Small dog in bed

[Jody2024]

Hi, I have little bichon frise mix only 4.5kg so he's tiny and he sleeps in the bed with me and my partner, usually at the bottom of the bed. He is hypoallergic and so doesn't shed hair. He also had bad legs so I mainly have to lift him up onto the bed although he has occasionally jumped up but usually he waits for me to pick him up before getting in the bed.

I'm 11 weeks pregnant and I really would like to continue this arrangement. My plan is to get a next to me cot and train him not to go in it. He is usually at the bottom of the bed anyway and probably would struggle to get into the next to me bit as I'd be lying beside it and he is always at the bottom. I don't see any issue with continuing but my friend today was quite negative about it. I wondered what others experiences were of dogs sleeping in their beds? I guess it's different having a big dog to a little tiny dog like mine who struggles to jump onto the bed without my help.

Thanks

Best just not to discuss these things with other people and go with what works for you.

Our small dog (10kg ish) curls up on top of the duvet at our feet when it's cold. I'm still co-sleeping with DD2 15mo. He also sometimes chooses the foot of my 3 years olds bed! Never been an issue.

It goes without saying just make sure the dog isn't up there if/when the baby is sleeping alone.

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

Thanks @Worsthousebeststreet I think you are right it's better not to discuss it as people start lecturing you etc. I know just know my dog so well . Yes I'd never leave them alone but I will be asleep when he's in the bed but I usually feel when he wakes and moves so I think it will be fine.

It's one of those ideal world/real world situations.
In an ideal world you wouldn't have a dog in the bed just in case something tragic and unexpected happens. In the real world you know the risks with your dog.
I would say that I would probably look at an alternative arrangement for the first week or two. Although you know your dog now you don't know how your dog will be post baby arriving. I have a friend who's pet developed anxiety after her daughter was born and changed behaviours as a result. Once things are settled I'd use your own judgement

I think when your precious baby is actually here, you will feel aghast at the concept of a dog in the same bed as your lovely little newborn. It's not sanitary, and there is a risk, however small, that the dog could lay on your baby's face and restrict their breathing. I have heard too many instances of things going wrong with dogs and babies. Be grateful to your friend for giving you pause for thought.

Don't underestimate how extra tired you will be when you have a newborn.

Yes my dad will have him the first few days....

You would still need to see how he was whilst living in the house with the baby to reassess risk.
You know what he is like now but you are introducing a big change. It might be ok but you have to be prepared the presence of the baby introduces anxiety or jealousy or other emotional changes. Your dog that's happy to lie at your feet away from where you intend for the baby to sleep could turn into one that wants to be with you all the time and insists on lying between you and your baby. The two situations have very different risk profiles and you would need to be confident about what scenario you are in before committing to having your dog on your bed with the baby.

Our (small, < 10kg) dog sleeps in our room but has always been in her crate at the bottom of the bed when baby is small and in our room.

I really wouldn't risk having a dog unsupervised all night in the room where the baby's sleeping. And I'm a dog person.

I wouldn't have baby asleep in a cot the dog could get to. So you could use the equivalent of a next to me, but side would need to be up and it not attached to bed so the dog can't get in.

Honestly I think you need to stop the dog sleeping on the bed. My baby despite my best efforts wouldn't sleep unless cosleeping or held for the first 4 months. Very few magically love being placed in a cot away from you. The dog in the bed with a young baby is a recipe for disaster. Very different to when they're more robust at say 6 months and can roll and push the dog away if needed.

No you shouldn't have a dog in the bed with a newborn. Even though it's a tiny dog and you say you know your dog well you don't know your dog when your baby arrives . Your dog has been your baby and whatever you say now he will be replaced by the real baby. The dog may feel jealous newborns are helpless and a bite or scratch from a dog even a small dog is going to cause harm .
Newborns also feed every couple of hours if you are breast feeding you will probably be feeding in the bed. Including a dog in the mix is potentially dangerous and unhygienic

I love my dog and he sleeps on my bed but I'm not sure it would work with a new born thrown into the mix.

Apart from anything else I think my dog would be really stressed from being woken up by a baby crying and a stressed dog plus tired new mum would be a recipe for disaster.

You might find the dog will naturally choose to sleep in a quieter room once the baby comes home.

I have house cats that sleep on our bed. When we bought home our new-borns, the cats were shut out for 6 months. There was no way we could risk the cats getting in the moses basket.

Once the kids had moved into their own rooms, the cats were allowed back in. They forgave us.

I wouldn't risk it. I would try to get the dog used to sleeping elsewhere. If you really want him to continue to sleep with a person then could he sleep with your DH in another room for 6 months then back with you once the baby can move to their own room? I didn't really feel my cats were a danger to my kids as babies but I shut them out of the bedroom whilst the baby was there. They had plenty of contact with the baby in the day but not whilst I was asleep. Also I still take extremely good care of my pets and do love them and love that the kids get to live with pets but our household has changed and the kids' needs generally come first.

wow how judgemental "stupid just stupid"...Reminds me why not good to post on these type of things! You don't know the details....I will be having a session with a dog trainer before baby is born and have researched how to introduce dog to baby, introudcing sounds and smells before baby is born and also allowing baby to smell and be close whilst holding it as he comes in.....

Please don't call people stupid when replying to a post...there is no need...

With the meat counter, my dog doesn't actually eat any food on plates that are left on the table when I leave the room, I've done it loads since I've had him 4 years and he knows not to eat off a plate on the table (he doesn't jump on a table either).

My partner has built him a new box/open crate type thing as a type of den so I could experiment with that up here although I was going to leave it downstairs. My dog has bad legs so he wouldn't jump up onto the cot as he can't. But I will explore other options.

Yes true and I would probably introduce him very quickly....I have had friends kids etc stay over and he's seen me with babies before (friends babies) but yes I'm aware he could get a little jealous...he is a very gentle soul so the only thing he will probably do is want to be nearer to me more and want to sit beside me a bit more. The big thing for me is when the baby gets older is to separate the toys as he doesn't like people touching his toys.

I had a very elderly 7kg dog when my daughter was newborn and we just kept the same arrangement, dog would be on a bed on the floor and lifted up onto the bed for cuddles etc as we'd always done, he didn't go near the next to me
He then became too frail as our bed is fairly high in case he fell off it to be with us unsupervised anyway
Congratulations and enjoy your family, dog included

Thank you, nice to hear stories like this, that's the other thing my dog is 8 years old so fairly chilled.