Dogs in our beds; pros and cons
Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Emily Randolph
I woke up this morning filled with all the excitement and energy that the thought of a new year provokes. Still lying in bed, I got a phone call from a good friend, giving my morning a perfect start. I was just finishing up the call, still lazing in bed, when my happy little bubble burst with the familiar sound of one my dogs (who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty) vomiting. On my bed. All over the covers. The covers that I had just washed yesterday!
This event, I confess, hasn’t been the first by a long stretch in 13 years of dog ownership, and it triggered an unlikely discussion with myself on the first day of this new year. I was reminded of a conversation that my brother and his wife had standing in my kitchen this very Christmas. Perhaps you have heard a version of it yourself. My brother is a big dog lover but they have four dogs of various sizes and even though the bed is a king size… well, you know what the argument was. He wants the dogs off the bed, while she wants to keep at least one, darling little Ginger (pictured), as they keep one another’s backs warm. A solid argument, I should point out! I was in my sister-in-law’s corner, ribbing my brother for his selfishness. Except, I could hear it was causing problems in the marital bed. While many of the dog mad amongst you, including myself, can’t help but think my brother should just sleep somewhere else (as in the proverbial dog house), well, that just isn’t in the cards.
I called my sister-in-law this morning and discovered ‘the dog in the bed’ discussion is still going on. She, too, is sick of doing extra washes from dog accidents and dirty paw prints. Recently, she even went out and bought brand new decorative bed covers that she will put on only when she is showing the house when it goes on the market this winter because the old ones are, well, dog-eared. But, she adores her dogs and loves to cuddle with them at night. She is badly torn over the issue.
If the ‘dog in the bed’ is an issue in your home, here are some other considerations:
Alpha dog?
How well behaved is your dog? Are you the alpha dog or is she running your household? If the answer is the latter, then there is very good cause for having your dog sleep in her own bed – at least until you have achieved dominance. There can be significant territorial issues that develop if you are not the top dog.
Remember, as the alpha dog, you decide the rules and you have to stick with them. Consistency is key. For instance, your dog will only be confused if you allow her on the sofa one day but yell at her for sleeping on the sofa on another. She won’t know what you want. If your rules are clear, then your dog will not be confused. It’s that simple.
Training tips for relocating your dogs to their beds:
1. Give your dog a comfy bed of her own that you know she will like. Place it near your own bed. Give her a reason to want to use the bed. Give her her favorite toy, a new toy or treat, place it on the bed and call her there. Tell her to ‘lie down’ and ‘stay,’ and reward her when she does.
2. Absolutely DO NOT CAVE and let her get back into bed with you. If you do, she will understand that she can push her boundaries and win. This is what you will have communicated. It will make all future training more challenging. Don’t do it!
3. Praise all her good behavior with treats and praise.
If you are having aggression and behavioral difficulties with your dog, please see your vet first to rule out any possible health issues, before speaking to a behaviorist.
Sleeping well?
Another consideration: how well are you sleeping with a dog(s) in your bed. Sleep studies show that small disturbances at night keep us from a good night’s rest more than we realize. According to a recent published survey of 300 sleep disorder patients conducted at the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, nearly 60 percent of the pet owners in the study slept with their pets in the bedroom. Twenty-two percent of the patients had pets sleeping on the bed with them. Fifty-three percent felt their sleep was disturbed. Apparently, many dogs (and cats) snore, awakening their owners. (Webvet.com)
Allergies?
Do you suffer from allergies? I am susceptible to the usual pollens, and dog’s hair, just like ours, attracts allergens to the oils in their coats. So, even if I have taken a shower and washed my hair to get a better night’s sleep with fewer allergies, I’m still getting a heavy dose of dust and pollen from my dogs’ hair.
So, with a heavy heart, I have concluded that in my personal circumstances, I need to make a change. While there isn’t anything better than having one of my dogs draped over my arm at night, I confess I don’t sleep that well – and this particular dog (again, no names to protect the guilty) snores. The other dog likes to blockade my legs so that I can’t move and I only have six inches of bed space – on a king size bed! This coupled with the extra loads of laundry and allergies, has pressed me make a New Year’s resolution. I talked it over with the dogs on our morning walk and while there were plenty of moans and groans and even some whining, we have come up with a compromise. They will sleep in their own beds at night… and in the morning, if I feel like it, they can come up for a snuggle. I’m hoping this will give us all a better night’s sleep, and I can save on laundry detergent and allergy meds.
Being an absolute pushover, we’ll see how long this resolution lasts! Watch this space.
