[Veeru]

Hi all,

Its been a while since I posted. My little guy is almost seven month old now. I still haven't made the call to the vet about....you know snip snip, I know I know I will today (saying while shaking my head in sadness and shame). My first few post were about how to stop the little terror from tearing me up, he doesn't do that at all now and I am so happy. My question is whether I should let him sleep in my bed. So far I have been saying no when he jumps on the bed and physically let him down (he is 60 pounds now I don't know if I can do it in an other few months when he is 85-90).

So the question is, is it really that bad to let him sleep in the bed with me.

Thanks guys

 

[WhoRescuedWho?]

All three of ours sleep in the bed with us, granted they range from 20-30lbs but im pretty sure our pup will put on at least another 15-20lbs. I let my first one sleep in the bed as a pup because my husband was stationed across the country. When he finally got to come live with me and we got a second dog I trained them to sleep on their bed. When I got back from Afghan they were back in MY bed because husband said he was lonely. So we bought a king size bed. They get bathed at least once a week or more often if they take off into the canal after a lizard. There are times when we ummm ya know rather they arent in bed with us for adult stuff but for the most part I love how they each have a spot they curl up or stretch out in every night. Probably frowned upon by most but I wouldn't change it even if I could now.

Another thing to consider though is if a single person lets thier dog sleep in the bed with them, when they begin not being so single and someone else comes into that bed it can cause issues. A friend of mine has an 85lb dog who wont let anyone else in "their" bed.

 

[Abbylynn]

Ooooh! The single thing is so right! I am older and plan on never having another SO .... therefore being single for me and the dogs sleeping in my bed is not an issue. I do however not like dog hair in my bed ... so unfortunately only the non-shedders get that privelage. If hair is not an issue ... go for it. It is rather a personal choice IMHO.

 

[Veeru]

Thanks guys. I think I was on the verge of caving in and letting him sleep on the bed anyway!! I don't mind about the hair and stuff, it is just I was worried about "domination" issues and such. I heard that if they sleep on the bed with you, they think they are equal to you or whatever and won't listen to your commands. Not sure if that is true, what is your exprience on that issue?

 

[WhoRescuedWho?]

Thanks guys. I think I was on the verge of caving in and letting him sleep on the bed anyway!! I don't mind about the hair and stuff, it is just I was worried about "domination" issues and such. I heard that if they sleep on the bed with you, they think they are equal to you or whatever and won't listen to your commands. Not sure if that is true, what is your exprience on that issue?

Maybe it depends on the breed but never had that issue in my home, Im in charge and they know it and have never questioned my commands. My heeler does sometimes try to stand on us which we see as a dominance thing but we tell him off and he gets off.

 

[odiesmom]

All 3 of my dogs and 3 cats sleep in bed with me, or I should say I sleep with them ! But then I am single and they help keep me warm on our cold Alaskan nights!!

 

[Kayota]

Thanks guys. I think I was on the verge of caving in and letting him sleep on the bed anyway!! I don't mind about the hair and stuff, it is just I was worried about "domination" issues and such. I heard that if they sleep on the bed with you, they think they are equal to you or whatever and won't listen to your commands. Not sure if that is true, what is your exprience on that issue?

Forget everything you've heard about dominance and alpha theory... That was all debunked and is very outdated now.

 

[Veeru]

Thank you all for your response. I guess tonight I won't drag him out of bed wish me luck!!

 

[Roloni]

So the question is, is it really that bad to let him sleep in the bed with me.

Thanks guys

I sleep in my underpants with a 95 lb Rottie..
I wish someone would make pajamas for dogs

 

[odiesmom]

I sleep in my underpants with a 95 lb Rottie..
I wish someone would make pajamas for dogs

THEY DO !!!! There is a thread on dressing your dog and soemone has thier doberman with batman pajamas on, tooo cute !!

 

[workerant]

Kenda is welcome to sleep in my and and Mr. Ant's bed; generally she doesn't deign to and sleeps on the sofa. Do keep this in mind, though:

 

[Veeru]

Thanks everyone for your reply. Last night I was all ready to give in if he jumped on the bed, but he didn't!! They are like kids (human) aren't they, they only what to do things if you don't want them to do. We will see what happens tonight.

