Rescue dog - sleeping advice please

[ThisIsNotAIBUPeople]

Our rescue dog arrived yesterday. He's 1 yr old and doing so well. Last night, his first night, I took him upstairs with me to sleep, our cats are shut downstairs overnight so the dog needs to be upstairs. He wouldn't settle in his crate or bed, he jumped up on the bed and curled up in a ball and slept soundly until 6.30am. I then took him outside and he did a wee and poo (yay!)
I'm not sure if I'm making a rod for my own back and whether tonight I should be firmer about him going in his own bed, but I would probably have to shut him on the landing where the bed and crate are which seems cruel. Any advice, hints or tips very gratefully received!

Well our rescue, who we got at 6 months, now almost 2, sleeps on our bed If you're happy with it then carry on, it's not "wrong" for dogs to sleep on owner's beds, just a personal choice/preference. But I would say if you don't want him to sleep on your bed, it's best to start sooner rather than later to creating a habit that he doesn't.

Deborah thank you, I am stuck between not wanting to traumatise him, and not wanting to make him too dependent on me. I love him to bits but I do have to go to work part time and do all the usual running around with kids activities etc, so he needs to learn to be a bit independent. He's currently snuggled up next to me on the sofa, he is such a sweetie.

I understand, I felt the same. I also work part time. Luckily we've never had an issue with separation anxiety. Right from the start she's been fine being left and just sleeps. I think I see it as another way to keep a good bond with her, having her in bed because she does spend some time alone. Plus we also have 2 cats and it gives them the run of downstairs at night. (Integrating with the cats has been another whole problematic ball game!)

I do think there are loads of ways to keep a good bond btw, not just allowing them to sleep on the bed

Your set up sounds similar to ours. I get where you're coming from! My poor cats have had a shock, boy cat not too bothered but girl cat not happy! I guess it will take time. He's such a dear little chap I just want to do the right thing.

Perhaps he’s used to sleeping in bed . Our dog sleeps upstairs , he comes to bed with me and then when I’m going to go to sleep (about 1 am) I carry him into his room where he sleeps on a double bed . He is more than happy to be left home alone for a few hours during the day ,

If he’s happy to sleep on the bed and you’re happy for him to do that then carry on. Sleep is important!

I let my greyhound sleep on the bed and now I have a permanent cricked back from having to contort myself all night as she takes up the whole space. Good job she’s warm as I have no covers either. But, I love her and she’s my fourth child so im willing to sacrifice my comfort. 😁

My rescue sleeps on my bed. He was a clingy thing when I first got him but actually found he's much more chilled about being left alone now that he can sleep on sofa's/beds next to me when I am home.

He's a lurcher so I literally feel your pain Geraldine!

The awful farts they do as well!

I think as he grows in confidence he may sleep in his own bed. My rescue likes to keep me in sight so is never to far away from me when I am in the house. She is fine to be left and does not seem to worry about us when we are out. She has lots of beds around the house, but mainly sleeps on the floor next to my bed until 5 in the morning. Next door go out to work, at 5 and then she jumps on the end of my bed.

I think it is a bit early to teach her stuff just at the moment. A few months down the line, when you really know her, you can change her sleeping habits.

Yup the sensitive guts of a long dog - not envy!

Ours spent one long awful night in the kitchen. No-one slept. He cried all night. Second night, and every night since he has slept soundly in his own bed in our bedroom.

See I would be happy with him in his bed in my bedroom but I don't think he'll settle in it, he just jumped up onto mine last night. DH says be firm and train him now but I'm not sure...

Try tonight with his bed in your room and just keep putting him back if he gets on the bed . They are quite adaptable , if either dh or myself are away the dog sleeps all night on our bed but is more than happy to sleep on his own when we are both about .

Floral OK will give it a go, thanks

You will have to be firm. We went through a period of the dog getting on our bed earlier and earlier during the night. He got very territorial until me and DP were sleeping either side of an ever widening strip of hairy gritty 'no man's land' which you ventured into at your peril. It really got out of hand so Dog was banished to his own bed and he has slept soundly in it all ever since. It just took two nights of firm 'no, go in your bed' for him to adjust.

@joystir59 was the bed in your bedroom?

Dog's bed I mean

Sorry if that's confusing. We went through a brief period of letting him get on our bed in the morning to greet us- 'morning' got earlier and earlier as Dog pushed the boundaries, until he was spending most of the night in our bed. That's when we pushed back and sorted it out. Beware being too soft on your dog because he is a rescue!

He sleeps in his own bed in our bedroom.

@joystir59 thanks that's exactly what DH is saying, at the end of the day he needs boundaries from the get go. I just feel mean. But have been fine to be firm with my rescue cats so will need to persevere!

Update, he's in his bed! On the floor next to my bed. Who knows how long it will last but it's progress from last night! I plan to put him back if he jumps up but will probably depend on how tired I am!

How did you get on OP?

He stayed in it all night! So pleased. Will keep at it, I think he'll be OK.
However. He's started to whimper when I'm out of sight, I have to go to work on Thurs... I am being mean and ignoring him, never a dull moment!