You’re about to go to sleep when your dog’s head suddenly pops on the side of the bed…
They’re whining because they want to sleep in your bed as well…
Oh, why do they do that? And should you say yes to their request?
Continue reading to discover:
- If you should let your dog sleep in your bed.
- Why your dog wants to sleep in your bed with you.
- 7 dangers when letting your dog sleep in your bed.
- If letting your dog sleep in your bed is unhealthy or not.
- And many more…
Table of contents
Why does my dog want to sleep in my bed?
Your dog wants to sleep in your bed because they feel more comfortable there. It can be related to their temperature needs or protective drive. Sometimes, they want to be near you because they have separation anxiety. Other times, your dog claims your bed as their own as well.
Reasons why your dog wants to sleep in your bed
Oh, it makes you ask yourself why your pooch is acting like this…
You bought them a very lovely dog bed…
And yet, they really push their luck on sleeping on your bed with you.
Well, I’m here to tell you to cut Fido some slack.
That’s because your pooch means well.
The number one reason for such is they seek comfort. And they can find that from you.
Moreover, the purpose behind the pursuit of ease can vary.
They might be feeling cold. So, that’s why they want to cozy up in your bed with you.
Furthermore, your body heat might be just what your pupper needs.
Then, another goal of your doggo is just to be near you.
For them, it’s better to share a bed with you.
Remember that dogs are pack animals. That means they thrive best when surrounded.
And with that, your pupper might be bothered by being alone. So, that leads to them asking you if they can get on your bed.
However, this desire to be near you all the time can be a concern…
Why?
That’s because your dog’s separation anxiety can cause it.
According to VCA Hospitals, this condition involves your dog’s overattachment to you.
Such makes them follow you everywhere, even the bathroom.
And in your case, they wanna be with you until you go to sleep…
That aside, your dog might also be dealing with their drive to protect you. They wanna sleep next to you to answer to that instinct.
Moreover, they expect you to reciprocate this. Your dog trusts you and knows that you got their back as well.
With that, they can sleep better knowing that you’ll keep them safe, too.
So, say you let your fur baby sleep in the bed with you…
Then, they’re sleeping with their back at you…
Oh, that isn’t them being rude. That’s your pooch on defensive and trusting mode.
Moreover, there are also reasons that aren’t completely revolving around you…
What are those?
Sometimes a dog prefers a place because they just do.
On other occasions, they might’ve imprinted on your bed. That means they see it as their own or something that you share together.
Continue reading: 15 Amazing Reasons Why Your Dog Sleeps On Your Bed + 9 Tips
Should I let my dog sleep in my bed?
If you should let your dog sleep in your bed depends on your choice. Doing so will not lead to dominance issues. The only rule is you and your dog should be healthy. However, there are risks for you to look out for. Those are lower sleep quality, injuries, bite risk, allergies, or diseases.
7 dangers when letting your dog sleep in your bed
#1: Suffocation
Sure, your small pooch might enjoy being near you while you both sleep…
Then, they might even feel cozy from your hug. Or they could snuggle in with you under the blanket.
Sorry to burst both of your bubbles, but those aren’t ideal for small dogs or puppies…
That’s because those pose the risk of suffocation.
While you’re asleep, you might hug your pooch too tight.
Aside from that, you might roll over your teensy fur baby. With that, you’ll unintentionally put your weight and likely hurt them.
Another scenario is when they might suffocate under your thick or weighted blankets.
When such happens, you might get woken up by your dog’s quick movements.
That’s because they’re trying to remove your hold or find a way out under the sheets.
They might also try to gasp and strain their breath.
According to PetMD, the worst-case scenario will be the ultimate lack of oxygen. When that happens, your pupper will lose consciousness.
Warning: Research tells us dogs don’t lose consciousness due to suffocation immediately.
#2: Risk of a bite
I previously mentioned that you might roll on your pooch.
However, suffocating them isn’t the only consequence for such.
If your dog is jumpy, you might startle them with any movement. It won’t just be about rolling over them…
Any sudden actions will trigger the risk of a bite from your pooch.
Yes, that can happen…
No matter how good your relationship with your dog is.
And no, that isn’t a sign of aggression…
Your dog was just alarmed by the sudden movement. And their reflex is their natural defense, which is to bite.
So be careful…
Note: This is also the reason why you should never pet your dog while they sleep.
#3: Bad news for light sleepers
If you’re a light sleeper, then this setup might not be for you…
That’s because you might get disrupted throughout the night.
And it’s not going to be due to one reason only.
There are many ways that your dog can unintentionally disturb your goodnight’s sleep.
Some dogs snore like crazy
For some dog parents, their fur baby’s snoring works as a lullaby. They treat it as a white noise that helps them sleep.
However, other dog parents report waking up to the loud noise. For them, such is an unpleasant sound to wake up to.
But whatever your attitude is towards dog snoring, there’s no denying that you’re concerned.
“Should I be?”
PetMD tells us that snoring results from a blockage in the nose. Such causes airflow to be restricted.
Thus, leading to snoring.
Other concerning causes of it include:
- Allergies.
- Sleep apnea.
- Abscessed tooth.
If any of those are the reason for your dog’s snoring, get them checked by a vet ASAP.
They might scratch from time to time
Yet another way that your pooch can disrupt your sleep…
Unfortunately, something’s itchy on your dog’s body.
And so, they scratch and bite themself constantly.
The reasons for such can be:
- Fleas.
- Mange.
- Dry skin.
- Infection.
- Insect bites.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Foreign objects on their fur.
As they tend to their need to scratch, the bed will shake and will definitely wake you up.
They move around during their sleep
More things that can wake you up in the middle of the night are…
Your dog’s whimpers, twitches, and what even looks like running away from something.
“Could they be dreaming?”
