Cosleeping frequent night breastfeeders - would you have a dog in the bedroom?

[tiredpooky]

Hello, the dog has always slept in the bedroom as we couldnt get him to sleep alone when he came 5y ago. he is very gentle. We are going to mattress on the floor this weekend and in theory we could indoor kennel him in bedroom. He has already failed a kitchen overnight trial (whines and wakes us). I love him. Its just that my nights are so interrupted, i just dont want a dog up there any more. I barely want DH up there. (Dog and DH sleep in spare room before a work day) DD is 10m. Am I wrong to be thinking of rehoming him simply because I dont 'feel like having him the bedroom?'. He is quiet generally. Or do others in my situation feel they wouldnt be able to cope with a dog either?

No loose dog with a baby in the bedroom. No, no,no.

Sorry this will sound harsh, but I think you are wrong to be thinking of rehoming him because he has become inconvenient. Would have been wise to get him out of the bedroom before you had DD, don't you think? Also, you must be careful with him around DD - if he has been allowed in your bedroom he may feel dominant in the family, and try to put DD 'in her place'.

You need to try harder with an alternative sleeping arrangement. Maybe a crate in the bedroom, moving inch by inch out of the door over a period of a couple of months.

Sorry, just read through and realised I didn't answer your questions.

So in summary:

In your situation, I wouldn't want a dog in the bedroom at all.

BUT that doesn't mean you should rehome your dog. What you should do is gradually transition him to sleeping elsewhere.

It isn't the dog's fault he is used to sleeping in the bedroom. Why should he be punished for it?

Don't get rid of the dog just because of this issue. You'll feel guilty when this sleepless time of your life is over.

Our dog sleeps in a crate/cage in kitchen, and at night we lock it and put a sheet over it to cover it. Because we have 3 teenagers, people come in late at night to the kitchen and by covering the cage we feel the dog knows he is to stay in bed asleep although he hears us around.

So I would suggest something similar for your room. If you cover the cage but still have it in the room he'll get used to being near you but not see you, and then you can gradually move him, maybe out to the landing or spare room.

Bosoms thank you for taking the time to reply. i wish you had been kinder though and not patronising.
yes of course hindsight is a wonderful thing but i didnt realise i would be cosleeping and mattress on the floor nor how strongly protective i would feel about DD
i have no desire to punish my dog
just trying to cope really with it all

in fact i shall log off now as i have already had a shit morning