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The debate over whether or not your furry friends should share your bed is hot in the animal-loving community. According to a national survey by SpotOn Virtual Fence, at least 50 percent of dog owners let their pets sleep in their beds. The thought of snuggling up to your pooch in bed may give you warmth and fuzziness, but in certain situations letting your dog sleep in your bed can do you more harm than good.
When you shouldn’t let your dog sleep in your bed
Let’s start at the very beginning: those super cute puppy days. If there’s one type of dog you’d like to snooze on your bedspread, it’s a tiny, little one, isn’t it? Unfortunately, puppies really shouldn’t sleep on your bed, period. “A dog shouldn’t sleep in your bed until he’s crate and potty trained,” says Derick Lengemann, VMD at Lakewood Veterinary Hospital in Mooresville, North Carolina. “Consistency is the key to potting training. A puppy won’t go to the bathroom in their crate because they can’t get away from them and they like to be clean. But it can get up from the bed and hit the floor. You don’t want to wake up with it. The puppy must first understand that the crate is a safe and happy place to reduce the risk of separation anxiety. “Check Out More Dog Facts You May Not Know.
Certified dog behavior consultant and professional dog trainer Irith Bloom advises her clients to keep their dogs off their beds if they are doing any of the following: freezing, growling, growling, snapping, digging or chewing the bedding, or biting when being picked up from the bed. Only when these behaviors have stopped (after exercising) should you consider letting your dog back in your bed, says Bloom. Remember, there are more advantages to having a pet than a bed buddy.
You may also want to consider hygiene and health before snuggling up next to man’s best friend. “There are some potential risks involved in sleeping with your dog. If your dog has zoonosis, a disease that can spread from animals to humans, you may be more likely to get the disease, ”said Dr. Jessica Kirk, DVM. “Another problem some dog owners may see when they have allergies to pets is an increase in their allergy symptoms from the closeness they get while sleeping with their pet.” It’s not just hygiene that you need to worry about. In some cases, your dog’s health may be at risk from letting your dog sleep in your bed. If your pet is severely arthritic or has back, neck, or orthopedic pain, jumping on and off the bed can cause harm.
If it’s okay to let your dog sleep in your bed
In the past, you may have heard rumors that this sleep setup is giving way to behavior problems with your dog on the street. Fortunately, Steffi Trott, professional dog trainer and owner and founder of SpiritDog Training, spoke to Reader’s Digest to set the record higher. “There is nothing inherently wrong with letting your dog sleep in bed. It won’t have any negative behavioral consequences, nor will it make your dog “upset” you or try to become the leader of your pack, ”Trott told Reader’s Digest. “In a group of dogs there is no social order that determines sleeping habits. Everyone can sleep where they want. “
Letting your dog sleep in your bed can be a great bonding experience. Additionally, having a dog you trust can make you feel more secure, suppress anxiety, or just dip into a peaceful sleep. As long as your dog is healthy, well trained, and doesn’t wake you frequently at night, you can let your puppy sleep where they want. Whether or not your puppy wants to be in your bed at all may be just one of the things your dog would have liked to know.
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The Post Should you let your dog sleep in your bed? first appeared on Reader’s Digest.
