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Original poster

If your dog sleeps on your bed at night…

83 replies

TeenLifeMum · 19/04/2023 17:33

Did you start out like that? (Purely curious)

we have the most beautiful working cocker spaniel who is approaching 3 years old. Initially we crate trained but by 2 years old he was very reliable/not chewing stuff so he moved to just a bed in the dining area/kitchen and at night we’d shut that side of the house off.

when we had the kitchen done, he moved to our bedroom but with strict rules that he slept on his bed (that was last summer). Since then we’ve allowed free rein of the house except the living room because the sofa is new. Generally he’d start the night on his dining room bed and part way through the night he moves to our room or the landing. That’s until March this year.

I’ve had a bad few weeks - very upset, struggling with some difficult situations etc which have meant my gp has prescribed sleeping tablets but trying to use sparingly to avoid long term issues. Our dog has become the loveliest cuddler and has begun sneaking up the side under the covers to snuggle… I allowed it and it really helped me emotionally. Now dh is keen to regain our bed so is sending the dog away when he jumps up. He seems to try roughly every hour in the hopes we’re asleep and inevitable we wake up in the morning and he’s there.

i think I’m caving… he’s so damn cute!

I’ve gone from “no dog upstairs” to having a dog on my bed! I’ve changed so much.

Did you cave or just start out with the pup on your bed? He’s a bit big really!

OP posts:

wheresmymojo · 19/04/2023 19:13

Ours is a rescue. DH was adamant that she was to sleep in a crate in the kitchen.

She was completely hysterical....I couldn't take it so that was that.

She is actually great though as she comes up to bed...waits for me and DH to get in and have a snuggle with her...then she curls up at the bottom between us.

After about 15 mins she slinks off the bed onto her mat on the floor because she hates being accidentally kicked. She sleeps there until we wake up and then she jumps back on for cuddles.

She's a 28kg GSDx.

My favourite bit is when she's not sure if you're awake or not and she'll go up to the side of the bed and do one lick on my face to check...and then goes to DH and does the same. If we don't move she goes back to her mat

Our 9kg boy cat likes to sleep between DHs feet and his sister gets under the cover and curls up in the crook of his arm so he can barely move all night (but is too much of a soft touch to do more than grumble about it in the morning)

hattie43 · 19/04/2023 19:20

My dogs have always been on or in the bed , always under the duvet when it's cold . It's been this way for me since childhood and I know no different . I find them very comforting .

Bluebells1970 · 19/04/2023 19:35

Our eldest cocker used to sleep on the bed but he's 20kg of solid muscle and is a bit of a bed hog. So when we got our 2nd puppy (sprocker) they were both banished to the kitchen. They stay in bed until I fall asleep, then take themselves off to the kitchen and then bound up at 6.30am when they're let out!

DH is away next month, and he's already said that I'm not to cave in and let them sleep in with me 🙄😂

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TimeForTeaAndMe · 19/04/2023 19:38

I have a border collie..she was amazing in her crate from the second night home, I love all animals but I've never ever felt the need to have a bed full of dog hair or my nice sheets smelling of dog lol..
I thought it would be a good idea to try teach her to sleep on a bed so she would be free to stretch out at night..but she would cry hard at the bottom of the stairs..it took her months to pluck up the courage to actually climb them..she was terrified of them 🤦🏻‍♀️

So she wasn't understanding it was bed time..unless back in the crate with it covered and dark, one night something was going on I can't quite remember what it was..but she ended up in my room on the floor getting herself very comfy..me and the kids thought it was so adorable she fell asleep and was even dreaming..so I just left her there.. thinking no harm..and just went to bed..

Yes now she sleeps on the bed..and even climbs up my body every single night for a cuddle and a kiss..then just takes herself off to the bottom of the bed to sleep...just recently she's starting creeping up closer in the middle of the night I'll wake to her across me fast asleep 🤣

As for the no smell or hair...my solution..was to put old sheets and blanket on the top of my own for her..and I just wash the bedding and change sets more often...oh my the cuddles are so worth it..I can't believe what a soft sucker I became 🤣

To be fair she is still very good if she has to go back in the crate..she's only 14 months old so still learning a lot..

I get up at 5am in the week..she will look at me as if to say.."you dare get me up at this unholy hour" goes back to sleep and comes down when good a ready..or needing a wee 🤣
In winter she Parkes her butt by the fire and has another hour there too 😴

Lazy girl lol..

BiteyShark · 19/04/2023 19:45

We had dog in kitchen, then dog in bedroom on his bed.

This lasted about 2 years but as he would get up all the time we caved as we were so sleep deprived that we allowed him on our bed. Best decision ever and we all sleep better.

Doggie cuddles are the best. I love how he snuggles up to us and I wish we had let him on the bed from the start.

ComeOnThenFanny · 19/04/2023 19:54

Isn't it funny, so many people tell you to never let your dog in your bed under any circumstances - yet there are so many of us and we love it!

