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Original poster

Dog in the bedroom?

23 replies

rollerbaby · 28/02/2010 21:54

Ladies, can you please tell me where your dog sleeps and what you'd advise?

Our 13 week old pup has been in the kitchen from day 1 since he got him. Which works fine (he poos/wees on pads during the night and cries about 6.30 to get us up). However, we like having him near us and wonder if we would be wrong to bring his crate up to our bedroom from now on (not to mention he happily sleeps in longer!). Our first baby is due in November so not sure if we are creating future problems for ourselves. He's a cocker and very friendly/loving so I am sure he will easily adapt to life with a little one.

Any advice?

OP posts:
schoolchauffeur · 28/02/2010 22:18

We got 2 pups last year and they have always slept in the kitchen .We were tempted to move them upstairs with us to see if they would sleep in longer in the mornings,but didn't fancy sleeping a room where they might make a mess in the night. They are now 20 month, still sleep in the kitchen and as long as they have a last wee at about 10.00 are usually still asleep in the basket at 8.00amon the weekends. Weekdays we have to wake them up in the mornings! I think you will have your work cut out managing the baby upstairs when he/she arrives so I would keep the dog in a downstairs routine. Goodluck with the pregnancy.

MrsL123 · 28/02/2010 22:19

I'd keep him out of the bedroom, once you start letting them in, it's a very hard habit to break. I say this as someone who frequently wakes up with a 26kg labrador sharing her pillow after sneaking up in the middle of the night

Even if you made a 'no bed' rule, it soon slips, believe me! A few days after we got our older dog (now almost 3), DH went away for the weekend. She'd been sleeping in the hall outside the bedroom, but I decided to bring her in. She started off on the floor, and then I let her up on the bed "just for a cuddle" and of course I fell asleep. It was great, she slept all night, so I let her sleep on the bed all three nights he was away. When he came home she'd pretty much claimed it as her new favourite place, and howled when she had to sleep on the floor, so for an easy life we let her sleep at the end of the bed. Fine when she was only 10 weeks old, NOT so good when she got bigger! And then we had about a week of howling to get her on the floor again. She still sneaks up on the bed every now and again when we're asleep, then our 10 month old follows, and we wake up pinned in by two big labs. No wonder we've got a 6ft bed!

elastamum · 28/02/2010 22:27

As you have a new baby due I would definately leave the pup in the crate in the kitchen and not let it upstairs. Dogs are pack animals and if the dog is in your bedroom he will perceive himself to be higher in the pack order than the baby once it arrives. It iss quite improtant for your babies and toddlers safety that this doesnt happen. Also I expect you might not want the dog in your bedroom if you have a baby in a crib beside the bed. As the baby grows up you can then decide where the dog is allowed to go.

Just to make you feel better, I have a 40kg labradoodle asleep on my bed atm and 2 more snoring on the landing, but my kids are older and the dogs are firmly in their place in the pecking order

iggypiggy · 01/03/2010 10:10

honeymoo hello

We kept our lab in his crate in our room for the first couple of weeks - then we moved his crate just outside our room - then downstairs. And he was always fine. Now he sleeps downstairs and won't come upstairs t all unless invited - which is excellent!

We 'bend' the rules when we are not at home tho - so if I stay at my parents place - he sleeps in the room with us - and on the bed with me if am alone (no room if my bloke is there too!). I actually love having him the room with me... but it depends on where you want him to sleep as an adult I think!

He sounds v. good tho - I used to get up at 3am every night for the first 2 weeks - to let mine in the garden - then get up again at 6am to let him out again! But we didn't use training pads - and he never had an accident indoors.

throckenholt · 01/03/2010 10:17

ours would love to sleep in the bedroom with us (the old one used to sometimes but I got annoyed with her snoring !). I prefer them not to be in the bedroom - both because they can be smelly and because of noise. Ours migrates around the house from his bed downstairs to the hallway outside our bedroom door.

Every night he appears in our room while we are brushing our teeth, stretches and gets comfortable, knowing full well he will be turfed out . Last night he tried a different tack - he went round the other side of the bed - I thought he was downstairs until I fell over him in the dark . Still got sent out though.

Original poster
rollerbaby · 01/03/2010 10:22

Thanks all, hello iggy

I think we are inclined to agree with you all, we just love having him nearby but as he's still little it's probably best to keep him downstairs and in thecsame routine. Up until yesterday he was going yo bed and sleeping through without a peep til the next morning. Then we stayed at FIL's Saturday night and his crate was in our room. Back home last night he hated being on his own again! Howled for half hour and then again at 4am after his night time poo! We had to go down shut his crate and give him a bone to calm him which worked. I guess consistency is the key at this point. I'd love to have him up here sometimes but I don't think he'd understand.

Knackered today!!

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Original poster
rollerbaby · 01/03/2010 10:24

By the way whilst we are all here... How long did you walk your pups for? We are doing 30 mins a go 3 times a day... Is that about right for a 3.5 month cocker do you think?

