How to Share a Bed With Your Dog
“Should I share my bed with my dog?” is a common question. I truly giggle when dog owners bashfully ask if it’s OK to invite their dogs into their beds. It’s almost like they’re asking me for permission. Dogs can most certainly sleep in our beds. Both my dogs do and it’s a huge reason why we bought a king-sized bed. 🙂 Remember, all that dominance, alpha and pack leadership is pure nonsense. Don’t buy into that outdated information.
Now, there are other options if your dog causes sleepless nights either because she pushes you off your pillow or insists on sleeping right on top of your head. Just make a few changes, so you both sleep peacefully while keeping your dog close to you at night.
Designate a Spot
Both our dogs have their own spot on the bed. We taught them to toss, turn and sprawl out in their designated locations. Stella (Miniature Bull Terrier) sleeps in the space between mine and my hubby’s pillow. Sobek (Rottweiler) sleeps at the foot of the bed on my side because I’m short, so there’s extra room. 🙂
We started by clicking and treating our dogs for staying in their spot on the bed–almost like teaching “stay.” If one of our dogs migrates upwards during the night, we’ll ask him or her to wiggle back to his or her spot. Also, you can teach your dog to lie on a specific blanket or quilt first, then add his or her blanket on the bed.
Build a Bed
The first time I saw an adjoining dog bed, I was a little girl and my Grandmother had one made for her beloved T-Boy (Rat Terrier). Pop (my grandfather) not only made a platform next to my grandmother’s side of the bed, but he also built stairs so T-Boy could climb up at night. Plus, Mom Mom (my grandmother) bought him a small mattress and sewed a comforter that matched her bedding, so everything looked neat and tidy. Yes, he even had tiny throw pillows to match!
If your bed is tiny, think about adding an adjoining bed. Sobek is a massive Rottie and had cruciate ligament repair about 10 months ago, so jumping onto our bed is a bit tough now. For his birthday this year, we bought him a single bed that connects to the front of our bed. We intentionally shopped for a lower single bed frame (about 12 inches high), so he could slide right on (no jumping up). If he wanted to sleep with us, he could use it as a step stool. I must say though, he loves his new bed and snores like a freight train.
Dog Doesn’t Like Sharing Your Bed?
Some dog owners become concerned when their dogs decide to sleep on the floor rather than their bed. If your dog likes sleeping on the floor, that’s fine. It’s where she’s most comfortable. For years, we had Bouviers (big hairy dogs) that weren’t comfortable sleeping in the bed with us. They were just too hot or uncomfortable for other reasons. They would usually snore in their orthopedic beds, which were nestled in a corner of our bedroom. During warm months, they sprawled out on the cool tile in our bathroom.
Snuggle with your dogs. It lowers your blood pressure and it’s just heartwarming!
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