As a vet, I know from discussions with many clients over the years that this is a fairly common situation. Should you let your dog share the bed with you?
Some owners would never have it any other way and the thought of kicking the dog off the bed is a complete no-no, for others the thought of having their dog share their sleeping space is disgusting and the dog’s place is not in or on the bed!
So who is right? Well of course it’s not quite as black and white as that:
Protection
Historically, dogs have shared beds with humans to provide protection and this can still be the case today.
We all know a dog's hearing is pretty good and they will react to any risk a little sooner than most people. Some owners sleep more soundly knowing they have their furry companion with them looking out for anything that might threaten them.
Parasite risk
Let’s be honest, dogs eating habits are not quite as clean as ours! They pick up intestinal worms and sharing a bed runs the risk of picking up some unwanted guests with genuine health risks for you.
Fleas are also a potential risk if your pet isn’t on preventative treatments, and not something you want in your bed!
Deeper sleep
Some studies have shown that dogs that sleep in the bed with their owners have lower cortisol levels during that time which would suggest less stress and better sleep for them.
There is a theory that this could work the other way as well and help lower human cortisol levels. However, there are also studies that show that co-sleeping can lead to more disturbed nights and from my own experiments sharing a tent with my dogs is not a peaceful, low cortisol experience!
Allergies
Most dogs are fairly hairy and they are also pretty good at getting that hairy coat a bit muddy and covered in bits of outside. If you suffer from allergies, the hair, dander, pollens etc that come with having a dog in your bed will not be helping you.
Hygiene
On the same theme keeping your dog clean enough to share a bed will be a pretty big undertaking. Both my dogs love the great outdoors and would need bathed nearly nightly to be clean enough to get on the bed.
Bathing a dog that regularly can sometimes affect their coat and skin but leaving them unwashed risks bringing a few unwanted things onto your bedsheets.
Warmth
On a positive note, who needs a hot water bottle if you have a furry companion at your feet?! In the colder months mutually shared body heat can be a real positive for both you and your dog, it might even cut those heating bills!
Behavioural issues
Post-COVID. we have seen a steady increase in the number of dogs that have separation behavioural issues. It is not uncommon for these dogs to get extremely anxious when separated from their owners and can become very vocal, destructive and quite distressed.
If you have a dog with separation anxiety that is currently used to sleeping in your bed removing them may cause some issues. It might actually be best in the long run along with other behavioural modifications to reduce the anxiety.
If you don’t have a dog with these issues then having them with you 24/7 might make these issues more likely to develop. Definitely something to consider, however please consult with a behaviourist if you are having problems.
Really, there isn't a definitive answer on this one. For what it is worth my dogs sleep downstairs in the kitchen where they have free roam but a couple of crates with beds in them that they like to use. They have always had this setup and it seems to work for them.
I’ve only ever shared my bed with them in tents or in a campervan and it definitely isn’t for me all the time! I know some people decide on a compromise where the dog gets it’s own bed in the bedroom and is not actually on the owner’s bed, however how you keep them o is beyond me!
Or maybe my dogs are just not that well behaved. Wishing you and your furry friends an undisturbed night’s sleep, whatever arrangements you have at home!
