Hey Woofas

 

I’m probably a bit biased when it comes to this topic because Billy sleeps on our bed!

HOWEVER, this wasn’t always the case.

For the first two years of his life, he slept outside in a kennel with Isabel (my other dog at the time).  They had heat mattresses and jackets and were rather cozy under the pergola in their beds.

WHY? Because as a 2 year old puppy Billy couldn’t be trusted left unsupervised.  While I was awake and at home they were inside.  Isabel would’ve been fine inside but I couldn’t have one inside and one outside……….so both outside it was.  (Please forgive me Isabel).

Billy ended up sleeping on the bed after Isabel passed away and I was heart broken.

He pretty much helped me deal with her passing.

I always say to Billy when he’s tucked up on our bed, under his own doona, that all the other dogs I’ve had have paved the way for him to be all cozy on the bed with us.

Anyway, to answer the question – Should My Dog Sleep On My Bed – there’s a number of factors to take into consideration first.

 

SHOULD MY DOG SLEEP ON MY BED?

Ask yourself these questions before deciding –

 

1. Do I Really WANT My Dog Sleeping On My Bed?

Before you jump into a big YES, YES I DO!

Just think about it first, because once you let them sleep on the bed even for a few nights……………..IF you change your mind, it’s not always easy getting them to NOT sleep on your bed.

If you sleep alone then it’s purely your decision to make.

However if you sleep with someone else and that person doesn’t want the dog sleeping on the bed, then compromises will have to be made.

 

2. How Big Is Your Dog?

Size of your dog will matter.  AND the size of your bed will matter.

Because some dogs can be rather bedhogish and once they stretch out good luck.

Dean is much taller than I am, so Billy tends to sleep on the end of the bed on my side mostly.

With my shorter legs he’s got less chance of being nudged and kicked during the night.

We have a Queen sized bed, tall Dean, shorter me AND Billy the Staffy all on our bed each night for sleeping………….most nights it works.

Although some nights I feel like a contortionist in the way I have to sleep if Billy is too far up my side of the bed.

Of course you can’t disturb the dog…………….it’s the unwritten rule.

 

3. Will Your Dog Sleep IN Your Bed or ON Your Bed?

This matters because some people have their dogs under the covers with them.

While we have Billy on our bed laying on top of our covers, but he has his own single bed doona that covers him if it’s cold.

Sometimes though if Billy lays really close to you, it does become hard to pull the covers over yourself because his weight is on them, but we survive.

I have extra blankets for said occasion as it’s happened before.

 

4.  Is Your Dog A Snore Whore?

My friend loves her Frenchie to bits, he’s her world.

However, she can’t have him on her bed or even in her room because she said his snoring is just too much.  She reckons she’d never get any sleep.

So he stays inside with her until bed time and then gets rugged up and goes out in his warm kennel for night sleeps.

Billy doesn’t snore all the time, nor does Dean and I NEVER snore………….so we’re all good mostly.

Some nights though I’ve woken up to an orchestra of Dean and Billy snoring together, but it’s not every night so we’re good.

 

5.  How Clean Is Your Dog?

Let’s face it if your dog is sleeping in or on your bed, you want them clean and flea free.

I’m a Dog Groomer so yes Billy has a bath often enough.

We also have two doona covers so when one is being washed the other is on the bed.

We don’t want a smelly bedroom or bed.

However, dog hair will get on your bed.  Which is why we have a blanket over our doona cover, so Billy lays on that and then is covered by his own doona.

He’s not in our sheets or blankets so we don’t have dog hair in our bed.

 

6.  What About Special Couple Time?

Well if we’re in the bed so is Billy.

So special couple time happens outside of the bedroom or in the other rooms.

You have to get creative and it can be fun.

Once the dog sleeps on the bed, for me, special couple time went out of our bedroom.

I really don’t want to do that with my dog watching.  Each to their own though, it’s something to consider.

 

7.  It Can Help You To Feel Safe!

Having the dog on or in your bed does give you a safer feeling.

They can pick up on noises and smells that we can’t and can alert them to us.

I’ve woken to Billy barking and heard people walking in the street outside our house.

Sometimes you might think they’re barking at nothing but it’s really something.

He does bark at cats that tend to get into our front garden of a night as well which can be annoying for all of us.

 

8. Can Your Dog Get On & Off The Bed Without Your Help?

For some smaller and older dogs it’s harder for them to get on and off the bed without assistance.

I say this because if your dog has to go to the loo during the night or get a drink, will they have to wake you to do so.

Or will they have to wake you to get on or off the bed?

If so, this means interrupted sleep for you.

There are ramps and stairs you can purchase so they can get themselves on and off the bed if need be.

We have put a chaise at the end of our bed so it’s easier for Billy to get up and off the bed now that he’s 13.

 

9.  How Old Is Your Dog?

Some younger dogs after a certain amount of sleep may wake up and want to play during the night.

Once I woke up to Billy and Isabel wrestling all around the bedroom.

Generally, older dogs will sleep more.

Some dogs will get up early with their owners during the working days and still want to get up early on weekends or days off.

It could be a good idea to give them a burst of play or running around just before bed to wear them out.

 

10. A Clingy Dog!

Some dogs have to be touching some part of their owner ALL NIGHT.

I’ve had customers tell me their dogs like sleeping on their head on their pillow all night.

Or others like being right up near their owners back, or the dog will lay on their legs all night.

If the owner moves so does the dog to keep the contact.

 

11.  If Your Dog Is A Puppy?

Are they toilet trained?

Some puppies may still just go to the loo before getting off the bed!

You can get dog nappies for said occasions but you only want to use them until they are properly potty trained for the night times.

 

12. Dog Sounds!

There are sounds that may wake you during the night when having a dog sleep in or on your bed.

• Dogs licking themselves,
• barking,
• snoring,
• wanting to play,
• commando crawling under your bed,
• barking at you to wake up,
• vomit sounds,
• drinking sounds if you have a water dish in the ensuite,
• licking your face or ears,
• dog dreaming……..

 

These are just some things to think about BEFORE allowing your dog to sleep on your bed.

They are not to deter you because for every situation I’m sure there’s a way around it if you do want your dog to sleep on your bed.

A compromise might be to bring a dog bed into your bedroom, that way the dog is in the room with you but on their own bed.

I love having Billy on the bed, he slept with me before Dean came along and I didn’t change that for Billy.

 

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

There are some things to take into consideration BEFORE you let your dog sleep on or in your bed.

It’s a personal decision and only one you can make.

I wish you and your dog happy sleeping………..and Sweet Dreams…………

 

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – IF YOU LET YOUR DOG SLEEP IN OR ON YOUR BED?