So should dogs sleep in your bed? It’s a tough question. For some, having a dog that shares the bed is all kinds of bliss, and for others the thought is unbearable.
We’re going to give you our collected thoughts on whether your dog should sleep in your room, reasons why you shouldn’t let your dog sleep with you, bust some myths like does letting a dog sleep in your bed promote aggression and where your dog should sleep.
Download the Zigzag puppy training app today, and you’ll be able to teach your puppy to sleep through the night, wherever you want them to. Sleep is important for puppies, and it’s important for us too. Don’t forget, our puppy trainers are available 24/7 to talk to you about any of your puppy woes, so drop them a line if you’re wondering ‘Can my puppy sleep with me’? And they’ll be happy to help.
Should your dog sleep in your room?
Yes, if you want to. Puppies have specific needs and need the security of knowing you’re nearby, and that you’ll hear when they need the toilet at night. The easiest way to do this and get some sleep yourself, is to have them sleep in your room.
If you have an adult dog, it’s totally up to you if you should let your dog sleep in your room, or even sleep in your bed! Some people love having their dog sleep in their room in their own dog bed, or love snuggling up with them in their own bed, there’s really nothing so bad about either.
5 reasons why your dog shouldn’t sleep with you
There are reasons why dogs shouldn’t sleep in bed with you, you might have allergies, have your sleep disrupted, not appreciate the lack of personal space, or simply find it a bit disgusting! It’s also wise to consider what impact it might have on their behaviour, let’s take a look.
1. Allergies
Many people are allergic to dogs, and you might be one of them! If you have asthma or rubbing up onto your dog’s fur makes you itch, then having your dog sleep in your bed might not be a good idea.
2. Disrupted sleeping
If you have a dog who barks in their sleep, then you might see them jerking and shaking too! Some dogs snore so much that it can keep us up at night. If you’re a light sleeper, or you have a highly animated dog when asleep, then you might not get the desired 40 winks with them in the bed.
3. Your dog taking up too much room
Some dogs really don’t care about personal space, they sleep in the bed and can sleep at an odd angle, taking up a whole lot of room, making it uncomfortable for us to sleep in there too.
4. Hygiene reasons
Dogs often bring dirt and bacteria into the bed, as well as things like fleas! We shower regularly, but you may not bath your dog quite so often, so dirt from their paws or even from their bottom can end up on your clean sheets.
Fancy cleaning up your pup? Read our full guide to puppy grooming to learn how.
5. Resource guarding
If you have a dog who has a tendency to guard objects or space, and you’ve struggled to get them off of the sofa at times, it might not be a good idea to let them sleep in the bed, in case that becomes a guarding opportunity too.
Does letting your dog sleep in your bed promote aggression?
No, letting a dog sleep in the bed does not promote aggression. If your dog is fearful, then it may actually provide them comfort. If you have a dog who is a resource guarder, it can be an idea to not let them sleep in your bed to avoid this conflict.
Read our full guide to resource guarding to learn more.
Where should your dog sleep?
Wherever is convenient for you, but also warm and cosy for them. That might be in a crate in your bedroom when they’re a puppy, and then later when they’re ready, moving them out of your bedroom. For some puppies, they can sleep away from you from the get go.
Many people have their dogs sleep in the kitchen, downstairs in the hallway, in their bedroom, and yes, even in their bed. It’s really down to personal preference. It can take some training to teach a puppy to sleep through the night, so at the beginning it’s wise to have them sleep in your bedroom so that everyone gets the sleep they need.
Whether you should let your dog sleep in your room on (or even in!) your bed is a personal one that depends on a few different factors. While some people really like the comfort and closeness of sleeping with their pups, others may prefer to provide them with a separate sleeping place. It’s important to consider potential issues, such as allergies, broken sleep, dirt and hygiene, as well as how much a lack of personal space might feel when sharing a bed with your dog!
Giving your dog a comfortable, clean, and appropriately sized sleeping space, such as a nice cosy dog bed, a crate, or even a designated room, can be a good alternative to having your puppy sleep in your bed. Ultimately, the key is to ensure that your dog feels safe, secure, and comfortable, and that you’re happy too!
If you want to let your dog sleep in your bed, but you feel embarrassed, don’t worry, loads of people do it! You don’t have to worry about us judging you, we won’t tell!
While you’re here, why not have a look at some of our other content around sleeping, like finding a nice bed or blanket for your pup, how to stop a puppy barking at night, or getting down to crate training.
If you enjoyed reading this, you are going to love the Zigzag puppy training app. We have a whole training programme based on your puppy’s breed type and their stage of development, as well as a team of puppy trainers, to help you with those nighttime paw-nic moments.
