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The doghouse

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Original poster

Does your dog sleep upstairs with you?

74 replies

bbcessex · 18/11/2018 10:06

Hi all

Our lab puppy is nearly 10 months old now. He is beautiful, adorable, amazing and we all love him 😃😃

He sleeps downstairs in a crate. He’s happy there, he loves it and often puts himself in it when he’s ready to go to bed.

I’d love him to sleep upstairs with us - either in / on our bed or in a dog bed nearby.

He did this when we were in a holiday cottage and it was lovely.

Am I mad? What are the pros and cons of doing this in everyday life?

OP posts:
vilamoura2003 · 18/11/2018 12:09

Just think long term - if he ever got a condition and couldn't get up the stairs, if he is only used to sleeping with you it could be distressing for him if he is no longer able to get up the stairs.

We had a dog that used to sleep on the spare room bed in the daytime whilst I was at work - after she threw up all over the bed once because she had eaten a sock I wouldn't let another dog on the bed again.

Also, what do you do when you fancy a bit? Kick them out and make them wait outside whilst you get your leg over 😂🤔

I don't think it hurts to have your own time, it could encourage separation anxiety to not have your own time apart 👍

pigsDOfly · 18/11/2018 12:24

My dog used to sleep on my bed but has made the decision to not do so any more.

She will often start off on my bed but usually gets off and goes downstairs after a while to sleep on the sofa.

I don't think it's because I move too much in the night because my bed is never very disturbed. so can only conclude that I must snore - live on my own so have no one to tell me - and she doesn't like the noise.

I was quite hurt when she stopped wanting to sleep on my bed, or even in my room - she has a bed in my bedroom, which I need to take out as I don't think she's ever used it.

You could try moving his crate into your bedroom. Leave the door open and he might eventually migrate to your bed, or you could just carry him upstairs until he gets the idea.

There are disadvantages to having a dog taking over your bed so you might want to think carefully about it before you go ahead with encouraging him.

Original poster
bbcessex · 18/11/2018 12:30

Vilamoura - you speak sense (damn you!!).

DDog is very happy downstairs so I am definitely being selfish as I want him upstairs as he's so gorgeous!

PigDoFly - i see your point; i'm sure I don't snore ;-) ;-) ;-) but I guess dog would tell me!

OP posts:
FeckingEjit · 18/11/2018 12:51

No, I don't want my house to stink. And if you have a dog that goes on the sofa, beds, sits/rubs past the bottom of curtains, rolls on rugs etc, then I can guarantee your house smells like dog, you're just too used to it to noticeBlush

LaurieFairyCake · 18/11/2018 13:40

Not necessarily. I have an office in my house where I see 30-50 people a week. No one has ever worked out I have a dog.

snowone · 18/11/2018 18:38

NO WAY JOSE! I think dogs in / on beds is pretty disgusting (but this is obviously my opinion) our dog has a whole room with a comfy sofa and about 5 beds in it - he sleeps in there Smile

starcrossedseahorse · 18/11/2018 18:56

All of my previous older rescue dogs have not even come upstairs let alone sleep on the bed. I wasn't 'that' kind of dog owner, not me.

When I got my first ever puppy a few years ago he slept next to my bed when very tiny and then got lifted up if he woke up crying. Fast forward to now and this big soppy lump is on the bed every night and I love it (so does my husband). He is heavy and hot at times but beautiful and I love cuddling him.
I am an insomniac and love stretching out my hand in the deep of night and being able to ruffle his fur.
Turns out that I am 'that' kind of dog owner after all...Smile

DeadCertain · 18/11/2018 19:43

No, mine isn't allowed upstairs. I adore him but it's nice to have a dog - free zone too. He's also large, HAS to be touching me when with me and would take up a huge amount of the bed. He has a choice of four sofas covered in nice throws downstairs and is very contented.

Unicornandbows · 18/11/2018 19:50

Mines lays right into me like a little spoon and has my arm as his pillow. Can't sleep with out the little bugger

WendyWoofer · 18/11/2018 20:02

No. I share sofa space with my two during the day. I dont want them in my bed. They have their beds, downstairs, and I have mine. Everyone is happy. I see no need to have them in bed with me, disturbing my sleep.

Need2morehands · 18/11/2018 20:20

Mine has always preferred sleeping at the top of the stairs given the chance but she’s never been allowed to wander upstairs mainly due to the fact she is so big and would always race you down the stairs! She’s never been allowed on the sofas mainly due to shedding/light coloured fabric and babies in my arms. Now she’s getting on she likes to snuggle up on my eldest dcs bed at night he loves her being there so that’s her new spot.

bluetongue · 18/11/2018 21:27

My whippet sleeps on / in the bed but he is extremely clean and barely sheds. I do end up on the edge of the bed most of the time though.

