aibu to not understand why dog owners let their dogs sleep with them in bed?

[firthy85]

to get things straight i am a pet lover and grew up with many different dog breeds. some with great personalities of their own and good company but they are pets at the end of the day right?. i never had any problem if a dog wanted to sleep in my bedroom but they had a dog's bed. surely encouraging a dog to sleep in your bed is setting the dog up for a fall? god forbid something ever happened to you as the owner and the dog had to be rehomed it could be a nightmare for the dog's new owner if they are strict about dog/human boundaries. so what do you think?

For the same reason I let my cat sleep in my bed I imagine. Because I want to, and because it's my bed, my cat, and I don't really care if it's not somebody else's cup of tea.

My dog sleeps on the bed mostly
We rehomed him and he didn't leave my side for a second for weeks

You’re going to get flamed on here some posters genuinely see their dogs within the same hierarchy as children

I think it’s a bit overfamiliar/gross too though.

I can see the appeal in that dogs are warm, soft and adorable etc, but at the same time wouldn’t want their fur or bodily fluids on my bed. Then again, I do have higher hygiene standards than most. I wouldn’t get into bed without showering and putting on fresh clothes as to not get outdoor germs on my bed, whilst others don’t even brush their teeth🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m not sure it would occur to me to adjust the way I do things in case I die and then my dog has to get used to a new way of doing things. That’s quite extreme forward planning.

Our dog sleeps with us most nights. He does settle in his own bed outside the room if we want him to for whatever reason. I get why people don't. But I love having him there. He's like a little hot water bottle, and he seems to love being with us too.

I read some threads on here and wonder why some women let their bloke sleep in their bed tbh.

It’s disgusting

Each to their own.

But I do think that the people who sleep in bed with their animals are in huge denial about the smell, the poo crumbs, the hygiene and the fact that it isn't actually a good idea from the pet's POV wrt boundaries.

I think it’d be weird to raise your dog as if you were going to die/become seriously ill and need to rehome it, that’s not why people get pets. Dogs are family to most dog owners so if they are happy with it then why not (I don’t have a dog, but my cat sleeps on my bed).

Love our dog, but since he doesn't wipe his arse, he wont be getting into bed with me anytime soon.
(I've also seen where he sticks his nose).

Ours sleeps in our bed most of the time (until we get sick of having no room and make him sleep in his own bed for a while, then we miss him and the cycle repeats!). He's a big lurcher and snuggly as all hell, we love him to bits, so why not? He's a rescue and had a difficult life before us, so we spoil him. Doesn't adversely affect his behaviour so I don't see anything wrong with it.

Also I don't know why anyone would mould their dog ownership around the risk of them having to re-home their dog?? That's really strange...

@ShesMadeATwatOfMePam

I read some threads on here and wonder why some women let their bloke sleep in their bed tbh.

I came on here to say this! It's all a matter of personal preference surely?

I don't like my dog sharing me bedroom but it solved her anxiety so it solved the issue. She's in her crate though thankfully!

@Vitaminsss

You’re going to get flamed on here some posters genuinely see their dogs within the same hierarchy as children

I think it’s a bit overfamiliar/gross too though.

I can see the appeal in that dogs are warm, soft and adorable etc, but at the same time wouldn’t want their fur or bodily fluids on my bed. Then again, I do have higher hygiene standards than most. I wouldn’t get into bed without showering and putting on fresh clothes as to not get outdoor germs on my bed, whilst others don’t even brush their teeth🤷🏼‍♀️

I get why you'd find it gross but the idea of it being "overfamiliar" made me laugh, like you'd expect dogs to address you by title and surname only.

I don’t get it either but I notice it’s a very British thing to treat pets like humans. Where I’m from dogs live outside in kennels. Don’t get me wrong I love my pup but he is not allowed upstairs and certainly not on beds or sofas. Each to their own though.

Stupid thing to do. Remember that woman who had her fa e ripped off by her dog?

I specialise in treating and ideally, preventing, separation anxiety in dogs.

To that end it is better that puppies and new rescue dogs have access to their owners whenever they need it, whilst they settle in, without ever having to cry or bark or howl (ie, experience distress). In reality this means dogs sleeping in bedrooms and for puppies, likely, sleeping on the bed.

This speeds up toilet training, it also gives the new owner a much clearer idea of how the dog has found the last 24 hours or so (hard = snuggly dog, easy = more independent) and its good bonding time, helps puppies learn when its time to rest, tends to result in everyone getting more and better quality sleep.

From a foundation of security and confidence, if taken at the dogs pace, you can then teach them to sleep elsewhere when the time is right if you really want to.

Personally, I can't understand why anyone would wish to share their home and life with an animal that ONLY evolved due to the close relationship between our two species.. and then enforce time away at night when theres no good reason to do so.

If you don't want your dog in the bed, fine, not everyone co-sleeps well even with their own species... but all this locking dogs in kitchens and utility rooms I really do not understand at all.

@ShesMadeATwatOfMePam

I read some threads on here and wonder why some women let their bloke sleep in their bed tbh.

So true!

I'd never share my bed with a dog, I live in a house not a farm yard.

Each to their own but I've never allowed it.

It's difficult to sleep while wearing a gas mask.

@goodwinter I meant that as some people are overly close to their dogs eg kissing with tongue(🤮). This is just a perpetuation of that

Spent 2 years with dog in his own bed.

Due to various reasons after 2 years decided to let him sleep on top of my bed and now I bloody wonder why I didn't let him from the start. I just change the blanket on top of the bed frequently and he gets hosed down after walks.

Honestly I don't care what others think as it doesn't affect anyone else.

I think it's vile, but then I have a huge, slobbery St Bernard. She's not allowed upstairs at all though due to hip problems in the breed.

@AnyFucker

Each to their own.

But I do think that the people who sleep in bed with their animals are in huge denial about the smell, the poo crumbs, the hygiene and the fact that it isn't actually a good idea from the pet's POV wrt boundaries.

Can you explain what you mean about boundaries please?