puppy sleeping in bed good or bad?

[beautybelle]

I have a 14 week old that I let sleep in my bed. This is my first rottie. I just wanted to know if it is good or bad to let her sleep in my bed? I don't mind (i'm the one that puts her there since she can't jump up on the bed yet :) and she doesn't seem to mind she snuggles up next to me. I have read both positive and negative comments on this topic. Anyone care to give me some feedback on this one I would appreciate it :)

[Franchise]

My boy Duke (13 month old) sleeps in the room w/ my wife & me (sometimes on the bed sometimes on the floor) & we haven't had any real problems. I'm not an expert but I would imagine as long as they know there place there won't be any problems.

[brinabear]

Its really your choice, but just remember when she is a year old and weighs around 100lbs and takes half the bed are you going to be comfortable. I have one 125 lbs on the bed with hubby and me and its tight, but she knows if we tell her to move she will move into a different position. We also have a 19 week puppy that sleeps on her own bed on the floor. I learned the hard way a long time ago that two 100lb dogs in bed doenst work good. Had to retrain both to sleep on floor.
Brinabear

[moz205]

My first guy slept on the bed with me but then I got married so had to change that as hubby wouldn't let him up on the bed anymore. Hence, his clothes got peed on for awhile! We actually had to retrain him and he ended up sleeping next to bed, funny enough, usually on hubby's side! There were sleepless night in the beginning when he would try to sneak up during the night, yeah, like a 110 lb dog would go unnoticed!

[Shelby427]

We didn't allow Shelby on the bed with us until she was older. We didn't want it to be the "norm" for her to be on the bed with us. She was crated as a puppy, once she was done with the crate - free to roam the house when we're not there - she's now allowed on the bed with us, only if she's invited. When we give a "off" command, she knows it's time to go to her own bed IE: the couch in the living room.

[Gunsey'sMom]

I wouldnt let the pup sleep there unless you want her to sleep there when she is 80+ lbs.

We let Gunner sleep in our bed when he was probably that age for a little while. He would start out in our bed and usually end up asleep on our dirty clothes in the morning. Looking back that was probably not the best thing on his joints. I cant remember why we stopped, but it most likely had to do with him getting in to some kind of mischeif or another.

He did adapt nicely to his crate at night , but I would recommend taking the advantage you have of crating at night now to save trying to do it later when you might run into trouble and you have to get her used to it.

[JemarsSerena]

My trainer reccomends no dogs on the bed or furniture for the first two years so that the dog understands its place in the pecking order. That being said, Serena sleeps in our bed at 14 months old. I did not let her do so until I knew she was 100% potty trained and would not chew on anything in my room.

[AngelBunny]

No puppies (or fosters) sleep in the bed or are permitted on the furniture in our home.

I operate from a belief it's alot easier to grant privileges to a trained dog than it is to take them away from a dog accustomed to certain behaviors.

If you've had your dog sleeping in your bed from the time the dog was a puppy, you may find it difficult to get the dog to understand he or she can no longer sleep in your bed, should your bed situation change.

Much better/easier to have the puppy sleep in the crate.

[beautybelle]

Thank you all for your feedback. I definately appreciate it. You all make very valuable points.

[thenewpup]

Dogs are pack animals with a rank structure and are far removed from the behavior of any child. Larger or taller dogs are usually stronger, so height is one of the things (but not the only thing) dogs look for when ascertaining rank. Being up high on a bed or couch signifies to the dog that you are of a higher rank. If you let the dog up on the furniture, then she assumes that she has rank. She may assume too much and believe that she outranks you.

When she's a puppy, she may act nice and sweet because of the size difference between you and her and her level of maturity. As time goes by, she grows larger, and she sees you as being close to the same size, she'll try to dominate you in anyway possible. Confusing the dog with allowing her the "privilege" of being up high will cause problems later on (but not overnight -- or just that "one time").

I would recommend practicing NILIF (nothing in life is free). In this approach the dog must work for everything she needs or wants. If she is to be fed, then she must sit for her food. If she wants out the door, she must sit or lay down before the door is to be opened. Should the dog feel that it is "playtime" and nudges your hand or whines, ignore the dog and play with her after she stops forcing. This makes for a more humble and easier to train dog.

At the moment you are giving a puppy a privilege that she is not entitled to. Later on she will want to keep this privilege when you decide you do not want her on the bed. She may growl, snap, or bark to show that she feels you do not have the right to make her do something she does not want to do.

Confusion about who is to be alpha is one of the major contributors to disobedience and aggression in dogs. I doubt you want a 60-110lbs dog disagreeing with you on anything, whether or not she is your pet. I know the puppy is sweet and innocent-looking right now, but you need to focus more on what you want a 100lb dog to do and not a 10-15lb pup.

[lovemypuppies]

We waited a LONG time before giving Ali bed or sofa priveleges! She was a bratty puppy so we knew better...Cooper was rescued and very sensitive. My husband would have slept on rocks to protect poor Coop. He had no dominance issues so it was and is fine. To this day Ali will not lie in bed facing us or come above a certain level. I think she senses it is disrespectful. She leans against the footboard or sleeps in her chair next to me. So, just a few the issues are dominance (which can really be a problem later,) height of the bed (because of joint issues that your dog may develop, jumping off a bed is BAD), size of the bed (my dogs disturb my precious sleep AND help me sleep better) and let's not forget the laundry nightmare. I love love love having my older dogs on the bed but I would vote NO for a puppy in the bed. To soften the blow (for both you and the dog!) I would arrange for a REALLY plush comfy bed or chair right beside you. Someday I will bore or astound you with the vast amount of bedding that I maintain. PS: Will your dog be the kind that bites your foot if your accidentally kick it during the night?

[AlphaLeader]

Tavi sleeps with me sometimes but her normal bed is the sofa in my room. She will happily get off of the bed if told... Tucker will fight for it... getting rather snarly at me even tho he will eventually, with pushing and prodding ... move. So for him... no bed.

[Oskar's Mummy]

Oskar sleeps on the bed with us...but not for long. I think he finds it too hot after awhile. He may fall asleep there but then eventually moves to the floor beside the bed. Also in the mornings, as soon as he hears our voices, he is up on the bed.

[lovemypuppies]

Oskars Mummy: Oh puh-lease! For years I have been trying to train my DH to restrain himself from talking too much in the morning because it gets the dogs going. One of these days....POW!

[littleredinstl]

my girl has slept in bed with me since she was a baby.she is almost 1 and a half years old now and 95 lbs. bed is a queen so we both have plenty of room but she has to have some part of her body up against mine( as long as its not the backside tonight, shes had deviled eggs)...lol. she is my girl and i dont see my living arrangements chaniging for a long long time, so she can remain in my bed. don't bother me any and there are mornings that are quite funny. she will have her head on a pillow stretched out just like i am, snoring her butt off. when i wake her up, she looks at me like"5 more minutes ma" but, it does have its pros and cons, so make your decision wisely. this was just my choice.