Do you let your dog sleep in your bed?
If you answered “Yes,” you’re not alone.
In fact, an estimated 45% of dog owners allow their dogs to sleep in their bed, and this number appears to be increasing a little bit each year.
Still, there are many reasons why dog parents are unsure about sharing the mattress with their pup. Some reasons are understandable, such as health issues like allergies and asthma. Others are concerned about setting the right dynamic with their dog, tapping into canine instincts around dominance and establishing who’s the leader of the pack. So which perspective is right? Should dogs sleep in your bed or not?
We’ve compiled findings from veterinarians and animal researchers.
Here’s what they have to say.
Don’t Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed In These 5 Circumstances
Our dogs are part of our family. We love them so much and we want them to have the best life possible. This is why we take dogs on walks, bring them to the park, and even set up doggie play dates. There was even a survey by Rover that suggests that 1 in 10 young adults would prefer a dog over a baby!
Because of this, many people think to themselves, “If I share so much of my life with my dog, should my dog sleep in my bed as well?”
According to the experts, there are 5 situations in which this isn’t the best idea:
- You have a toy breed.
Toy dogs are small dogs that weigh less than 15 pounds when they are fully grown! Chihuahuas are the most popular toy breed, and they average 6.6 pounds at adulthood. For comparison, a gallon of milk weighs a little more than 8 pounds.
Due to their size, small dogs are a lot more vulnerable and fragile compared to larger dogs. According to New York Times pet expert Colleen Williams, “Small dogs and toy dog breeds are more likely to experience leg fractures because their bones are much smaller and more fragile.”
With that being said, all it takes is for some tossing and turning while you’re asleep to potentially hurt a small dog in your bed. You don’t mean to do it, of course. But no one can stop themselves from sleepily moving around in the middle of the night. If you have a small dog, it’s safer (and better) if they sleep in their own bed or even in a crate.
If your dog is stubborn and insists on sleeping in your bed, a small dog vibration collar will help you prevent that unwanted behavior. - You have allergies.
Some people make the assumption that everyone who has allergies avoids getting a pet, but this isn’t always the case, especially if you have mild allergies. However, allowing your dog to sleep in your bed will expose you to more hair and pet dander. This extra exposure and closer proximity could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, triggering your allergies.
Even if you aren’t allergic to dogs, dog fur is like a dust magnet. Dust and pollen from the outdoors can cling to your dog, exacerbating your allergies. Should your dog sleep in your bed, the dust and dander will wipe off and cling to your sheets and pillows instead. This is particularly common for dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors. - Your dog doesn’t have flea protection.
All it takes is two fleas, and you could soon have a full blown flea infection. The worst part? It would be in your bed!
Getting a flea collar or flea medication is just as important as investing in an extra small dog shock collar. In as little as a twenty minute walk outside, a flea could have jumped onto your dog. From there, the infestation is as aggressive as it is rapid.
According to Stephanie Dub Dwilson of Adams Pet Care, “Ignoring a few fleas can quickly lead to an infestation on your dog and in your home,2 because two adult fleas could lead to hundreds of eggs and pupae. Fleas start feeding on blood within minutes of landing on your pet. Then they mate, and a female can start laying eggs within two days.”
If your dog doesn’t have flea protection of any sort, the answer to “should my dog sleep in my bed,” should be a big, resounding, “NO!”
If your dog has fleas and attempts to sleep in your bed, then use your extra small dog training collar to stop him from jumping up. He should sleep in a crate until the infestation is controlled and you are sure there are no more fleas or eggs on his body. - Your partner doesn’t like it.
There’s a reason “dog sleeping in bed ruining relationship” is the top search term on Google around this topic. This isn’t as common among established couples, as most couples choose to get a dog together. But if you’re single and begin dating, there’s no guarantee that the person you’re going on a date with even likes dogs.
Remember what we said above? Many people want pets more than children. In fact, many of us treat our pets as children, in a way. After all, isn’t our dog part of the family? So it can be hurtful if your partner doesn’t like it. While it’s unlikely to be a make or break factor in a relationship, this issue can cause a lot of friction and arguments. Most relationship experts’ advice would be don’t let your dog sleep in your bed. - You’re experiencing poor quality of sleep.
Did you know that dogs dream? You might wonder why your dog twitches or makes noise while it’s sleeping. That’s because your dog is dreaming! It’s cute while you’re awake, but it can disturb your sleep.
Even if it doesn’t wake you up, your dog’s movements might be enough to prevent you from falling into the deepest stage of sleep: rapid eye movement (“REM”). According to the Sleep Foundation, “When a dog moves in bed, the human sharing the bed is three times as likely to move as well, even though they may not notice. Humans are also over four times as likely to be awake while a dog they share the bed with is active. The sleep quality ramifications of sharing a bed with your dog are likely relatively mild.”
If you’ve noticed your sleep quality has declined or if you have a sleeping disorder, then don’t let your dog sleep in your bed.