A Labrador I wouldn’t let sleep on the bed. Too much hair and they tend to smell pretty doggy. Maybe a dog bed on the floor of your bedroom if you want him closer.

rosenylund · 18/11/2018 21:44

Next to the bed in her basket, won't get on the bed even if invited!

Original poster
bbcessex · 18/11/2018 21:49

bluetongue - you’re right there - he has a twice-weekly bath and still smells doggy! (I love it though, but appreciate that others might not!).

OP posts:
FamilyReferee · 18/11/2018 21:50

We have ours upstairs, but in their own beds in the bedroom. At weekends, one of the dogs is allowed in the DC bedroom, on the bed. It's a treat for both the DC & the dog!

Very occasionally I will let one of them on my bed for a cuddle, but not usually at all. But then if I did, it would get really crowded, we already have cats who sleep on the bed.

Plus my dogs shed and are outdoor dogs, so usually muddy at some point of the day - I'd rather not have that in the bed. The cats are at least very careful of personal hygiene! Dogs not so much.

SenecaFalls · 18/11/2018 21:53

Yes.

Does your dog sleep upstairs with you?
YippeeKayakOtherBuckets · 18/11/2018 21:57

Tiny dog sleeps on DDs bed. Giant Puppy (lab) is crated downstairs but I would be open to him sleeping upstairs once he’s grown out of chewing everything. Maybe. He’s a lot of dog though.

WeeDoughball · 18/11/2018 22:01

One dog who sleeps on the bed, in the bed under the covers with us or across the top of my pillow. If he's under the covers He'll either nudge DH legs apart and sleep in between with his head resting on DH bum or comes over to me and curls up behind my knees if I'm lying on my side. The pillow thing is a pain in the arse as he sometimes kicks so I end up wriggling down to sleep with no pillow whilst he's sprawled across it 🤨 wouldn't change it though

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 18/11/2018 22:05

We have a Jack Russell on the bed by my feet or occasionally behind my knees if it's very cold and a husky who spends the night on his own bed but comes onto the bed in the morning. The husky is like a toddler when he gets on the bed. I end up hanging off the edge and husband is squashed in the middle. Husband is working on getting the husky to curl up at the bottom of the bed but it is a work in progress.

anniehm · 18/11/2018 22:08

No, think of the dog hair. Dogs need their own space, a small room like a utility is perfect, and it means if they have an accident it's contained - it does happen. Our dog comes upstairs once someone let him out, well sometimes he is rather lazy and has been known to sleep in until 10am

DeadButDelicious · 18/11/2018 22:09

She sure does.

Does your dog sleep upstairs with you?
LizzieBennettDarcy · 18/11/2018 22:13

We started letting our cocker spaniel sleep upstairs when our other dog died, and to be honest, I hugely regret it.

He's lovely and I adore him, but he spends all night jumping on and off the bed (that doesn't do his joints any good), shakes, scratches, whimpers in his sleep..... he's a PITA. And it's horrendous with dog hair all over the bed and bedroom... even though he's wavy coated, it still sheds like nobodies business.

We're getting another puppy soon, and I can't wait for them to sleep together in the kitchen - though they will be allowed up for snuggles in the mornings.

anniehm · 18/11/2018 22:14

Might add mine runs about off lead and swims in the river every day - not ideal for clean sheets! He's happy downstairs - even when dd comes in from the pub and forgets to shut him in he stays in his room.

Blendingrock · 18/11/2018 23:59

We have a lab/pointer cross. So, big dog, takes up lots of room, sheds hair like there is no tomorrow. He also "barks" and runs in his sleep, sighs, farts... you get the picture.

DH would let him be on the bed all night, it would drive me mad, so we compromised. The dog is allowed on the bed if we are awake and reading. As soon as the light goes off, he's told "go to bed" and he takes himself off to his bed in the corner of our room. He usually only lasts an hour or two before he's off on patrol or pushing his way onto one of the kids beds. In the morning as soon as he hears us talking he's back and wriggles up between us until his head's on the pillow, whereby he heaves a huge sigh of pure bliss. He knows that if he wriggles or starts licking (which makes the bed wet in the process!) he'll be told to "go to bed" and so he usually lies pretty still - which given he takes up as much room as an adult is probably just as well! Grin

BiteyShark · 19/11/2018 06:58

We toyed with the idea of letting him on the bed but I was concerned about the hygiene (my dog has a habit of scooting), the smell/hair and also how that would impact him when he goes to the dog boarder as you can't expect others to do the same.

The compromise for us was his bed on the floor next to our bed which I think is the next best thing.