You got that right…
Dogs are indeed capable of dreaming.
That’s the answer that Dr. Stanley Coren gives on his Canine Corner.
He stated that not only do dogs dream…
They might also be dreaming of similar things that you dream about.
You can confirm this when you see your dog’s eyes moving behind their eyelids. Such is a sign that your pupper is dreaming.
Do you want a more detailed picture of a dreaming dog? Then look at this hilarious compilation of dogs who are drifted in dreamland:
#4: Can affect sleep quality
With all that I said earlier, your sleep is really bound to get interrupted…
You might wake up in the middle of the night with Fido’s snoring or twitching.
Moreover, your pooch might make demands at night. And they’ll ask for it by licking your face or whining all night.
An example scenario is when they need to pee. And regardless if they wake you up to tell you or they hold their bladder overnight…
Ooof…
Both situations lead to you cleaning after your pooch.
Moreover, it might get hard for you to fall asleep again.
With that, the number of hours that you’re asleep is reduced. And such can affect you throughout your day.
And those aren’t the only problems…
Not only is the duration affected, but your sleep quality is at stake as well.
What exactly is that?
It’s the term used to describe how well you sleep. That’s whether your sleep is restorative or not.
Now, letting your dog sleep next to you can negatively affect such an important thing.
That’s based on a recent study that focuses on human-animal co-sleeping. Its findings tell us that:
Your movement increases when you let your pooch sleep in your bed.
Now, those activities are potential disruptors to your sleep. Thus, affecting its quality.
So, when you wake up, you might not feel well-rested at all. Your energy seems not to be restored during the night…
And with that, it impacts your performance during the day.
#5: Can make allergies worse
There are 2 kinds of dogs…
Some are hypoallergenic, and others are not…
But regardless of which your dog is between the two, they can still contribute to your allergies.
Note: AKC tells us that no dog’s 100% allergenic.
What only exists are less-allergenic ones. Some of those are the dogs who tend to shed less.
Now, sleeping next to your pooch exposes you to many allergens.
The ones that can be naturally present in your dog are:
- Fur.
- Saliva.
- Dander.
Then, there are also allergens that they catch during the day. Namely:
- Dust.
- Pollen
Moreover, you won’t just be facing these every time you lay next to Fido…
Those allergens can stick to your sheets and will stay there until you wash them.
What can happen while your beddings wait to be thrown in the laundry?
Then the allergens present can aggravate your allergies or asthma.
#6: Risk of an injury
This is a danger that highly concerns your dog…
Imagine this:
Say that your bed is too high from the ground.
As for your dog, they can’t easily reach it.
Regardless, you let them hop on the bed and sleep there with you.
You see, such can be a hazard for your canine.
Your pupper might get injured by trying to climb and get down from the bed.
And that’s not all…
That’s because a similar case can happen even during their sleep.
As I said, your dog will tend to dream. And when they do, they make sudden movements like twitching.
Or they might not be dreaming at all. They just really move around in their sleep.
With that, they might fall down from the bed.
When that happens, they might get injured.
No matter how minor the consequences can be, this isn’t a concern to be overlooked.
What to do
You can condition your pooch to think that they’re only welcome on the bed during bedtime.
And if they’re small, you can carry them every time it’s time to sleep.
Another option is to provide them with a dog ramp.
It’s something they can use to get off and on the bed safely.
Once they’re in the bed, place them on the side that faces the wall.
What if your bed’s open on all sides?
Then, you can put pillows on your dog’s side instead.
#7: Spread of disease
This danger rarely shows up…
But don’t be complacent…
Because if it does occur, then it can be highly harmful to your health.
Here are the most common diseases that your canine might transmit to you:
- Parasites.
- Ringworm.
- Skin infections from mites.
If your pooch has any of those, then make your bed off-limits.
Moreover, bring them to the vet immediately. Lastly, you’re going to have to clean around more often to prevent a recurrence.
People also ask:
Is it unhealthy to sleep with your dog?
It’s only unhealthy to sleep with your dog if one of you is sick. So, you and your pooch should be healthy before co-sleeping. If not, then many risks might arise.
Vets from PetMD say go ahead and let your dog sleep next to you.
But before you do, make sure that both of you are healthy and sound.
For your safety, here’s the definition of healthy in this context:
| Your dog must be… | You must be… |
| – Free of parasites. – Not facing any illnesses. – Up-to-date with their vaccines. | – Not suffering from any immunosuppressive conditions. Examples are psoriasis and lupus. |
You might also want to know: Pros and cons of sleeping with your dog
Do dogs sleep with their favorite person?
Dogs sleep with their favorite person. They pick such a person in many ways. Among many, positive interactions are the best way to be your dog’s favorite.
Your canine knows how to play favorites. And you’d be surprised that dogs actually have criteria for such.
Do you wanna be the chosen one?
Then here’s how dogs pick their faves:
- Socialize them (and with them).
- Give them positive experiences.
- Pay attention to them as much as you can.
However, some factors might be out of your hands.
An example is preferring to sleep with your child instead of with you. That’s because Fido sees the need to protect your kid.
Lastly, they base it on your personality as well. Such can be bassed on the saying, “Birds of the same feather, flocks together…”
For further reading: 11 Easy Ways To Get Your Dog To Sleep With You (How-To)
How long should you wait to let your dog sleep in your bed?
You should wait for at least 4 months before you let your dog sleep in your bed. However, some dogs might not be ready until they turn 6 months of age.
Moreover, your pupper’s age won’t be the only indicator for this.
You must also consider their size and health.
If they’re still too small, then they’re more at risk for suffocation and injuries.
As for their health, they shouldn’t be facing any sickness.
And lastly, you must highly regard this one for your convenience:
Make sure that your pup is potty trained before you let them on your bed.