than his bed being shared with you (BIG difference), then I don't see a problem.

[RowdyRottie]

Thanks for the info....i read the threads but what i read never really got into the "why" of it. I see what you are saying. Yeah, we have no problem either. we have a King size bed and most of the time my Rottie and my little 1/2 Lhasa Apsa-1/2 Bichon AND 4 cats are in it. My hubby hasnt been though.....he says he was kicked out by our Rottie. (Only kidding of course). We have a new Lab puppy (6 months) and I sensed our Rottie feeling a little jealous....so I invited him in bed with me. He LOVES it and I also feel good having him (and the others close by). And giving him that little extra love with the new addition has -I think - made him fell less jealousy.

[debbiej]

some dogs see being in your bed as an indicator of rank. this can be a problem if there is a doubt in the dog's mind about who is in charge.

some dogs don't like being cuddled, and ususally humans like to snuggle with their dogs if they are up on the bed with them.

so if you have a dog who needs reminders of it's rank, and doesn't like to be hugged or cuddled, it probably works best to have a no bed policy.

I have two rotties. both consider getting on the bed to be quite a treat. Boris likes to lay as close as he can get, but doesn't care for being hugged. Hilda loves to be cuddled. my dogs are only allowed up when invited, I let them up one at a time only, and not for all night sleeping. If I am taking a nap, one will be napping up there with me.

If a dog growls at you when it is on the bed, better not give them bed privileges.

[my guy]

George has slept in my bed from the first day we brought him home...Every dog I have owned has slept with me..I enjoy having him closs to me.

[JemarsSerena]

We have an odd rule. Serena is only allowed in the bed if there is one person in it. If my wife and I are both in the bed than she has to go to her own. As well, to reinforce the leadership position and still alow bed priviledges the bed is by invitation only.

[twomanydogs]

I am grateful my foster sleeps on the floor....My boy Rottie and Dane sleep on the bed I am thinking about getting a single bed hoping one will choose there own bed. Pretty sweet to wake up to....

[TUindecisive]

I would never sleep with my dog - he's the type to take advantage. Plus, he sheds an ungodly amount.

I like the idea of making the bed by invitation only. Even if your dog sleeps with you every night, if you have a strong willed dog, it's best for him to wait on you to get in bed and ask him to hop up. Just don't let him snack in bed while watching tv

[youghal]

no way would i let any of my rotties sleep in my bed,one of them farts alot lol.

[Sam's Mom]

When I brought my 8 week pup home I brought him to bed with me at night like I have every other puppy. It works well for the night time pottie training deal. They move and you know. Anyway long story short. When he was older about 80 lbs. we were laying in bed and a dog barked on tv. He jumped up to turn around so see what was the deal...another dog in his mom's room..."I THINK NOT" and..............stuck his toe nail in my eye. We are talking my EYEBALL...bleeding....yikes. Off to the hospital. Anyway I was fine after a couple weeks. But....No more in the bed for my guy even though it was not his fault...just protecting Mom. But..being so protective and being able to move unbelievably fast, it seemed smart to get him his own bed and he was fine with that. From that day forward he slept on his bed next to my bed and was very happy with that arrangement.

[shifty]

Originally Posted by debbiej

some dogs see being in your bed as an indicator of rank. this can be a problem if there is a doubt in the dog's mind about who is in charge.

some dogs don't like being cuddled, and ususally humans like to snuggle with their dogs if they are up on the bed with them.

so if you have a dog who needs reminders of it's rank, and doesn't like to be hugged or cuddled, it probably works best to have a no bed policy.

I have two rotties. both consider getting on the bed to be quite a treat. Boris likes to lay as close as he can get, but doesn't care for being hugged. Hilda loves to be cuddled. my dogs are only allowed up when invited, I let them up one at a time only, and not for all night sleeping. If I am taking a nap, one will be napping up there with me.

If a dog growls at you when it is on the bed, better not give them bed privileges.

A fantastic reply to this question
We also let the dogs sleep on the bed both will come to the edge of the bed when we lay down and wait to be asked up.
The comment debbiej;696943 made about cuddling seems to be key. A dog who doesnot like to be cuddled but wants to slep on the bed may have control issues with the area but a snuggle bug will do anything to maintain the priv of being allowed to .

Know your dog and let the character decide what you can let them do

[moondog]

Originally Posted by shifty

A dog who doesnot like to be cuddled but wants to slep on the bed may have control issues with the area but a snuggle bug will do anything to maintain the priv of being allowed to .

Know your dog and let the character decide what you can let them do

This sounds good in theory, but I can't agree. Neither of my Rotties have been huge cuddlers, as in snuggling up and sleeping on the pillow type of cuddling, and neither has been one bit of a problem due to being allowed to sleep on the bed. They both have preferred the foot of the bed. Maybe that's because we use the bed to sleep, not to cuddle...

The second part I completely agree with!

[lovemypuppies]

I never let Ali in bed when she was a pup because she needed to be taken down a peg. But Cooper needed closeness so eventually we let them both up. Ali senses that she belongs at the foot (we have a footboard which helps because they can lean against it.) My boy is easily controlled by me but he would sleep on my pillow if I let him. One important note: The rottie may not allow the lab to jump up if the rottie is up there first. Pay close attention to this as i think it is a pretty good reason for a fight. When Cooper is in bed with me Ali will not even enter the room unless i ask her to. It is safer to keep the dogs down at the foot to avoid accidents like Sam's Mom. Plus you retain some semblance of superiority--Although with all these stinky dogs I am reading about perhaps not!