Lostinwales77 · 19/04/2023 19:54

We have 3 whippets and they all sleep in our bed, under the covers. One of them sleeps between us with her head on the pillow and her body under the duvet every single night.

We started off with them all in our bed right from puppies

TooMuchStuffArghhh · 19/04/2023 19:55

One under the covers by my feet, the other behind my knees. Sometimes the cat joins us, behind my back. I love it, can't sleep without them now.

JulesGeebee · 19/04/2023 20:20

We had two boys about 10kg each and had to upgrade to a super king bed to accommodate them (or rather so they could accommodate us!) . Loved them sleeping in the bed-they were like little hot water bottles and their snuffly breathing was so comforting! I really miss it now they’re gone.

ArrrMeHearties · 19/04/2023 20:29

Previous ddogs slept in beside me when I was single. Now I have dh current ddog sleeps in his bed at the foot of the bed, at my side or on the top stair lol

Finalstar · 19/04/2023 20:32

Nothing better than a dog to snuggle. Ours have their own beds in our room, but we often get a night-time visit from one or the other.

postwarbulge · 19/04/2023 20:53

Our JRT slept on our bed. I only got a bit much when both the dog and Hubby were snoring.

lightinthebox · 19/04/2023 20:56

Ours starts out in her bed in our room, then around 2am gets in our bed. Refuses to jump up and whines till we've turned our back. Then burrows under the duvet.

dudsville · 19/04/2023 21:01

We used to keep ours in the kitchen overnight. Then there was a particularly bad thunder storm and they called out and i just went into the kitchen and told them to go up to bed and once they had permission they acted on it! We simply bought a bigger bed. BUT, only one chose the stay with us. We put a sofa in the room as well and this has become the bed for the other dog, she joins us moments before the alarm goes off in the morning, i think to make sure she's included in the breakfast plans!

OP, I've always struggled with sleep and i too found my sleep improved loads by their presence. The one that stays in bed like to spoon and it honestly sends me right off to sleep.

BellaVita · 19/04/2023 21:08

Ours always slept in the utility (with door shut) although she always had free reign during the day of the house and sofa.

When she stays at my parents, she sleeps on their bed but for a couple of nights when she returns she is always a bit of a mare going to her own bed, although she does settle eventually.

Last June we had a huge trauma whilst ddog was at my parents (our son was diagnosed with a glioblastoma), so when my parents brought her back it was DH that said just let her sleep with us as we were too distraught to start messing about trying to get her to go in her own bed.

She has slept with us ever since. Both myself and DH find it comforting. Sometimes she sleeps at the foot of the bed and other times she paws me when she wants to get under the covers. Her head is on the pillows next to us 😆.

Only downside - she snores!

garlicandsapphires · 19/04/2023 21:09

Oh goodness. The way mine noses under the duvet before settling into a spooning position... pure heaven

DustyLee123 · 19/04/2023 21:10

Mine slept on the bed ever since she could jump up, and I love it !

dudsville · 19/04/2023 21:12

I've also just remembered a previous dog we had who used to like it when I napped on the sofa, she would ask me to put her on my stomach. She was not small and i would struggle to sleep myself, but it was so sweet knowing she liked this so much i didn't mind. She was adorable. Making these creatures happy is good for the soul.

Tailfeather · 19/04/2023 21:12

Ours started downstairs, but we had a few nights away at different times and she had to sleep in our room and we then realised how lovely the cuddles are!

StillMedusa · 19/04/2023 21:18

25kg beastie here.
I slept with her downstairs the first few weeks as a pup and then we kept her downstairs (not crated) until she was 6 months old.. when we had xmas visitors. So that holiday she came upstairs with us and has never slept downstairs since, unless I'm unable to sleep (then she comes back down with me)

Usually sleeps in her bed at the foot of ours, but if DH is away she gets straight up next to me, and often I roll over to find her under the covers, head on his pillow I love it, and she doesn't snore like he does!!!

halfpasteleven · 19/04/2023 21:21

Simonjt · 19/04/2023 17:56

No, my husband banned him from our bedroom, when he went away with work I accidentally left the bedroom door open and dropped some biscuits on the bed.

Love this

FreddiesTeeth · 19/04/2023 21:25

Just get a bigger bed. 😁

BessieSurtees · 19/04/2023 21:28

Am I the only one who has never let our dog on the bed. Only had one dog at a time and although they could go upstairs they’ve never been allowed on the bed.

ShakeYourFeathers · 19/04/2023 21:30

No ddog started off in a crate as a puppy. Then she assumed that because was allowed on the sofa that she'd be allowed on the bed. Initially for morning cuddles and outside the bed only.

Now it's all night and she burrows inside the duvet.

Give the dog an inch and she'll take a mile 🙄

BessieSurtees · 19/04/2023 21:31

Urgh I just remembered once having sex and looking over and seeing our springer had snuck in the room and was sat watching us. He got chucked straight out.

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