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MmeLindt · 01/03/2010 10:26

We have our dog in our room, but not on the bed. She sleeps under our bed. I like having her near us and she sleeps until we waken up. Some weekends she has slept until 10am.

I thought that the pecking order thing has been debunked, Elastamum?

iggypiggy · 01/03/2010 10:27

Honey the rule is 5 mins per month of their age until they are a year old. So your is 3 months old - so should have 15 mins at a time. Then you can up to 20 mins at a time when he is 4 months old.

3 times a day is good. Are you also doing training and play at home?

Original poster
rollerbaby · 01/03/2010 10:41

Oh god have been overdoing it! Was worried it wasn't enough as he seems to still have boundless energy and copes with it fine. In fact he goes nuts for about 30 minutes after his walk!!

We do play lots... Have a zillion squeaky toys, but he doesn't really get kongs yet. Also has learnt sit and down... It's 'off' we are struggling with sometimes when he has a mad moment barking at feet etc.

We also try and leave him for up to 2 hours morning and afternoon as apparently cockers get particularly attached and need to learn to be on their own. He's asleep now...All very quiet!

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Bella32 · 01/03/2010 10:48

The 5 mins per month rule is for the total exercise per day, not per walk. It's a good rule of thumb: doesn't need to be adhered to exactly but 3 x 30 mins (is that right? - PC playing up so cannot double check your comment) is way too much for a 3.5 mth old cocker.

Not just from a joints perspective - but over-exercise can make a puppy or dog over-tired and irritable too.

iggypiggy · 01/03/2010 11:03

bella I was always told it was per walk - not total exercise per day? I think the kennel club suggests twice a day for puppies with the 5 mins rule? Can't find link tho - so am now worried am making this up!

honey the mental stimulation from training will help tire your puppy out

iggypiggy · 01/03/2010 11:05

Found it!

From the Kennel Club

Original poster
rollerbaby · 01/03/2010 11:09

Thanks iggy. Just rang vet in a flap. He says that prob 20 mins a go is ok but only pootling about and not consistent fast walk or running about. Apparently you have to be stricter with large breed dogs and as mine isn't exhibiting tired signs not to be too worried. We will definitely take it easier though I think.

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iggypiggy · 01/03/2010 11:14

Don't panic they are only guidelines! And agree - yours is not a large breed, so is less of an issue. I love cockers - is he working or show type?

Bella32 · 01/03/2010 11:30

Well, I've always abided by the 'split over the day' rule, which lots of people I know also use....

Whatever - 3 x 30 mins way too much. Least we all agree on that.

Like I said, it doesn't have to be strictly adhered to, but I certainly restrict formal walks up until one year of age.

Bella32 · 01/03/2010 11:31

Just a thought, as well - if you give your dog lots of exercise and stimulation all the time, they can end up - well - a little bit hyper They all need to learn that sometimes we just all flop for a bit (oh, the chance would be a fine thing for Bella ).

Original poster
rollerbaby · 01/03/2010 11:32

He is a show breed, but I would like him to potentially do gun dog training as he is so energetic and alert. We've loved doing training so far with him, he is so funny and eager to please. In the beginning he would sit and go down alternately hoping that one was right! He hates being groomed full stop so I don't thinkwe're in danger of ending up at crufts!!!! God knows how we ever get a flea comb through him when his coat grows.

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Original poster
rollerbaby · 01/03/2010 11:33

Thanks Bella I think that was exactly what was going on... I couldn't understand why he was so hyper after a walk.

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hebdenhedgehog · 01/03/2010 11:42

back on topic, slightly...

our Border Collie lives downstairs in his cage (open door) even though he hardly fits in it anymore having grown somewhat since he was a puppy.

However last year we stayed in a hotel (we decided to have a doggy-friendly holiday in Oct half term) and this meant he had to sleep in the same room as us.

This was okay at first, he mooched around trying to decide just which person he wanted to sleep next to. We could cope with that.

What wasn't so good, was him deciding to finish his evening meal, at 4 am! Loud crunching noises at that time of the day aren't good...but at least on that holiday he learnt to like dry food as that was all there was and we leant not to leave food out when we went to bed...

iggypiggy · 01/03/2010 12:59

honey I v. much recommend gundog training - join a class!

I go to classes with mine and it is brilliant - I just wish I'd started when he was younger...

This one is reasonably near London:

Gundog Training Group

Also - are you doing puppy training classes? If yes - be careful which you pick - some are far better than others!

Iklboo · 01/03/2010 13:03

You may not have to worry about it now but you really don't want to turn round after a bout of rudies with your DH to find the dog staring at you. Ours used to look like she was scoring us out of 10 for effort

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/03/2010 09:31

woofa sleeps in a bed in a crate in kitchen - also has a bed by fire in the living room

is NOT ALLOWED upstairs

mb/db thinking of getting rid of crate as he is heading up ro 2

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