For many people, the question of sleeping with their dog in their bed is a no-brainer. Others are in the school of thought that they should have their bed or crate separate from their human companions. We have heard from people on both sides of the pillow on this topic and discusses the pros and cons of snuggling down with your furry companions.
Pros of Letting Your Dog Sleep on Your Bed
Dog lovers are the first to gush about how wonderful life with a dog is. How companionable “man’s best friend” can be, and why they love and adore their four-legged family. There’s even science that backs up many of their statements.
Safety
Not only do many dog owners feel safer with their dog in bed with them, but the statistic back up the theory that having a dog in your home can reduce property crimes. Dogs have acted as a guard for families and tribes since the first domestication of wolves, dingoes, and other wild dog breeds. When you consider that dogs were first domesticated over 14,000 years ago, according to some archeologists, that’s a long time for people to be snuggling up with their pups.
Dogs are naturally protective of those they feel are part of their herd. They tend to sleep with their ears and noses on high alert. Most dogs can pick up on sounds and scents far below the human threshold of notice. With over 10000 times the olfactory receptors of humans, it’s no wonder dogs have become working partners for search and rescue, medical diagnostics, and more.
Quality of Life
Studies show that merely living in a home with a dog can help people with depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and more. For many people with significant physical disabilities, their dog companions are the key to functioning in their daily lives. From sight dogs to dogs trained to help people when their blood sugar is too lower a seizure is inbound, dogs are amazing creatures.
In the US, there are over 500,000 registered service dogs. These are dogs trained to perform a necessary task for their handler related to their physical or mental disability. Service dogs are allowed access to almost any space their human handler is allowed to go. There are still hundreds of thousands more Emotional Support Animals that help their handlers with mental health disorders, insomnia, anxiety, and more.
Quality of Sleep
Dog owners report that when they sleep with their dogs, their sleep is more sound and reliable. For some, it’s the security of feeling their dog against them. Often, it brings a sense of peace having their dog curled up against their leg or near their feet.
For some people, this concept is counter-intuitive. The idea of a hefty lump of fur snoring away at their feet is the stuff of nightmares. However, studies show the exact opposite. Sleep studies have documented that we sleep deeper when our pets curl up to us, and since dogs tend to sleep longer and deeper than cats or human companions, they tend to move around less. And encourage you to move less too.
The Complete Health Companion
Dogs keep us active and help us with our emotions in ways that we don’t even notice most of the time. Most people can’t help but smile around their dog. They help reduce depression and anxiety by giving us a focus and an unconditionally loving friend. They help with our heart health by keeping us active and on routine. Feeling safer, sleeping deeper, and waking more rested all give us better health overall. For many people, their life would be much different without their best furry buddy.
It May be Time for Your Pup to have Their Own Bed
There are always two sides to every coin. There are times when it may be better for your dog friend to sleep in their bed or crate. Every dog has a different personality, and with that will come other behaviors.
Allergies and Dog-Borne Diseases
For some, sleeping with their dog is a sure-fire way to increase their allergy reactions. Some people with mild pet dander allergies don’t notice them in their daily life, because they are so mild. However, sharing their sleeping space for overnight periods can cause a concentration of dander concentration when you are sharing your bed.
Further, dogs can host and spread diseases and parasites without proper preventative treatment when they share sleeping space with their people. Dogs can carry and spread tapeworms, hookworms, MRSA, and ringworm to their owners if measures aren’t taken to treat these parasites in the dogs. It’s essential to stay on top of medical maintenance for your pets, regardless of their sleeping arrangements.
Increased Behavior Issues
Dogs are typically bred to perform a job and then further trained for that job. This inherently makes some dog breeds more territorial, aggressive, or protective than others. If your dog is very strongly inclined to be possessive or protective of you outside of the sleeping arrangements, letting them sleep in your bed can make these behaviors stronger.
Disrupted Sleep Patterns
Dogs with behavior issues like the ones above also tend to be restless. Pacing or nesting in the blankets can be disruptive to your sleep as well as theirs. If your dog is the type to get up and down from the bed or move around a lot, it may be best for both of you to give them their own sleeping space.
Wedging In
Often, partners aren’t both dog people. So whether your dog is literally coming between you and your partner or just diving an emotional wedge, sharing a bed with your dog and your significant other might not work out for the best. Everyone will be happier in their own sleeping spaces, and you can build your relationship with your partner and your pet.
Schools of Thought
No matter which school of thought you and your family fall under, it’s best to consider all factors when deciding if bedding down with your canine companion is the best choice for you and your family. Whichever you choose, you can depend on Sleepare to provide the best beds to do it in.