Should You Sleep with Your Dog?

Should You Sleep with Your Dog?

Is it good to sleep with your dog? For loving dog owners, the idea of whether or not to share their bed with their pet is not easy. On the one hand, you don’t want your beloved pet to get lonely during those long nights. But equally significant is the group that believes that allowing the pet in your bed will make him aggressive and elevate his dominance. So, which voices should you listen to?

Will allowing your dog to snuggle on your bed make him aggressive?

There are multitudes of dog parents who believe that inviting their loving, sweet, innocent puppy or dog to snuggle in their beds breaks all the training rules.

And this is a result of listening to trainers who have convinced them that allowing the dog in the bed elevates his aggression and dominance issues. And so, they feel guilty every time they have to leave their dogs to lie lonely on the floor at night.

But according to home practices by most loving dog parents, lifting up your dog for a snuggle won’t in any way make him aggressive. And this is backed by research from top veterinary behaviorists such as Dr. Jeff Werber and Dr. Marty Becker. These research works say that as long as you are the type that provides routine care and positive encouragement, then feel free to pat the bed sheets and sleep next to your dog or share cuddle time with him.

You won’t lose any dominance by allowing your dog in your bed. The idea that loving, sweet canines turn into Kujos when you cuddle or snuggle up next to them at night is entirely based on the behavior of wolves. But the social structure of a pack of wolves is different from that of dogs. But if you have to believe otherwise, you should also know that wolves are strongly inclined to corporate and work together for the good of the pack, so allowing your dog in bed could elevate his cooperation skills.

Veterinary behaviorists, though, warn that aggressive behavior is not alien when humans and dogs share the same roof. Especially if you are the type, who is always yelling at your puppy, strapping those electronic collars around his necks, poking him, pinning him down, etc. don’t expect peace of mind when you pick him up for a snuggle.

Don’t think that you can turn a Kujo into a loving, sweet dog/ puppy by trying to cuddle him. If your habits already led to aggressive issues, best seek help on how to manage the relationship from qualified professionals.

What to consider before allowing your dog in your bed

According to Vetstreet, as long as your dog is neither so tiny nor so huge, can last the night without needing potty breaks and is free from separation anxiety, then he can stay with you in bed at night. Don’t allow dogs that suffer from separation anxiety in your bed; they won’t handle well being left alone during the day. So, instead, get a dog bed or and teach them how to self-pacify, rest, and spend time quietly at different spots in your home.

A pet’s sleeping position matters too, according to Professor Peter Neville, an authority when it comes to animal behavior, faithful pets lie by your feet at the foot of the bed while superhero dogs opt for splayed position next to you. Find out more about what your pet’s sleeping position means here. But ultimately, whether or not to allow your dog in your bed is a matter of choice. Even if your dog is free from separation and aggression issues, there are no definite rules and facts of whether or not he should snuggle next to you in bed.

It’s not a rule that you should pat your bed sheets for your pooch every night. Just because you see celebrities or your fellow dog parents do it, doesn’t mean you have to do it. Not everyone is comfortable lying next to their dog. But those who allow their dogs to snuggle beside them at night love it because of the following reasons:

The health benefits of sleeping with your dog

Though data from a Queensland university survey of over 10,000 dog parent participant shows that co-sleeping with your dog will most likely make you delay falling asleep by 4 minutes and wake up tired, participants who share their bed with their pets say these are minor issues given that the feeling of tiredness doesn’t last the whole day and they reap health benefits such as:

1. a) Reduced stress

Insomnia has been linked to disorders such as anxiety, depression, and stress. The reassuring presence of pets, on the other hand, help counteract anxious mental activities that lead to insomnia. Scientists say touching your pet elevates oxytocin levels in the brain leading to a happy “high.”

1. b) Warmth and comfort

Pet’s presence provides a soothing effect that makes one fall asleep. Research shows you just have to ensure your room is a few degrees cooler, and you will easily fall asleep to the warmth and gentle pulsating breathing of your pet.

1. c) Increase a sense of security

The assuring presence of a dog beside you in bed can make you feel safer. Physically and emotionally. A lot of dog parents cite emotional and physical security as the reason they allow their dogs in bed.

Health risks of sleeping next to your dog

Okay, lovelies, cuddling or sleeping next to your dogs is a trend now, but should you get into the habit? a significant number of dog parents who co-sleep with their dogs say, sometimes, the presence of the pet in bed leads to problems such as:

• Increases asthmatic attacks and pet allergies
• Increases the risk of zoonotic diseases unless the pet is frequently vaccinated and maintained clean
• The Pet movement disturbs sleep. According to a 2014 survey by the Mayo Clinic Center, 20% of 150 dog parents say co-sleeping with their pets disturbed their sleep
• Disturbs intimacy between couples

After-Thought

Whether or not to sleep next to one’s dog is a matter of personal choice. 55 percent of pet owners say they are comfortable with their pooches beside them in bed. There are obvious health benefits and risks to the habit. For the allergic, infants and young children, it’s not advisable to let dogs in their beds at night. But for the lonely, if you are missing someone, you and your dog can bond and pacify each other. Also, if you are comfortable having your dog beside you in bed, you can use this as an opportunity to train him. i.e., don’t just allow him to jump on and off the bed whenever he feels like, but let him earn this privilege, only invite him as a reward after doing something else you’ve taught him; that way, you can foster good behaviors in your dog.