@workerant I almost fell out of my chair laughing, awesome pictures.

 

[Losech]

I let Conker sleep in my bed if he wants to. The other two don't sleep in the trailer with me, but if they did, I'd let them as well. However, Mom doesn't want her dogs on the furniture so I shouldn't even if they did sleep in the trailer with me, since they think that if they are allowed on one bed, they are allowed on them all. So much for the "dogs don't generalize" theory.
Conker doesn't do that, he knows the difference between the "allowed on" and "not allowed on" furniture so he gets bed privileges.

You do have to keep in mind who else may sleep in the bed with you, now or in the future, and if they'd want a dog in there with them. But for me, I plan on being single for as long as possible (I'm really not into the relationship thing) and if I did get a significant other, they'd better be fine with dogs on the bed or they'd be the one getting booted to the couch every night.

 

[Abbylynn]

Thanks everyone for your reply. Last night I was all ready to give in if he jumped on the bed, but he didn't!! They are like kids (human) aren't they, they only what to do things if you don't want them to do. We will see what happens tonight.

@workerant I almost fell out of my chair laughing, awesome pictures.

Lol! Yes ... they are like human Kids sometimes at my house ... when the phone rings ... all h%&# breaks loose! They get into everything!

In fact right after we brought the groceries in the house tonight ... the phone rang ... I turned my back ... and Eddee got into a bag of corn I hadn't put up and husked it for me! :/

 

[titiaamor]

Bob runs in his sleep, and he and Sacha both bark in their dreams! Forget it...I need my sleep too much to have doggie dreams interfere.

 

[xxxxdogdragoness]

Ooooh! The single thing is so right! I am older and plan on never having another SO .... therefore being single for me and the dogs sleeping in my bed is not an issue. I do however not like dog hair in my bed ... so unfortunately only the non-shedders get that privelage. If hair is not an issue ... go for it. It is rather a personal choice IMHO.

Hair & whatever else 'wonderful' they find to roll in (we are on a farm so there are wonderful opportunities to roll in horse sh**t & for some disgusting reason they love the fresh stuff after a few ... Eh ... Bad experiences I opted for no more doggies in the bed but they are welcomed on the couch.

 

[hanksimon]

Dominance is not an issue... However, 'entitlement' is!!! Once the dog is in the room, then he can jump on 'his' bed. And once he's in his bed... ALL of it is his. Most dogs don't have to be aggressive about it... they just spread out and go limp.

I strongly recommend:
1. Teach an absolute Off! command that quickly escalates to out of the room, then out of the house (if possible).
2. Teach that the bed is off limits unless the dog is specifically invited by saying Up or something similar.
3. If the dog jumps on the bed without invitation, then it's Off! and maybe sent out of the room.
4. Try to teach the dog that he can only sleep on a specific region of the bed. For example, my dog is not allowed near the pillow, and usually isolated to the foot of the bed on my side.

 

[Nike80germany]

Our 3 sleep in the bed also.... Molly, the Yorkie-Poo always sleeps right next to my pillow, Casper the pup somewhere between me and my husband ( its pretty easy to figure out, when he has to go potty, because he is afraid to jump off the bed) and Shelby our GSD-Mix sleeps on our feet.. but only as long nobody moves.. one move, and she goes on her blanket in our closet...

 

[WhoRescuedWho?]

Hair & whatever else 'wonderful' they find to roll in (we are on a farm so there are wonderful opportunities to roll in horse sh**t & for some disgusting reason they love the fresh stuff after a few ... Eh ... Bad experiences I opted for no more doggies in the bed but they are welcomed on the couch.

haha yeah mine get bathed regularly and if they jump in the canal or roll and get filthy they get an extra bath and i have a few sets of sheets to change them out often enough

 

[Veeru]

Thank you all, but I guess its a moot point. The little guy doesn't jump on my bed and I am not going to invite him in. Case closed.............yeah right