Do you let your dog sleep in bed with you?

Oh, brother, that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard! I've heard too, that letting a dog sleep with you tells him he can become the alpha to rule the house and he will never obey you again! Hah! I let my dog sleep with me every night and he hasn't taken over the house yet and he obeys *everything* I tell him.
He doesn't obey everytime because dogs aren't 100% reliable and he's going into his "terrible twos"
Sleeping in bed with me has nothing to do with it.

Zackintosh CJ answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

We ALL sleep in the same bed and EVERYONE enjoys it so much! But my babys are 10 pounds each. Plus BF. Every night we only have to say "lets go sleepy" 1 time and they are hauling it into the bedroom! Ginger has a little piggy she likes to take to bed and grabs it right away. Sometimes they get in the bed before us! Has it killed our sex like? YES! But I wouldnt change it for the world. When we wake up I get so many kisses and cuddles, what a way to start the day!!!!!!!

Ginger Smiles Primm answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

I usually don't sleep with my owners at night. My daddy worries about rolling on me or kicking me. I do sleep with my owners when they take a nap or if it gets really cold or we have overnight guest then I get to sleep with them. Since my owners control everything including food and when I go potty, I get the whole they are the pack leaders thing.

Nibbles answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 1

All of our animals sleep in beds with various family members. No behavior problems other than just generally being spoiled rotten. :D

Miss Buddie answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

my dogs too sleep in the beds with us, they all choose a bed and get in with who ever gives the best belly rubs, ha ha , no problems here, other than doggie hair! good luck to you.

ellie may answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

all my dogs (besides the puppies) and "daisys" cat dexter sleep in my bed at night and its a twin so we are a little cramped bol.

Duke answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

I will occasionally let Lil or Lexi (poodle and yorkie) sleep with me. Why? Because they don't bother my allergies, don't shed hair in my bed and are polite and considerate. The only pet I sleep with 100% of the time is my cat.
Now, my boyfriend's greyhound is a royal pain. I have to put up with her in his bed but no way is she allowed in mine. She will stare at me and bark, as if I'm taking her space. She will also try to push me off the bed. She'll wedge herself between he and I and use her legs to push me. I thought it was him when I was half asleep and I was like what the heck is he doing? I woke up fully after almost falling face down on a space heater and saw it was her LOL. I'd agree sometimes it causes a dominance issue. It probably depends on the individual dog and what their training is in other areas as well.

Lillith answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

I originally didn't let Charlie sleep in my bed because she was too small, and I didn't want her to fall off the bed... and because she wasn't house-trained.

Now I alternate between letting her sleep with me and in her own bed. She only sleeps with me on days when I don't have to get up early as there is almost always a midnight potty run at this age...

In addition, she is so proud and excited that she can get on the bed that it can take her a while to settle. She usually has a huge lick-fest - sometimes for up to 1.5 hours before settling next to me.

I have her bed right next to my bed, and if she is in her bed, she settles down almost right away.

I don't subscribe to the "pack leadership theory". I do think that if you allow a dog to sleep with you, it should be clear to the dog that it is your decision, not the dog's.

Charlie answered on 1/13/09. Helpful? / 0

We have always aloud our dogs to sleep in our bed. Our 13yr old weimaranar/dalmation mix doesn't anymore just because she can't get up on the bed, but she sleeps on her own bed next to our bed. Our other dog is 1yr old now and he only jumps up there to let me know he wants outside or sometimes for an early morning nap right before we all wake up. I don't think it hurts your "pack" order. He just wants to be close to his owner and comfy too. I think the only think that is bad about it is that you get dog hair in your bed.

Bandit answered on 1/14/09. Helpful? / 0

I would love it if my dog could sleep with me on the bed, but it really is a big no no with some dogs. I adopted my dog when he was about 11/2 yrs old and from the very first week, I could tell he had an alpha attitude and if I let him get his way, we would have a battle on our hands. For some dogs, being allowed on a bed is a sign or power and dominance. Their ranking in the pack has gone up and they're more likely not to listen and behave. Of course not all dogs behave perfectly, but if you're dealing with a dog who struggles to be alpha, then it isn't a good idea for him to be on the bed. Dogs work from a pack mentality and everything has some kind of order and structure. So, if you can allow your dog on the bed and he still sees you as the boss, then you're lucky. My dog wouldn't be so giving in that way. He needs to see me as the pack leader who sets all of the boundries and when he sees me up on my bed from his bed on the floor, I am seen as more important than he. It's working

Guest 404377 answered on 1/16/09. Helpful? / 0

I have a poodle so it might be different with bigger dogs, I don't know, but my doggie sleeps in my bed and has for 12 years. I'm definately the alpha and she obeys (most of the time!) though she is a bed hog and for that I have found no cure! If you're worried you can always get a big fluffy bed and let Shiloh sleep in your room but not in your bed. Good Luck!

Guest 201397 answered on 1/23/09. Helpful? / 0

Oliver is a Silky @ 15 mo and 10 lbs. I got him in December from a rescue place and he's wonderful. I have never had a pet before so have been searching for tips about special things I should do or not do. I tried the Dog Whisperer philosophy and after a few weeks of that I needed a People Whisperer because I was a nervous wreck.

I have a pretty high bed too, but Oliver can jump up on it when he wants too. Other times he wants me to pick him up. I think because he can't see that high and doesn't want to jump on top of me, but, of course that may be way too simplistic. It may really be that he wants me to act as his personal elevator and is plotting to overwhelm me with affection.

He sleeps on top of the covers, on or near my feet. He gets up and down as he likes or lies beside my bed. Sometimes, if I'm up and down too much during the night, he goes and sleeps in his bed. When I was sick recently he slept on my "pain." I think whatever works for you is right.

Guest 877718 answered on 3/8/09. Helpful? / 1

My 12 lb. dachsie shares our bed when it;s a chilly nite. She prefers her bed otherwise. She is the first dog in our family over 30 years that is allowed to do this. The others were bigger.

About pack leaders: yes there is such a thing. My brother allowed his gorgeous German shorthair to become the alpha substituting for the son he never had. There were some dire consequences for my brother.

Sanibel answered on 3/31/09. Helpful? / 0

YES,all my dogs sleep with me in my bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Delilah answered on 4/20/09. Helpful? / 0

I am a pomchi who sleeps with my mom everynight. She and I both like the snuggle time together. We have no problems with dominance or Alpha dog behavior. I know that I have to listen to my mom. My big sister is an alaskian malamute. She sleeps on the floor on her bed because she is so big! She would sleep with us if she could though:)

Sophie answered on 8/1/09. Helpful? / 0

Nope, i don't let my puppy sleep in bed with me because he might get use to it and may lead future problems on his behavior.

Rufio answered on 9/19/09. Helpful? / 0