While these are all excellent reasons, not everyone is facing these exact circumstances. If that’s the case, then your dog sleeping in your bed isn’t a big deal. It’s just a part of your life that makes you happy.
Should Dogs Sleep in Your Bed? Here Are Why Some People Love It!
Just because some people don't let their dog sleep in their bed, that doesn't mean that you shouldn’t!
There are many reasons to allow your dog to share the bed. Consider the following:
- Your dog helps you feel safe, protected, and secure at night.
- You want to help your dog experience that same love.
- Having a dog close to you results in better mental health.
- You have improved health and immunity, as you're exposed to more bacteria.
- You don't want to make your dog sleep in a crate.
- You love your dog.
In other words, there is absolutely nothing wrong with allowing your dog to share the bed with you. If you love your dog and have no reason to prevent your dog from sleeping on your bed, then there's no reason to feel bad about doing so.
But what if you make up your mind, and then your dog doesn't listen to you?
For example, let's say that you decide not to allow your dog to sleep on the mattress with you. But your dog is stubborn, and he doesn't want to listen. He would prefer to sleep in your bed rather than his. Why?
Why Won't My Dog Sleep in His Bed Anymore?
There are several reasons why your dog might stop sleeping in his bed. Here are some of them:
- He feels uncomfortable.
- His bed is too small for him.
- He misses being able to snuggle next to you.
- He wants to keep an eye on you.
- He wants you to stay asleep.
- He needs to go out at night.
While these are all realistic reasons, the most likely reason is because your dog feels like the temperature is too hot. In most cases, dog beds are made out of soft, fuzzy material to help keep your dog warm. But if your dog thinks the temperature is too hot already, it's not going to want to sleep in its bed, even if the bed looks super cute.
If that truly is the reason, then your dog is likely to sleep on a hard surface such as bathroom tile or the kitchen floor. Why? Because those are areas without carpet. Your dog is using the coolness of the floor to help cool its body.
To determine whether this is the case, try lowering the temperature. If your dog suddenly starts sleeping in its bed again once the indoor temperature is cooler, then you know it was because it was too hot to begin with.
Why Won't My Dog Sleep in *MY* Bed Anymore?
Now let's say you usually allow your dog to sleep in your bed. In fact, let's say that you can't fall asleep each night until your dog is sleeping next to you. So if your dog stops sleeping in your bed, you're going to notice. You're going to worry that something is wrong.
Here are some reasons why your dog might not sleep in your bed anymore:
- He is too old to jump into the bed with you.
- He has arthritis and cannot climb onto the bed.
- He is sick and does not want to be near you.
- He is afraid of falling off the bed.
- He doesn't trust you because of a recent incident.
Your dog may also simply get bored of sleeping in the same spot every night. And when that happens, he will look for another place to sleep. Don't take it personally!
Why Does My Dog Bark When I'm Trying to Go to Bed?
Whether or not you allow your dog to sleep in your bed, you might notice that your dog begins barking every time you try to fall asleep. Every once in a while, you get close to reaching dreamland, but right when you're on the cusp of sleep, your dog begins barking. Sound familiar?
It's not uncommon for dogs to bark at night.
The most common reason is because your dog wants to go outside to use the bathroom. If this is the case, simply let your dog outside and let him take care of his business.
But if your dog is still barking after you let him outside, then you know that something else is at play.
The most likely scenario is that your dog is bored and wants to play. If your dog hasn't had a chance to play throughout the day, he may try to play with you when he realizes you're going to sleep. He doesn't want to lose your company, so he barks to keep you awake.
To prevent this from happening, it means that your dog needs to be more active during the day. Try taking your dog for longer walks. Try playing tug of war for a few minutes. Or you could even try a game of fetch to get your dog running back and forth, exerting even more energy. This should result in a sleepy dog once nighttime comes, and a sleepy dog means a quiet dog.
But sometimes dogs engage in unwanted barking for no easily explainable reasons. If this is the case, then you’ll want to read our recent article about how to stop your dog from barking with an e collar. And if your dog’s barking is driving you crazy, then you can rest assured that it’s driving your neighbors crazy too, especially if you live in an apartment.
A shock collar for small dogs is key to preventing and stopping unwanted behavior. We might not be able to understand everything our dog does, but our dogs should be able to understand us. They should know what we’re thinking, and a training collar helps us communicate that to them.
Now, there’s one final question that you might ask if you allow your dog to sleep on your bed:
Why Does My Dog Sleep At My Feet?
It’s odd.
Our dogs love sleeping at our feet.
If you’ve had more than one dog, then you know that it’s something that is instinctual to most dogs. But why is that?
Your dog sleeps at your feet for the same reason it wants to sleep as close to you as possible: because dogs are pack animals. They stick close to the pack for protection – and you are the pack leader!
This is also natural for dogs because this is how they were raised. Think about it: when a mother births a litter of puppies, they all sleep next to her and next to each other. They did it to share warmth. This also provided comfort.
If your dog is sleeping at your feet and close to you, then it is recreating that special bond with you. How cute!